Did any of the following ever happen to you?
You ordered a garment to be sewn, but it didn’t come out the way you had envisioned…
You were in the mood of a cold drink, but you were served a warm drink instead…
You put on a garment, but afterwards realized it was inside out, so you had to take it off and put it on again…
You put your hand in a pocket to take out one coin, but the wrong coin came out…
You wanted to put your keys into your wallet, but you fumbled and the keys fell to the floor…
Realize: Hashem sends all these as hints to us to do teshuva.
But teshuva seems like such a huge process; where should one start?! What message is Hashem sending? If any of the above םירוסי (aggravating circumstances) come upon a person, or if any such circumstances come upon a person, where should one begin doing teshuva?
Begin RIGHT THERE.
Yes, begin right there: by thinking, “Thank You, Hashem, that this aggravation did not happen to me yesterday.” “Thank You, Hashem, that this upsetting situation does not happen all the time.” “Thank You, Hashem, that until now this didn’t happen to me.”
For example, “Thank You Hashem that most of the time the keys do not fall out of my hand!” (You know how many people have hands that constantly tremble?!)
If you break a glass, and now you have no choice but to pick up all the shards, the first thing to think about is, “B’’H, this hasn’t happened in a long while.”
This is the first teshuva!
Any single discomfort should be a reminder of the MILLIONS, not thousands, but MILLIONS of occasions in one’s life that it did not take place.
"'ד ידסח וננובתיו".
A piece of dust in your eye… “It’s a long time since this happened…”
You have a headache… “I had so many pain-free days…”
You can’t remember an important piece of information… “My memory usually works…”
There is no parking spot..."I usually don't have to circle for twenty minutes..."
Yes, before Rosh Hashana, Teshuva #1 is to thank Hashem for the whole year. Start thinking back to the beginning of the year up until now, and all the kindliness that you were a recipient of.
(Rabbi Avigdor Miller ZT’’L, adapted from tape #520)