To encourage positive behavior, our big kids elementary school writes up ‘office referrals’ when children demonstrate Torah values, those of kindness, integrity, respect, and gratitude. It’s a big deal when a child comes home with one, because they aren’t handed out too often. Last week, our older son came home with two office referrals in one day, which was a huge feat.
This week, on our special ice cream outing together (just the two of us, a rare treat), he was telling me about a mitzvah he did, by helping out two of his classmates in art class. After expressing how proud of him I was, I asked if he got an office referral for his mitzvah, and he says, very politely and patiently, no but that’s OK because I know Hashem saw it. It was one of those moments that reinforced that I have a good, and very kind hearted boy on my hands. And in his journey to becoming a good, and very kind hearted man, here was a marker that we’re on the right path. Hashem rewarded us that evening, with a beautiful cotton candy sunset as we laughed and ate our ice cream on benches.
I thought a lot about Ezra’s comment this week, and how Ha’azinu can essentially be boiled down to no but that’s OK because I know Hashem saw it. This weeks parsha is a 70 verse song Moses sings, a poem about God and his relationship to Israel. It’s quite poetic and a beautiful song about the push and pull of a lifelong relationship. And ultimately, I think Ezra got a bullseye, when he acts with kindness, integrity, respect, and gratitude -with the knowledge that Hashem saw, and that’s all that matters.