"Instead of stinging nettle, myrtle will rise" (Isaiah 55:13)
 "Instead of evil, good will rise." (The Malbim's Interpretation)
Myrtle Rising
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • Comments Policy
  • Aliyah
    • Mini-Intro
    • General Cultural Insights
    • School Tips
  • Kli Yakar Index
  • Privacy Policy

Hashem is with You Even in the Silly Superficial Stuff

10/3/2019

11 Comments

 
​At the risk of coming off as pathetically shallow & superficial, I’d like to share my hunt for a good under-eye concealer & how Hashem is even with us in the petty insignificant stuff.
 
I’d heard good reviews for a particular anti-aging under-eye concealer that is sold in my neighborhood, so I went to purchase one. The anti-aging under-eye concealer marked “Fair 03” seemed good enough, plus I’d read that a paler concealer in a large triangle area under your eyes brightens & highlights that area, so that’s the concealer I ended up with.
 
Only once I got home, I couldn’t get it to work. No matter how much I twisted the base of the concealer, the product wouldn’t ooze out through the little applicator sponge.
 
So I called the store and spoke with the nice young woman who’d sold me the concealer. Surprised to hear it wasn’t working properly, she offered to exchange it after making sure I’d really followed the directions.
 
But I was too tired to go back to the store that day. Then it rained a lot the next couple of days, so I didn’t go out then either.
 
Finally, I made the short journey, hoping I’d get one of the nice salesgirls and not the somewhat brusque owner who might turn the concealer-exchange into a minor confrontation.
 
And because you really are supposed to ask Hashem for everything (including the smallest, most insignificant desires), I asked Hashem to provide me with a successful concealer-exchange. There is also a short & highly effective prayer you can say for success in your errands and other stuff here:
A Very Short Prayer for Success before Going Anywhere
 
It's also worth noting that I did not sink into grumbles about the challenges of accomplishing anything in Israel. That sentiment goes away after many years, especially if you work on the emuna that everything is from Hashem regardless of cultural variations. Also, it helps that I haven’t been to the USA in over 16 years, so I no longer have cultural comparisons fresh in my head—it’s all a blur! (Thanks, Hashem!)
 
Anyway, back to my concealer challenge...

Fortunately, one of the nice young salesgirls stood behind the counter.
 
Unfortunately, she could not find another Fair 03 in stock, no matter how thoroughly she searched.
 
Fortunately, she thought to suggest that I look at Light 01, which is also very fair, the only difference being that it was made for fair skin with warm undertones—which happens to describe my own skin.
 
Unfortunately, she didn’t have a tester-sample of Light 01.
 
“That’s really the only difference?” I asked, holding them up together for comparison.
 
“Yes,” she said. “In fact, I don’t even like the Fair 03 myself. I've found that kind of shade just doesn’t look good.”
 
I looked at the salesgirl, who was possibly fairer than me and also with warm undertones. “You would take this one for yourself?” I asked, holding up the Light 01.
 
“Yes,” she said.
 
So I took Light 01. Once home, I saw that it looked fine on my face. Then I read that for older women, making the whole under-eye area brighter and fairer actually ages your face -- yet another reason why the first concealer wouldn't have been good for what I wanted.
 
So Hashem was with me in my anti-aging under-eye concealer journey, finessing events so that I would end up with a concealer in just the right shade for my face & stage of life.
 
In the scheme of things, it’s all so meaningless. I know that.
 
But you also have to remember that Hashem created anti-aging under-eye concealer and all their shades, and that out of His Great Love for us, He is with us in the small, petty stuff too.
 
