A heart-warming milky story just in time for Shavuot!

BY REBBETZEN ANNA BERGSON

Many years ago in America, a young poor boy was having to go door to door selling goods in order to pay his way through school.

He was hungry. So, so hungry that he decided the next house he knocked on he would ask for some food. However, as the door opened, he lost his confidence and instead asked the kindly looking young lady just for a drink of water.

Realising that he was not just thirsty but hungry too, the young lady brought him a large glass of milk.

The boy was so appreciative and drank it slowly. As he handed the glass back he asked, ‘How much do I owe you?’

‘You don’t owe me anything! My mother has taught me never to accept payment for a kindness!’ she replied.

‘Thank you from the depths of my heart’, the boy whispered as he turned around and continued with his lonely evening task.

Years later the young lady became critically ill. The local doctors and hospitals could not even diagnose the problem. Eventually, she was sent to a specialist hospital a few hours away where a Dr Howard Kelly was asked to see the lady, diagnose her and hopefully treat her.

Before entering her room, a nurse gave him her notes. Dr Kelly’s eyes narrowed as he scanned her address. Could it be?

From this moment it was clear to the medical team that Dr Kelly would spare no effort in his fight for this woman’s life.

After a long struggle, the battle was won. Being a private hospital, the woman was fearful to open the bill when it was brought to her room before she was discharged. She was sure it would take the rest of her life to pay for it.

Slowly she opened the envelope and as she opened the carefully folded paper inside her eyes immediately caught the words at the bottom of the bill, ‘PAID IN FULL – WITH A GLASS OF MILK’

Signed: Dr Howard Kelly

On Shavuos we read Megillas Rus which recounts the kindness of Rus towards her elderly mother-in-law Naomi. Coming from royal lineage in Moav, Rus could have quite easily and understandably returned to her former privileged lifestyle. Instead, she chose to accompany and care for her impoverished mother-in-law however pitiful and degrading that would be. She becomes a fully-fledged geuoress (convert) and Hashem rewards her kindness by choosing her to become the Ima Shel Malchus – Mother of Kings as we know Dovid Hamelech (King David) was her great-grandson!

Two things worth mentioning here –we never know how and when we will be rewarded for a kindness but Hashem clearly ‘holds the score’ and it is never too soon to do a pure act of kindness and giving.

Secondly, given Rus’s non-existent Jewish yichus we might be forgiven in thinking she doesn’t quite meet the criteria, or our expectations, for being the spiritual and physical mother of Dovid Hamelech, who’s descendent in time to come g-d willing will be the Moshiach himself!

It just goes to show those who we may think are on the ‘outside’ or ‘don’t fit the box’ in our social circles and/or communities may be the very people who are destined for greatness and therefore we must not only welcome but learn to cherish.

Wishing everybody a Good Yom Tov Anna Bergson is Rebbezten of St Anne’s Hebrew Congregation and is also a Hypnotherapist & Holistic Health Practitioner. Her website is www.annaholistictherapies. com