What did I do today?

 

This is how I felt today, but it isn't what I did today!

    So, what have you been up to, Penny?

My days always start the night before with the Bedtime Sh'ma - usually a truncated version, early, for my grandson and I. Going to bed early has its drawbacks, in that one wakes up very early. So last night I slept from 10.30pm to 2am, woke up, prayed for people, fell asleep again at 4am listening to a teaching and woke up at 8am. So, 2 chunks of  4 hours' sleep makes 8!

    I washed my hands, said the blessing and began opening orifices in my home whilst reciting the bathroom blessing, answered some messages that had come through during the night and got set for my first Hebrew class of the day.

    I went straight from that into Shacharit prayer with a friend and then it was outside to give the tuchus a break. I watered the garden and spoke to my plants. My black cherry tomatoes and their little trellis had fallen over, but I decided to leave it for Friday when I can have some help, as the reason they are down is that I fell on them the other day! My banana tree is sprouting new leaves daily and my Yacon is growing so TALL! 

    I had a meaningful conversation with a friend, had a short call with my eldest twin daughter, shared some meaningful videos with some friends and sat down for nearly 2 hours of Torah study with two beautiful friends. Reading Bereshiyt Rabbah with company is so fulfilling. Thank You HaShem.

    I worked out some finances, did some washing, prayed Birkat HaMazon, and went for a walk. Now I am about to enter the evening, which will contain - God willing - a video call with my beloved grandson and a small Torah class with a lady teacher.

    I gave someone the advice the other day to watch out for that little piece of paper containing the days instructions after the Modah Ani - but I must admit, I haven't been watching out for it myself. Maybe that's why sometimes I get to the end of a day and wonder what I actually accomplished for the Kingdom of Heaven today. But I don't think today was all that bad. As I said, though, I've drifted through it feeling as if I was on the beach. Not in a lazy way, but in a peaceful way. And with all the drama and trauma that's going on in the world today, we could all use more days like that!

    I prayed, put some of my knowledge and understanding to good use for the benefit of others, studied Torah, attending to my garden, got some exercise, did a good deed or two.  Baruch HaShem for giving me the breath and the strength to celebrate life today!

    I do need more Bitachon though. When I first heard that word, it sounded strange to me, not like a Hebrew word at all. But, of course, it is. It is rooted in the word בָּתַח - "to trust". In these dark and dangerous times for us who believe, the tests are growing exponentially. May we all cling to HaShem and hold on until the end and be saved.

Erev Tov!