My son asks good questions
I went for a long walk today with my two eldest kids (10, 8). My son, Aviv asked me, “Mom, what is the best thing you have ever done for someone else?” And then he answered the question, “Having us, right?” and he laughed.
I didn’t have to think twice about my answer. Spending the better part of three years in the Gulf Coast roofing, gutting and rebuilding homes and communities that were impacted by the Hurricane was the clear answer. My kids had tons of questions about what happened, what I did and what the community was like.
I told them about climbing ladders and literally stapling roofs onto homes that had lost them. Standing in prayer circles and thanking God for that very moment. Gumbo. Black mold and water lines. About the 3,000 students and staff that took a week out of their life to show up and volunteer.
Aviv’s next question was harder to answer: “What is the best thing you have done for your self? For your nefesh?” he clarified, in that exact mix of Hebrew and English.
I answered him that meditation, movement, the beach, music, and walking outside are my go tos.
But his questions pushed me to reflect and challenge myself to update my answers.
What will be the next best thing I do for others? How will I feed my soul, not in a small, ongoing way, but in a big way? I think the two questions are deeply connected: the more we challenge ourselves to grow and evolve, the more space we create to give to others.
Sometimes it is OK to be left with questions that don’t yet have answers.
