Women’s Wisdom

The winter sky is gray, filled with rain-promising clouds.
What should I wear?
Not too cold outside, but I’m always cold.
Ah, my new spiffy waterproof winter coat
with the hood that stays on. Perfect.
Oops, better change my shoes,
for sure, these will soak through.

Out I trot. No rain. Just a bit of wind. Not cold.
Up the hill by the park.
Hey, I’m not huffing, puffing, gasping for breath.
I must be getting used to the Yerushalayim hills.

Oh, fun, the wind is getting stronger.
I wish I had a kite, multicolored, with a long string.
Whoops, a drop or two, three, ten.
Lots of drops splattering on my lovely coat.
Not inside my coat. Just on it.
Not cold enough for gloves.
Hmm, I’d better put up my hood.
What a great hood. Covers everything,
including my eyes. Wish I could see more.

Uh, oh, my beautiful striped umbrella.
Where is it? Oh, yes, hanging neatly in the closet.
I didn’t give it a minute’s thought.
And, anyhow, I couldn’t use it.
The wind’s wild and my umbrella would be
upside down, inside out.
My umbrella is best in the sun.

Oooh, the rain is getting stronger.
Splat, splash. Coming up from the sidewalk
as well as the sky. Sideward, too.
And the wind. Now so strong. Pushing me.
If I pick up my feet, maybe I’ll fly away,
high up into the sky. Closer and closer to Hashem.
I wonder if the clouds are soft.
I wonder if the clouds would hold me
or if I’d fall right through.

Whoops, I felt that drop right into my shoe.
Ahh, here’s a puddle. To avoid or not to avoid?
My hood is on. It’s not blowing off,
but wisps of wind blow in, tickling my ears.
I can hear the rain pattering on top of my hood
and feel it on my face. Glorious.

I love it. The rain and the wind in Yerushalayim.
In America, I’d be snorting and snuffling,
mumbling and complaining about the inconvenience.
But, here, such fun. Such happiness.
Such comfort. Such holiness.
His great gifts. Rain and wind from Hashem.
Food for His land, nourishment for His people.
Look, look – green everywhere,
grass, trees, flowers, grain, fruit, vegetables.
Green in the midst of winter.

I laugh out loud. My heart laughs.
My soul laughs. Such happiness He gives me.
Rain and wind. Hashem must be happy with His people.
Happy even in the midst of our weaknesses.
Happy even in the midst of our failings.
Hashem loves us. He showers us with gifts.
Thank you, Hashem. I love you. Thank you.