Spoiled, yes! Rotten, no!

When we were blessed with our first grandchild, a family member gave us a gift: a needlepoint pillow with the words "Grandchildren spoiled here".

Thank G-d, the pillow has been used as a head rest by several more grandchildren since - and more, please G-d, to come. But the wording made me think about the idea of being "spoiled". Generally, when something is "spoiled", it is ruined or no longer edible. Webster's definitions are chock full of negative connotations. And yet, grandparents are known to "spoil" their grandchildren. And for added emphasis, they spoil them rotten! 

Where oh where am I going with this? Well, wherever I'm going, I'd better get there quickly because Tu b'Shevat is almost over in the holy Land and more than halfway done here. And that's the point. I'm here. Not there. I was getting somewhat "spoiled", feeling indulged, having spent the last two Tu b'Shevats - and the last three out of five - in Israel. (Feel free to go back in the archives of this blog to recall my personal pleasure and gratitude for being "there" then.)

Our intentions were to continue the trend again this year but G-d had other plans - most of them great "consolation prizes"; some not as much so but all for the best. And guess what? I'm still feeling spoiled - by the dear friends who, unsolicited, shared their photos of this year's sh'keydiah porachat (blossoming almond tree) with me to warm my heart and make my day. 

Thank you, Sharon A. of The Real Jerusalem Streets (www.rjstreets.com) for the photo

credit: The Real Jerusalem Streets

and for everything else you do so well!

Thank you, Shani G., for the photo and for being such a dear friend for more years than I want to admit.

It's a rainy Tu b'Shevat "here" - in fact, the first of a few rainy days ahead - but my weather app tells me that the Jerusalem rains have stopped in time for my friends to be spoiled by G-d's promise of spring.

According to vocabulary.com, "when a person is spoiled, they're damaged by having been given everything they want". I beg to differ. I believe that when a grandparent spoils a grandchild, when someone spoils a faraway friend to make her feel closer to Home, when G-d spoils us by making some of our dreams come true, the spoilee feels loved, cared for and grateful - not damaged and certainly not rotten!

And if everyone on the receiving end of the spoiling would take it, turn it around and spoil someone else, oh, what a wonderful world this would be!

When I sit down to our festive Tu b'Shevat feast in a few hours, I will Remember Tu b'Shevat in Jerusalem - the flowers, the friends, how fortunate I am to be somewhat spoiled - and I'll wish the same for you!

Tu b'Shevat Sameyach!