Home › Forums › Inspiration / Mussar › A Letter From the Yetzer Hara
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April 14, 2010 3:25 pm at 3:25 pm #591552GetzelParticipant
To my star pupil,
I am writing this letter to let you know what I think of you. Up here in heaven things are not like they are down on Earth. Over there, people only know what they can see. If they see a person is “successful”, they think that he is the greatest guy. When they see somebody struggling, they think he might be one of the weaker elements.
Let me tell you something. Hashem gives every person certain abilities that nobody knows about down where you live. Some people are capable of tremendous things, while others were put there for much smaller purposes. Only Hashem in His infinite wisdom is able to give every person exactly what he needs, to reach his potential.
I am very misunderstood. Most people hate me, and I don’t really blame them. Most people think that my job is to make sure that they fail in all aspects of Mitzvos, and that I rejoice every time they sin. This is the furthest thing from the truth. Did you ever watch a boxing coach train his student? It is really a funny sight. The coach will put on gloves, and fight against his student. At first, he won’t hit him so hard, or throw his best punches. But, as the student gets better and better, the coach will start to fight him harder and harder. He does this so that the student will improve his skills, and become the best boxer he can be. This is where it gets strange. Every time the coach knocks down the student, the student gets yelled at!! But finally, when the coach threw everything he has at his student, and not only does he withstand the beating, but he knocks the coach down, there is nobody in the world happier then the coach himself!
This is exactly how I feel. If you fail right away, and don’t even try to fight back, I see that there is not much talent to work with, and so I take it easy on you. But if you get back up swinging, I realize that I may have a real winner here, and so I start to intensify the beating. With every level that you go up, I increase the intensity of the fight. If you finally deal me a blow that knocks me out, I will get up and embrace you and rejoice with your success.
Sometimes my job is very disappointing I see a person with a lot of potential and I start right in on him. He fights back for a while, but when the fight gets too tough, he quits and just remains on whatever level he was on. (And he usually ends up going down!) I feel like yelling at him, “Get up you fool! Do you have any idea how much more you could be accomplishing?!” But I am not allowed to do so. I just leave him alone, and go try to find another promising candidate.
If I have chosen you to be the target of my more fierce battles, it was not for no reason! You have tremendous ability! You were born into a very special family, you have Rabbeim who really care about you, and parents who would help you grow in Torah and Mitzvos. You are a very respectful and kind person.
Always remember one thing: you have a secret weapon at your disposal. I shouldn’t really be telling you – but I will anyway. Hashem himself is watching our “training” sessions very closely. I’m pleased to inform you that He’s rooting for you! If things should ever get tough, almost too tough to bear, just callout to Him with a prayer, and He will immediately come to your aid. I wish you the best of luck, and I hope that after 120 years when your time is up in that world of falsehood, you will come up here to the world of truth, where I will be waiting for you with open arms, to congratulate you on your victory, and personally escort you to your place next to the Kisey HaKavod.
Sincerely, and with great admiration I remain,
Your Yetzer Hara
April 14, 2010 4:29 pm at 4:29 pm #1193540smartcookieMemberNice.
April 14, 2010 5:13 pm at 5:13 pm #1193541the.nurseMemberWow. Really nice. Thank you.
April 14, 2010 7:17 pm at 7:17 pm #1193542YW Moderator-80MemberApril 15, 2010 8:38 pm at 8:38 pm #1193543GetzelParticipantthanks YW Moderator-80
it was a email i received i did not know the source
April 15, 2010 8:47 pm at 8:47 pm #1193544YW Moderator-80MemberI figured as much, I didn’t mean to imply anything. I think it is quite an excellent “article”
January 24, 2014 2:45 pm at 2:45 pm #1193545OURtorahParticipantWOW my friend just sent this to me! I thought this would be great to bring back int sight for everyone! Espcailly in our day and age, when everything seems so bleary and hard, and our perception of Hashem seems so distant, when really Hashem is hugging each and every one of us as this moment!!!
Thank you for posting 3 years ago, this wil never get old!!!
January 24, 2014 8:13 pm at 8:13 pm #1193546oomisParticipantSo good.
January 26, 2014 11:50 pm at 11:50 pm #1193547the-art-of-moiParticipantThe person that wrote this is amazing! I am so jealous of his shre in The World To Come.
January 27, 2014 6:13 am at 6:13 am #1193548oyyoyyoyParticipantdont tell anyone i appreciated this. its not the most manly thing to say i realy got chizzuk from this, but i did.
January 27, 2014 9:35 pm at 9:35 pm #1193549👑RebYidd23ParticipantIt’s all speculation. It was written by a human.
January 27, 2014 9:35 pm at 9:35 pm #1193550👑RebYidd23ParticipantHumans are human.
January 28, 2014 12:31 am at 12:31 am #1193551OURtorahParticipantrebyidd- as much as thats true, I think the message is something that is true and powerful, and can give alot of chizuk where it’s needed!
November 22, 2016 6:59 am at 6:59 am #1193552Lilmod UlelamaidParticipantbump
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