Nothing is more precious to us than that which we create through toil and struggle:
The brilliance we pull out of dust, the beauty we make out of broken pieces, the value we create where before lay only waste. To take the stuff we are given, even our own shattered lives, and make them whole.
It must be that way. Because that is the very foundation of our world’s existence, the thought that brought it into being: The Creator’s desire that His creations be creators themselves, partners in the perfection of His world.
Maamar B’chukotai 5725, 5.
I always admired my blessed mother; her hands were like the hands of life. She could revive any wilted half dead plant or flower. Her hands gave life to any thing of nature that could grow. She also was an artist, clothing designer and seamstress. Her hands could take an old dress and make it into a brand new dress without a pattern and sometimes within less than one hour. And she always gave G d the glory for everything she ever designed. I inherited some of her talents, but I’m dangerous when it comes to plants or flowers. G d is so awesome in his distribution of special gifts to us humans, it’s almost unreal. Except we all know that it’s very real; we see these gifts displayed everyday in every way by people we aren’t even acquainted with. And yet all of us still take our great creator for granted.