It had belonged to Great-grandmother and he knew he must be very careful. The vase was one of mother’s dearest treasures. She had told him so many times.

The vase was taken down for holidays and important family dinners. It would be filled with beautiful flowers and set out for everyone to see.

When not in use, the vase was placed on a high shelf. It was well out of the reach of little hands, but somehow he managed. He just wanted to see if the birds and flowers went all around the back. He didn’t realize that a boy’s five-year-old hands are sometimes clumsy and not meant to hold delicate porcelain treasures. It shattered when it hit the floor, and he began to cry. That cry soon became a sobbing wail, growing louder and louder. From the kitchen his mother heard her son crying and she came running. Her footsteps hurried down the hall and came around the corner. She stopped then, looked at him, and saw what he had done.

All he could do was say, “I broke…the vase. I didn’t mean too.” The boy could not stop crying and he felt bad because the vase was his mother’s most favorite thing.

His mother looked around and saw the shattered vase and heard the cries of her son.

With a look of relief, his mother said “Oh, thank goodness, I thought you were hurt!” And then she held him tenderly until his sobbing stopped.

She made it very clear — he was the treasure. As he grew into a man he realized that “Wealth and wages make life sweet, but better than either is finding a treasure.” (ben Sirach 40:18) Though now a grown man, it is a gift from his mother who treasured him that he still carries in his heart.

So it is with people for the Holy One, blessed be He “formed mankind from the dust of the earth and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.” (Genesis 2:7) All people are a treasured heirloom since they were created with elements of the physical and spiritual worlds.

May this tale help you be successful in this world as you grow in the spiritual realm.

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

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Tell it to your children, and let your children tell it to their children, and their children to the next generation. (Joel 1:3)

Rachmiel Tobesman is a motivational speaker and Maggid (spiritual Storyteller). He is available for speaking engagements or storytelling, Click here to contact us

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