Just like a real Father.
Picture
11 Comments
Leah
10/3/2019 22:41:11

Oh my gosh, Myrtle, I love it! I smile every time I read your blog. I think we are some sort of soul mate connection or something! I was thinking today about something that I said to Hashem after a "seemingly" trivial thing took place. I had a conversation with Hashem asking Him if it's ok to refer to Him in this way. Here goes:
I needed to get an item and didn't want to put it on the credit card, but thought, ok, go ahead do it as it's a small amount. It was at a fabric store for a piece of fabric to sew on at the bottom hem to lengthen(tznius afy) ;) a dress
The cost was a $1.61. So, I said, wait a sec and I looked and the EXACT amount of money in my wallet, to the penny was $1.61!!!!
I said to Hashem (as I speak to Him always, thanking Him for all he does) "Wow, cute and sweet you are Hashem. Thank you!"
So here you are with the concealer, Myrtle. No small thing because if you think about it if Hashem is doing this and making something work for you then Hashem is The One there, right, so then it is NOT a small thing. Concealer? It could have been a pin or a tissue or anything. It's His presence in your life (always) yet more pointedly at that moment and we see this.
So, I was thinking is it ok and acceptable to speak to Hashem and refer to his $1.61 in my wallet) as cute and sweet? He made it happen, yet I also spoke to Him that I see You as sweet and your placing of the $1.61 as cute, but why cute? I guess because it made me smile? It makes me think He is with me there saying, "Look! I'm here- even with a $1.61 as a reminder!"
Great post!!!!
P. S. I start Mishlei on Wednesday with a friend over the phone! I will let you know how things go. I like to peruse Mishlei, yet will start studying it now more in depth....

Reply
Myrtle Rising
10/3/2019 23:32:37

That's a great story, Leah. How often does it happen that one has exactly the amount needed right down to the cent? And also because it's for tsnius.

"It makes me think He is with me there saying, 'Look! I'm here - even with a $1.61 as a reminder!' "

Exactly. It's mind-boggling how omnipotent Hashem is. And how much He cares!

We need the big astonishing miracles, but we also need these little "coincidences" to really forge our relationship with Hashem. It's also part of seeing His Good in and having gratitude for every little thing.

And what did Hashem answer you when you asked Him whether it was okay that you referred to him as "cute and sweet"? (Unless I missed the answer in your comment? -- sorry if I did.)

That's great that you're starting a Mishlei chevrusa. Like I said, I wish I'd started learning it more in depth years ago.

Thanks so much for sharing all this, Leah. It gives good chizuk.

Reply
Michal
10/3/2019 23:06:55

Make-up is a gift from Hashem , especially for the pale faced like me!
There is nothing petty about seeing Hashem in everthing, actually that is amazing!

Reply
Myrtle Rising
10/3/2019 23:36:49

You're so right, Michal, that make-up in general is a gift from Hashem. I've had skin problems since 6th grade and I don't know where my self-esteem would've been without high-coverage foundation.

Thanks for your comment.

Reply
Leah
11/3/2019 03:53:42

Myrtle, I will ask on the "cute" question of the Rav, but I smiled when I saw your blog post as I look at part of the answer in your post.
It's to say that I believe it's fine.(I will still ask though.)
I agree, too Michal!!? :)

Reply
Leah
11/3/2019 23:06:12

Hello. I texted on Aish HaTorah with a rabbi rn Yerushalayim. He said that it is good to have a personal relationship with Hashem and my usage of the word "cute" is fine as long as the definition is fine, such as cute meaning thoughtful etc.
(So, I pass this along to you, Myrtle (and you Michal 😁)

Reply
Myrtle Rising
11/3/2019 23:52:34

Wow, Leah, you sure are proactive (a quality I admire a lot)!

Thanks going to all the effort and passing this on to everyone.

Reply
Leah
12/3/2019 17:39:57

:)

Mangabey
12/3/2019 17:57:34

This isn't superficial at all, in fact your post is hugely important. How many of us (including the black-hatters) understand that the Creator is there for the important stuff, like Creation, military victories and festivals, etc. but fail to absorb the idea that H" is everywhere. Even in the humdrum, day-to-day trivia of normal life. To paraphrase King David said, even when we are in the pit, H" is with us. Your story shows how we need to have an unwavering connection, not just one that's activated when davening. Sometimes we need reminding that emunah and bitachon should permeate every second of our lives. Whether it's for the 'big things' or makeup (which to some of us is a big thing!). I think there's an anecdote that Rabbi Nachman would thank for every component of a meal (tomato, cucumber, cheese, etc) rather than just 'thanks for lunch'.

