Chat with Hashem

Sori Block – N’shei Chabad Newsletter

Many children today pray by rote. They do the action but don’t even know to Whom they are praying. My father constantly made me aware of Hashem. Upon finding a missing item, he would often say, “Oh thank you, Hashem!” He’d say it with such zeal that you felt Hashem was saying back to him, “You’re welcome My friend, it’s My pleasure!” It comes as no surprise, then, that with my children I talk about Him as if He were my dear friend, because that’s what He is!

We just had our summer holiday. Everything slows down in our house, but davening is a must. “Come on kids, let’s go daven to Hashem. If you want to have a good day we have to thank Him without delay.” We all davened every day and it certainly put me in the right frame of mind. During the day, I’d hear my kids say things like, “Don’t worry, Mummy, Hashem will help you find your mobile phone.”

This gave me tingles of nachas. Indeed, after retracing my steps back to the swimming pool I found my phone sitting patiently on a chair waiting for me to retrieve it.

Last Shabbos I got to experience “the queen of all nachas.” Chanale, my six-year-old, invited her friend Nechama to spend Shabbos day with us. The minute she woke up she came to my bedroom to ask me if Nechama had been knocking at the door.

“No, sweetie,” I replied, “it’s way too early. Later, when Tatty goes to Shul, she’ll be here!”

All was quiet and peaceful and we all fell back asleep. One hour later, Chanale came back to check on things. She asked again if I had heard a knock at the door. “Maybe Nechama came and left?” she worriedly asked. “No, Neshamale,” I answered. Nicole, Nechama’s mother, wouldn’t have brought her and left.

By then I was fully awake and I went downstairs to start getting ready for Shabbos lunch. Every five minutes Chanale would say, “I’m just going to check the door in case Nechama is knocking softly.” Unfortunately for her, there was no sign of Nechama.

“You know what, Chanale,” I said, “why don’t you chap a mitzvah and run upstairs and bring me a towel. Then Hashem will be so proud of you and Nechama might come quicker!”

Chanale is usually slow at chapping mitzvos, so I was quite surprised to see her zoom upstairs and bring me the towel before I even had time to finish my breakfast. I was so proud of her and I told her so! She was happy too, but not for long.

“Mummy,” she exclaimed “now where is Nechama?” “Chanale,” I explained, “Hashem doesn’t always give us the reward right away. But don’t worry, He hasn’t forgotten about your mitzvah!”

Just then a thought popped into my head. “Chanale, you know what? I’ll have a little chat with Hashem.”

Chanale said, “Yes, and tell Him I’ve been waiting all morning long for my friend!”

“Hello, oh hello Hashem,” I said, while pretending to hold a phone. “How are You today?”
“Oh, good. Boruch Hashem, Hashem is good.”

Pause.

“That’s great. Oh listen Hashem, I have to chat with you about Chanale.”
You should have seen Chanale’s face, eyes as wide as the ocean, mouth open and waiting to hear Hashem’s answer.

“You see, Chanale has been a real mitzvah meidel this morning and she’s been waiting for Nechama to come!”

Hopeful expression on Chanale’s face.

“Oh, okay Hashem, You’ve also been busy up there with the angels. I understand. But You’re proud of her too! Good.”

And then Chanale piped in, “Mummy, ask Hashem what time Nechama is coming.”

“Oh, Hashem, yes. Sorry to bother You, but since You are all-knowing, maybe You wouldn’t mind putting Chanale out of her misery. Around what time is Nechama coming?

Oh, You can’t give me an exact time? Not everything we have to know in advance – that’s okay. But soon? Thanks a lot, I’m sure Chanale will be happy with that. Have a great Shabbos!”

The hopeful expression on Chanale’s face deepened into intense longing. I wanted to platz and burst out laughing, but Chanale was taking it all in so seriously that I just couldn’t.

Not long after that there was a knock at the door. “Hi,” said Nicole. “Sorry we’re late, but you know, getting
everyone ready took time.”

“Oh, don’t worry, Nicole! It all worked out because we ended up having a chat with Hashem!” Chanale proceeded to tell Nicole about our conversation with the One Above.

What a pity I didn’t ask for Moshiach. Yet I know the sincerity and innocence of young children will surely bring Moshiach now!

Sometimes it takes our kids to bring us closer to Hashem. My Chanale did this for me, and a week later I had my own chat with G-d. I’m a sheitel macher and I sell wigs. Without going into too many details, a lady bought a wig, I cut it for her, and then she left to New York. I was also leaving to Sydney, and since we were both rushing, the sale was done and the wig was cut, but no money was exchanged. As I sell wigs on consignment, I quickly called and reported the sale, thus getting the wig charged to me immediately.

The night before I was leaving, I got a call from her husband that she no longer wanted the wig. It had been cut already – making it non-returnable – and I was too shocked to respond, so I didn’t. But I was very upset. I went back to doing homework with one of my kids. About five minutes later, I was more than upset. I was angry, mad, agitated, and furious, to say the least. I’m not one who keeps things bottled up inside, so I excused myself from my daughter and went to call back Mr. X.

“Hi, this is Sori. I’m really upset with the situation, since the wig was cut for her. I feel it’s not right. And please pass this message on to your wife.”

I felt a bit better, but not better enough. Soon after that, my close friend who knows the X family very well called and we chatted. I was dying to tell her the story. As we spoke, the yetzer hara played games with me.
“Tell her,” it said. “You have every right. What X did was wrong.”

My yetzer tov said, “Do the right thing. Don’t say a word.”

I fought hard. I struggled. In my mind I said to Hashem, “I won’t say a word. But please show me a sign that You appreciate my keeping my lips sealed.” My friend and I wound down our conversation and hung up the phone, and I did not tell the story. Whew.

The rest of the evening passed uneventfully. I went to bed wondering if Hashem would reward me in this world.

In the morning I woke up and went downstairs. There was a message on the answering machine. “Hi Sori, this is Mrs X. I’m really sorry, I just had a panic attack about the wig, but of course I want to do the right thing and take the wig. I’m sorry if I messed you around, and have a good trip
to Sydney.”

Well, I was so elated with this message. It was a direct sign from the One Above. You do the right thing, and the right thing will be done to you. I just have to tell you that a) I don’t often get direct signs, and b) I’ve never actually asked for a straight-out sign. Now that I’m tight with Hashem, I try very hard to keep that connection going. All we have to do is talk to Him. He is listening.

Did you like this article?
Click here to subscribe to the N’shei Chabad Newsletter