"They praise Yahveh for His kindness and relate His wonders to other people."
Psalms 107:8
This verse is repeated four times in this chapter, emphasizing the obligation people have to praise
Yahveh for His kindness. We have the capacity for complaining about our distress as well as being thankful
for blessings. Unfortunately, these traits are not always balanced, and complaining outweighs being grateful.
There is a story about a mother who was walking along the seashore with her son. Unexpectedly, a huge
wave descended upon them and carried the child out to sea. The distraught mother began begging Yahveh: "Please, save my child!
Give me back my little son!" Shortly afterwards, another huge wave deposited the child, unharmed, right at her feet. The mother
embraced the child, and turning her eyes toward heaven, exclaimed, "Thank You, Yahveh. Thank you, thank you forever." A moment
later, she looked at her child, then turned her eyes to heaven once again and asked: "Where is the hat he was wearing?"
Many humorous stories have a kernel of truth. How often do we forget our blessings and focus instead on
annoyances, like in the case of the saving of a child versus the loss of a hat.
