The phone, which had been ringing stubbornly for the third time, caught Pnina's attention. The pots bubbling on the gas and the chocolate cake in the oven did not disturb her rest, as did the supervision of the two little ones who were playing in the yard of the building. She did not like to let the children go down to the garden alone, but the lengthening list of chores prevented her from going down with the children herself, and she was content with strict supervision from the window, she stirred the bubbling pea soup and went to the phone.
""Penina?" The voice on the other end of the line was filled with wonder. "Why aren't you answering the phone?!" wondered Mrs. Stauber, the coordinator in charge of the classes. "You only called me ten minutes ago, to postpone Michael's drawing class. I was sure you were home...""
""Yes, sorry, I was busy looking after the children," Pnina apologized. "So it finally worked out? Can we cancel the class for tomorrow?" Barachi's engagement canceled all the plans expected for the next day. "Everything is fine, Pnina, another day has been set, God willing, so that it will only be joyful!""
Pnina returned to the window thoughtfully, the endless preparations had already exhausted her completely. She would just peek in to see what was happening with the children and return to the kitchen. She looked out at the yard, five-year-old Michael was standing on the side of the yard with a hoe in his hands, immersed in digging in the soft soil. Michael had never liked getting dirty, and as a baby he didn't like to participate in the sand games in the playground, so for her it was an unusual sight. She finally decided to turn off the gas, take the cake out of the oven, and go downstairs to be with the children. No matter how much preparation there was, that was still no reason to let them be alone in the yard of the building.
Mom, money doesn't grow on trees.
""Michael, what are you doing?" Pnina asked. "Are you going to plant something in the ground?" The high pile of sand proved the five-year-old's intentions. "Mom, I'm going to plant a tree here!" he said seriously, his clenched hand holding the hoe and digging into the soft sand. "What are you going to plant here, an apple tree?" She played her favorite guessing game, "Maybe a mango tree?""
""No, not mangoes or apples," Michael answered. "Maybe a nut tree?" She tried her hand. "Ah, now I know!" she announced with a triumphant smile. "You're going to plant a gum and candy tree here!" Michael smiled at her and said: "No, Mom, not candy either! The seeds I'm going to put in the ground here won't grow anything you can eat...""
""You're not going to plant money here, are you?" she asked just to be sure. "Mom, I know money doesn't grow on trees!" Michael laughed, he rummaged in his pocket and took out his clenched palm. When he opened it, Pnina saw three small, heart-shaped, light green beads. "I'm going to plant seeds of kindness," he bent over the hole that had formed and put the beads in. "Why kindness beads?" she asked, somewhat stunned by the unexpected answer. Michael covered the 'seeds' with a pile of sand and said: "I was riding my bike on the path leading to the building, and I saw my neighbor, Mrs. Rachel, coming back from shopping with heavy bags in her hands. I offered to help her and she said: 'Thanks, honey, I'll manage' when suddenly one bag she had in her hand tore and all the oranges scattered on the path. I started collecting the oranges and suggested that she put the bags on my bike, so that it wouldn't be too heavy for her. And so I accompanied her to the house, helped her put all the bags in the kitchen and she gave me a date cookie. I told her that I don't like dates and she said to me: 'You know, honey, I apologize that I don't have any candy for you'. Then she brought me these beads and told me that whoever sows seeds of kindness, reaps fruits forever...""
""So you know these are beads and not seeds..." said Pnina. "So why did you sow the beads in the ground?" Michael's story fascinated her, the boy's wisdom suddenly gave her a slightly different perspective on the world around her, everything suddenly seemed a little different to her. "I know, Mom, seeds of kindness are not sown in the ground, they are sown in the heart," Michael replied. "So why did you really put them in the ground?!" She repeated the question.
""So as not to disappoint Mrs. Rachel," Michael straightened up and shook the hem of his pants from the dirt. "Look, Mom, she's looking at me from the window.".
Fruits of Hope: A Moment of Thought
Pnina suddenly felt how the world around her was breaking into a dance. Everything disappeared from her head, the inner happiness flooded her heart with maternal pride. But she felt she had to find out one more detail, "Wait a minute, Michaeli," she called to the little boy who was already climbing on his bike. "But when will the fruits grow?!""
He looked back, looked with the eyes of a grown child and replied: "Mom, this tree is just a symbol of a good deed. I don't know if this tree will ever bear fruit. But one thing you can be sure of, this tree will stand forever...""
Now, as we are in the period of counting the Omer, we can plant the seeds. Another small point of kindness, a thoughtful attitude, a lesson in righteousness. As we plant the tree of kindness deep within ourselves, the taste of its fruits will remain forever in the hearts of people.
In the interesting world we find ourselves in, the talk and life surrounding politics, business, family, society, our true self does not give us a single moment free for thought.
So here, now you have the option. We didn't ask to grow a beard (which is already on the face) and buy a shtreimel, or to go to confession twice a day. All in all, one moment of thought. What more can I do for the other, just to plant fruits of hope. Of help, of goodwill for others.
The taste of your help and thoughtfulness will remain in their hearts forever.
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