Baby Carriage of Faith

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Baby Carriage of Faith

Sometimes faith is not such a simple attribute to develop. In most of today’s society, it seems to be sorely deficient. There are some out there however, who still know how it’s done, as in the following story. It is the story of two chassidim who visit their Rebbe every year on Succot. After being in their Rebbe’s Yeshiva class for their younger years, now as adults, they still held him in just as much esteem as they did as youths. Each year they always stopped at the same inn on their journey to see him. One year, the innkeeper approached them very humbly and said, “You both know that I am neither a chasid, nor a disciple of your Rebbe, but I have a favor to ask of you. My wife and I have been married for ten years now and YHVH has never blessed us with a child. Would you please ask your Rebbe to pray for us?” They agreed to do so. The very next morning the innkeeper’s wife was seen about town parading off an expensive baby carriage. When many of her friends came over to wish her “mazel tov”, she explained to them that while she never had a child yet, she would soon as the Rebbe was going to pray for the couple. Upon hearing this, the two chassidim were a bit embarrassed. They knew that not all prayers came out with satisfactory answers for the petitioner.

They said nothing however and continued on their journey. Upon reaching their destination, they relayed the prayer request from the innkeeper.Upon returning the following year to the inn, they found the innkeeper and his wife in the middle of the baby’s Bris (circumcision). The innkeeper was so happy that he made them his honorable guests, treating them to free room and board. Later on, when the chassidim arrived at their Rebbe’s home, one of the chassidim entered the Rebbe’s office quite upset. “Rebbe”, he complained, “you did not know that innkeeper, nor his wife.” Yet you interceded for him and were able to move YHVH’S hand to grant their request. Yet, I have been your trusted disciple since I was a small child. I visit you every year, just as my father did. Yet I have been married for twenty years now and have made the same request of you, with no results I might add. “Rebbe, I ask you, is that fair?” The aged old Rebbe took the student’s hands in his and looked the student directly in the eyes. Then he asked him, “In all those twenty years, did you ever go buy a baby carriage?” “So you tell me, how great was your faith in comparison to the innkeepers wife?” Sometimes our faith wanders off in the wilderness somewhere. But our faith needs to be built up strong. We spend too much time worrying about these temporary bodies and how they are doing. We feed them fine delicacies and exercise them regularly. But then we forget to “buy the baby carriage.” Now I ask you, which one will bring you more long term benefits? Shalom.