How could we be happy when we pass by a person with a disability, for example he cannot walk, or some other crippling disability? Aren't we hurting that person when he sees us able to function in a way he cannot?
ANSWER:
There are two parts to this subject; one part is sympathy, yes. This week I saw two instances, I saw a man without one arm, and I said, "Baruch Hashem I have two arms!" I started shaking my arms like this. You have to appreciate two arms, Baruch Hashem I have two arms: he was sent min hashomayim to make me aware that I have two arms. You forget about it - all your life you forgot about that great gift that you have two arms. Then also this week another thing, a man was in a wheelchair and he had one foot. "Oh," I said, "two feet!" What a blessing it is, you could hop skip and jump, two feet...what a chesed it is.
We must utilize that and learn how to think, Hashem what you did for me, I'm not sitting in a wheelchair. You must think that, that's why He sent him! This is a vision granted for the purpose of making you more aware of how fortunate you are, how much you owe to Hashem.
At the same time you have to have sympathy, yes, you have to have sympathy too. It's not a contradiction at all, the happier you are the more sympathy you will have for him. "Look how happy I am, he doesn't have it, aah aah it's a pity on him."
The sympathy should not rob you of utilizing the opportunity of learning to thank Hashem, and always always remember to be grateful to Hashem that you have two hands and two feet.
Good Shabbos To All
This is transcribed from questions that were posed to Harav Miller by the audience at the Thursday night lectures. To listen to the audio of this Q & A please dial: 201-676-3210
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