Filling our Cups

As a single mom by choice, I skeptically went into this morning’s lecture on Shalom Bayit. Whenever I’d heard anyone talk about peace in the home, it was related to a husband and wife.

This morning I realized that it’s not simply about peace in the home with your spouse. It’s about peace in your house for your family. In many ways, it’s about you feeling at peace in your home. I should be filling my cup first before letting the rest of the water spill out for my children. That’s one of the hardest things to master as a parent and, I can imagine, as a partner. It’s probably at least part of why we are all here…we have not filled our cups.

As we explored Tsfat roaming the city’s original streets, now lined with art galleries, shops, and falafel stands, you can feel the uniqueness and magic of the city. Wrapping up our time there listening to a talented musician play the piano right by a 500-year-old mikvah was overwhelming (in a good way).

After a 3+ hour bus trip due to traffic, we arrived in Jerusalem exhausted. Everyone was ready to grab a quick bite and call it a night. Due to something out of our control, likely kismet, most of us ended up together at a restaurant, eating family style and sitting at a table resembling one you see at a Passover Seder. As we started to eat, slowly everyone’s moods elevated. There was laughter and insightful conversation. We may have still been tired, but it now felt like a good tired.

We filled our cups during that dinner, making the day feel complete.