A while ago, a man was out travelling and became thirsty. He entered a coffee shop and ordered a glass of water. After he finished drinking, he asked for the bill.
As the waiter handed him the bill, he took out his purse, expecting to pay a few pennies. After all, how much does water cost?
He was shocked to see that the bill was huge. The waiter would not budge and was adamant that it was the correct price, so he asked to speak to the manager.
The manager explained as follows: “When you walk into our restaurant, you do not just pay for the food, you pay for the beautiful surroundings. We have provided you with a calm, peaceful, relaxed atmosphere with luxury chairs and chandeliers, soft music and walls decorated with majestic paintings. It took years of calculations and adjustments to create this and you are now paying for that pleasure.”
When we make a blessing on our food, we can stop and think about where Hashem has placed us and the ambience of the surroundings.
Maybe you are in a warm home, or perhaps sitting in a nicely furnished office, or maybe even on a journey, holding a water bottle, walking along your way.
We are often so busy on our phones, or with our hectic schedules, that we don’t notice the good that is right there in front of us.
When you make a blessing to Hashem this week, perhaps take a moment to appreciate where you are and the blessings of the area that you find yourself.
Photo: Getty Images