Develop yourself to the best of your ability
Once we break a taboo 3 times, it seems o.k … and we need help to even realize what we ar doing is taboo.
(Baal Shem Tov)
A taboo is doing that which you know you shouldn’t do. In short a sin, you are missing your purpose, your goal of being a good person who has a relationship with G-d.
A connection with G-d involves doing charity, praying and learning Torah.
Every time we break the same taboo, we cut 1 of these connecting wires with G-d (in this area). Each subsequent time makes us feel less guilty. The moment all three are broken we need the charity of another who teaches us from Torah that we are committing a mistake which should bring us to prayer to ask for forgiveness. A proper way of asking forgiveness is done from a sincere heart and it is recommendable to do so with charity. As we read in:
“Treasures of wickedness will nog avail, but charity will save from death”.
(Proverbs 10:2)
“Riches will not avail on the day of wrath, but charity will save from death.” (Proverbs 11:4)
After 3 times, sin has already become so normal that we no longer think about it being wrong.
But the reverse is also true. If we want to teach ourselves something good, it will not go perfectly the first time, the second time will go better, but by the third time it has become part of our habits.
Let us all train ourselves to practice new good habits.
By Angelique Sijbolts
Sources: Pirkei Avot
@ Copyright, all rights reserved. If you enjoyed this article, we encourage you to distribute it further.
