A woman wrote to us, asking for chizuk in face of a challenge she was facing. She wrote:
A family friend from overseas called me and asked if we can meet up. I don't know if I ever told you about this family "friend" but that's basically how every SA issue that I have started. We set a time and place for 7:45. I don't know why I agreed, I kind of just went along with it. I'm going to have to just not show up, but I need chizzuk to stay strong until the next morning. I KNOW I can't go. This has been on my mind all Tisha b'av. But the problem is that I also know that I'm not set on NOT going.
I'll just daven that Hashem helps me do the right thing. I wish I had another obligation or place I NEED to be tomorrow at that time. IY"H, Hashem will help me. B"H, I have a good number of weeks behind me, I've been making excellent progress. I don't want to get back into a rut, but ..... I don't trust myself.
We responded:
Good choice to decide not to go. Stay in touch with me by email tomorrow night to stay strong. I will be davening for you to do the right thing. Don't risk losing everything you've gained recently!
20 minutes later she wrote:
Wow, Guard.
I really need to tell you what just happened.
After your email, I closed my laptop/finished working and decided I'm going to sleep. I was tossing and turning, million things on my mind and so I re-opened the laptop to check my work email, because I'm waiting on something from my boss.
I have a co-worker, whom I've NEVER met before (as she just joined the team and emailed me last week about an appartment she found at the last minute and how she needs to be out and moved in a week's time. I told her that I really want to help her out, moving isn't easy etc., but I was sure 100% she'd refuse it, as she has no idea who I am).
So - she JUST emailed me a whole long email asking if I was really serious because she is completely overwhelmed and maybe we can pack together at 7 (!!!!!) tomorrow night. I said that is a great idea and that for the remainder of the week I'd be happy to have her kids in the afternoon.
How CRAZY is that? I JUST wrote to you that I wish I had somewhere I needed to be instead, and you said you'd daven.
B"H.