We're in the kitchen now. My three-year-old is standing at my side, atop a kitchen chair, propped right in front of the sink. I'm rushing to have dinner prepared by the time my other children hungrily storm through the front door. But my three-year-old is in no hurry.
"I'm helping Mommy!" she announces with a proud grin on her face.
"Yes, you're always my big helper." I confirm generously as I notice her square her shoulders and stand a little taller, as I swiftly dice the vegetables.
Just about every afternoon, Sara Leah "helps" me. She dutifully accompanies me, tugging at my side as we run errands, tend to chores or cook dinners. She even "helps" me in my work by pressing buttons on my computer, typing keys or leaving her fingerprints on my screen.
Some afternoons, I wonder why I allow her to partner with me in my endeavors.Some afternoons, I wonder why I allow her to partner with me in my endeavors.
After assigning her to place the diced vegetables in the pot, I'll inevitably notice a trail of the colourful squares along the floor. After she washes out the plastic bowls, I'll rewash them and wipe down the dripping counters. After she carefully pours the measured cup of sugar, I detect a layer of white dust blanketing the counters. And for each of her savory licks of the batter, the time required to rewash, re-dry and re-combine the ingredients is practically doubled.
So why do I allow Sara Leah to stand so proudly at my side as my helper?
I could say that I do it for her—because she enjoys it immensely.
I could also answer that it builds her self-esteem, that it teaches her co-ordination skills, or because it trains her to be a team member.
Or maybe I do it for the delight of being able to give to her these gifts.
Though all of those are true, there's more to why I allow Sara Leah's tedious, time-consuming and, at times, even nerve wracking involvement.
Truth be told, it really is me who gains immensely from her help. No, it's not the benefit of the work that she thinks she's helping with, but I do derive the pleasure in forging, developing and strengthening our special relationship.
There are different explanations as to why You, G‑d created our world.
Some explain it as Your generosity toward us, "to do good to His creatures." It is simply a free gift for us to experience the beauty of life. An opportunity for each of us to grow, learn and develop.
Others explain that You, too, derive delight from being able to give to us. You are the essence of good, and the nature of good is to bestow goodness.
But the Chassidic masters understand it deeper yet. You ask us to partner with You in Your world, because ultimately we do help You—we even give something back to You.
Though You don't need our involvement, which can be so lacking and flawed for such a perfect and infinite One, our help is treasured.
Because ultimately in every act of our partnership, even in our flawed efforts, maybe especially in them, we are providing You with something—with an opportunity to forge a relationship with us.
You had no need or "reason" for creating our world but desired to have two opposites at once:
A very mundane, real world...
...discovering its Creator.
And that kind of relationship is something that only little, faulty beings like us, here in this world, can provide for You.
In our own small ways, each of us uses our unique talents to "partner" with G‑d and make our world a better place. What are your talents? Can you share how you use them (even in a small way) to "partner" with G‑d?
