Provided below are four realistic scenarios — which is better A or B?
#1 : Home
A) The refrigerator needs to be cleaned out before the holiday and the kitchen is a mess with lots of dishes to do.
or
B) A stack of dishes was broken by the dog and there isn’t enough money to buy more or the refrigerator is broken and the repairman cannot come until after the holidays or it’s wartime and shopping is risky.
#2 : Work
A) Work is demanding, draining, and frustrating, and sometimes the commute is long.
or
B) Unemployment and not possessing marketable skills or a pandemic drastically reduced profits or a new AI program may result in reduced work or complete termination.
#3 : Family
A) The cost of holiday expenses for the family is challenging.
or
B) Being single, alone, or childless, or having children who are not interested in the holidays or a child will spend the holiday on duty at the Gaza border.
#4 : Faith
A) Knowing (or kinda knowing) that you are never alone, that G-d is guiding your life, and that even the tribulations — large and small — are for the best.
or
B) Feeling eternally unlucky and unsuccessful, or living with regrets or arrogance from past accomplishments or fears about the future.
I once heard that the saintly Chofetz Chaim told someone who complained about their situation; “It would be better if it could be better.”
Yitzhak Sasson 