On entering the Rebbe’s room for yechidus, a Lubavitch communal leader noticed that the Rebbe had an almost sad expression on his face. With some boldness, he asked the Rebbe what was troubling him.

The Rebbe replied that there was a family in Crown Heights with six children, five boys and one girl. The boys had already grown up, married and assumed positions in shlichus in cities around the world. A while ago, the girl had also married. Recently, she and her husband wrote asking the Rebbe to let them accept a shlichus position in a distant city.

The Rebbe gave his approval contingent on the consent of the woman’s parents. Although this would mean that the elder couple would be alone, they willingly agreed.

“At the present moment,” the Rebbe concluded, “the parents and their daughter are at the airport saying farewell, and many tears are being shed. It’s true that they are tears of joy, but nevertheless, when they are crying, how can I not cry?”