I have Yichus. Big Time.
Being that I am self made. I was not raised in a Torah home, or with Emuna, and yet I found Hashem through hardship in life. I yearned and desired Him sincerely, and davened that I should find “the way” to serve Him.
And He led me to Yiddishkeit. I was so astonished that this..”The World’s Best Kept Secret” actually existed. Yet, Can you imagine how it felt to walk into a orthdox synogogue for the first time out of true awe to pray to the Creator and have people put their noses up at me, or to interrogate me with endless humiliating questions? Or not to know which way to hold the Siddur up or down? Serious!
And I came far with Hashem’s blessing and help. I didn’t have someone leading me like a child pulling my hand. Of course I had people here and there along the road I turned to for questions, guidance and role models and Hebrew Classes, but if you look at this insightfully, truthfully, my kids and their kids and their kids should be like whoa mama, bubbe ladyfrumgit was “the lady”. Real Yichus in Abishter’s eyes. She was like Avraham Avinu.
I mamish looked around and realized there was a G-d in the world!
Isn’t that status? Now do you think that should give me an ego? Do you think that should lead my family to have gaiva? It sure doesn’t. A person with emuna is humble because they realize they can’t do it without Hashem.
I heard a nice thing once (dont know the author):
WHat you are is G-d’s gift to you
What you make of yourself is your gift to G-d.