Reply
Myrtle Rising
12/3/2019 18:40:25

Thanks very much for this, Mangabey. It contains really good chizuk.

Reply
Leah
12/3/2019 19:31:46

Second that! Mangaby, yes, thatst awesome!

Reply

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Help a frum family get their children back!:
    http://www.myrtlerising.com/blog/please-help-frum-family-under-attack-from-esav

    Picture
    Please note this is an affiliate link. Meaning, I get a small cut but at NO extra cost to you. If you use it, I'm grateful. If not, you still get a giant mitzvah connected to Eretz Yisrael.

    Enter your email address:

    Delivered by FeedBurner


    Myrtle Rising

    I'm a middle-aged housewife and mother in Eretz Yisrael who likes to read and write a lot.


    Picture
    Sample Chapters

    Categories

    All
    Aliyah
    Anti Jewish Bigotry
    Astronomy
    Book Review
    Books
    Chagim/Holidays
    Chinuch
    Coronavirus
    Dictionaries
    Emuna
    Eretz Yisrael
    Erev Rav
    Gender
    Hitbodedut
    "If The Torah..."
    Jewish Astrology
    Kav Hayashar
    Kli Yakar
    Lashon Hara
    Love
    Minchat Yehudah
    Mishlei/Proverbs
    Netivot Shalom
    Parenting
    Parsha
    Pele Yoetz
    Perek Shira
    Pesach
    Politics
    Prayer
    Purim
    Rav Avigdor Miller
    Rav Itamar Schwartz
    Rav L.Y. Bender
    Recipes
    "Regular" Jews
    Rosh Hashanah
    Society
    Sukkot
    Tammuz
    Technology
    Tehillim/Psalms
    Teshuvah
    The Lost Princess
    Tisha B'Av
    USA Scary Direction
    Women
    Yom Kippur

    Jewish Blogs

    Daf Yomi Review
    Derech Emet
    Going...Habayitah
    Halacha Q&A
    Hava haAharona
    Lazer Beams

    Miriam Adahan
    My Perspective

    Shirat Devorah
    Shuvu Banim
    Spiritual Coaching
    Tomer Devorah
    Toras Avigdor
    True Tzaddikim
    Tznius Blog

    Yeranen Yaakov
    Rabbi Ofer Erez (English)
    Rabbi Ofer Erez (Hebrew lectures)

    Jewish Current Events

    Hamodia
    Lemon Lime Moon
    Shuvu Banim
    Sultan Knish
    Tomer Devorah
    Yeranen Yaakov

    Jewish Health

    People Smarts
    Heliotrope Holistic Health Services

    Archives

    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015

    RSS Feed

    Copyright Notice

    ©2015-2021 Myrtle Rising
    Excerpts and links may be used without express permission as long as a link is provided back to the appropriate Myrtle Rising page.

