We do not always get what we want from life. Health is often in our genes, and we can do nothing about that. Wealth often comes from family, and we can do little about that. Even peace is predicated upon the place and time of one's birth. How lucky we are not to be in a third world country ruled by violence. How lucky we are to live in Verona and not the ghettos of Newark. The rabbis said: "All depends upon mazal. In a true sense they were correct. However, what they did not say is this. Blessing and curse are in our hands. If the cup is half empty, that's because that's how you look at the cup. If the cup is half filled, it's because that's how you look at the cup.
We have the ability to find blessing in life. We have the opportunity to dwell on what we do have just as we can dwell upon what we do not have. And sometimes a little pain allows us to see blessings that are invisible to others. I remember when I was a freshman at Rutgers University and came down with the worst case of strep throat I ever had. For days I could not swallow. And I thought to myself that when I get better, I would never forget the new joy of just drinking a glass of water. Too this day, every time I hold a glass in my hand, I think of the blessing that I can swallow. I could not prevent the sore throat, but ultimately I discovered in it not curse, but blessing.
Even age has its blessing. Minutes do not count as much when we are young, but as we age, every moment is precious. When we recognize that this life is not an eternity, we learn to appreciate the days that we are granted.
The mark of growing, of maturing, is that ability to accept the difficulties of life, and to look beyond them. The contented person is not free of pain and disability. Like us all, he has his share of bad luck. Yet he is able to find loveliness and blessing in life in the face of pain and hurt.
That is the lesson of the Torah portion that we read this week.