Home/Blog

Contact

Comment Policy

Aliyah

Kli Yakar in English

Copyright © 2020
Photos used under Creative Commons from Brett Jordan, BAMCorp, Terrazzo, Abode of Chaos, Michele Dorsey Walfred, marklordphotography, M.Burak Erbaş, torbakhopper, jhritz, Rina Pitucci (Tilling 67), Svadilfari, kum111, Tim simpson1, FindYourSearch, Giorgio Galeotti, ChrisYunker, Jaykhuang, YourCastlesDecor, bluebirdsandteapots, Natalia Medd, Stefans02, ElleFlorio, Israel_photo_gallery, Commander, U.S. 7th Fleet, BradPerkins, zeevveez, dfarrell07, h.koppdelaney, Edgardo W. Olivera, nafrenkel88, zeevveez, mtchlra, Liz | populational, TraumaAndDissociation, thinboyfatter, garofalo.christina, skpy, Free Grunge Textures - www.freestock.ca, Nerru, Gregory "Slobirdr" Smith, trendingtopics, dolbinator1000, DonkeyHotey, zeevveez, erix!, zeevveez, h.koppdelaney, MAURO CATEB, kevin dooley, keepitsurreal, annikaleigh, bjornmeansbear, publicdomainphotography, Leonard J Matthews, Exile on Ontario St, Nicholas_T, marcoverch, planman, PhilWolff, j_lai, t.kunikuni, zeevveez, Ian W Scott, Brett Jordan, RonAlmog, Bob Linsdell, NASA Goddard Photo and Video, aaron_anderer, ** RCB **, Tony Webster, mypubliclands, r0sita, AntonStetner, Zachi Evenor, MrJamesBaker, sammydavisdog, Frode Ramone, Wonder woman0731, wrachele, kennethkonica, Skall_Edit, Pleuntje, Rennett Stowe, *S A N D E E P*, symphony of love, AlexanderJonesi, Arya Ziai, ePublicist, Enokson, Tony Webster, Art4TheGlryOfGod, seaternity, Andrew Tarvin, zeevveez, Israel_photo_gallery, Iqbal Osman1, Matt From London, Tribes of the World, Eric Kilby, miracle design, RonAlmog, slgckgc, Kim Scarborough, DonkeyHotey, Mike Licht, NotionsCapital.com, h.koppdelaney, gleonhard, Pedro Travassos, nociveglia, RonAlmog, Israel_photo_gallery, Septemia, Paulann_Egelhoff, Tatiana12, MAD Hippies Life, Neta Bartal, milesgehm, shooting brooklyn, RonAlmog, smilygrl, gospelportals, leighblackall, symensphotographie, zeevveez, Kyknoord, wotashot (taking a break), Tambako the Jaguar, bitmask, Arnie Sacknooson, mattymatt, Rob Swystun, zeevveez, Dun.can, Tim Patterson, timeflicks, garlandcannon, HRYMX, fred_v, Yair Aronshtam, random exposure, zeevveez, Ron Cogswell, FindYourSearch, Israel_photo_gallery, Serendipity Diamonds, zeevveez, Steve Corey, Dominic's pics, leighklotz, Stefans02, dannyman, RonAlmog, Stephen O, RonAlmog, Tips For Travellers, Futurilla, anomalous4, Bob Linsdell, AndyMcLemore, symphony of love, miketnorton, andydr, BLM Nevada, sara~, Gamma Man, Mike Licht, NotionsCapital.com, robef, European Southern Observatory, Brett Jordan, Johnny Silvercloud, Israel_photo_gallery, smkybear, --Sam--, Paulann_Egelhoff, Selena Sheridan, D'oh Boy, campbelj45ca, 19melissa68, entirelysubjective, Leimenide, dheera.net, Brett Jordan, HonestReporting.com, Iqbal Osman1, One Way Stock, Jake Waage, picto:graphic, Marcelo Alves, KAZVorpal, Sparkle Motion, Brett Jordan, Ambernectar 13, Howdy, I'm H. Michael Karshis, Steven DuBois, Cristian V., tortuga767, Jake Cvnningham, D'oh Boy, Eric Kilby, quinn.anya, Lenny K Photography, One Way Stock, Bird Eye, ell brown, Mike Licht, NotionsCapital.com, Kevin M. Gill, lunar caustic, gerrybuckel, quinn.anya, Kaz Andrew, kodomut, kayugee, jintae kim's photography, Futurilla, terri_bateman, Patty Mooney, Amydeanne, Paulann_Egelhoff, Mulling it Over, Ungry Young Man, Ruth and Dave, yangouyang374, symphony of love, kennethkonica, young@art, Brett Jordan, slgckgc, Celestine Chua, rkimpeljr, Kristoffer Trolle, TooFarNorth, D'oh Boy, Grace to You, LittleStuff.me, Dikshant Shahi, Kevin M. Gill, philozopher, traveltipy.com, Alan Cleaver, crazyoctopus, d_vdm, tonynetone, penjelly, TheToch, JohnE777, hello-julie, DaveBleasdale, Michael Candelori Photography, andessurvivor, slgckgc, byzantiumbooks, sasha diamanti