Rabbi Nachman teaches,
Once there was a wealthy man who had a shop where he lived and kept his stock of merchandise. Thieves came and robbed him of his wealth and possessions, and he lost a large part of what he had. But he collected together the remains and was able to put himself back on his feet again. He purchased some more stock and once again became a shopkeeper.
Then more thieves came and robbed him of whatever was left of his previous wealth. Still, he once again gathered together what little he could from the remnants of what was left to him and his wife’s jewelry, and he was able to get back on his feet again. He set up a store to provide himself and his household with their livelihood.
Again thieves came and robbed him of whatever was left, and he became so impoverished that his house was completely empty. He went and collected together a miserable sum, bought a few bits and pieces, and went around the villages like the poor tinkers who travel about with bundles of goods, needles, pipes and similar small items. He went from village to village trading needles for chickens and eggs among the gentiles, and this was how he earned the family bread.
One day he was on his way from the villages carrying his small stock and a few items of food when he was set upon by a bandit. The bandit was riding a horse and carrying two enormous bundles. He wanted to rob him and the man began to weep and plead with the bandit. However, he paid no attention and robbed him of the little he had. The man was left with nothing at all, and he wept bitterly. As if his previous troubles had not been enough when he had been stripped of his great wealth! Now they had torn from him even his meager remaining livelihood!
Meanwhile, he noticed that the bandit had fallen from his horse. He was trying to get up, but the horse was standing at his side trampling his head with its hooves. The bandit fell back and died. The man went over to look and saw that the robber had fallen to the ground dead. He opened the robber’s bundles, and there he found all the merchandise, wealth and possessions that the bandit had ever stolen from him. He returned to his house in peace with his wealth restored.
One should never despair. A person may be robbed and plundered time and time again, yet he should never despair of G-d’s mercy and kindness. In the end the robber will suffer a fall from which he will never rise again, while the one who was robbed will recover all the holiness, goodness and devotion that were stolen from him and return to his wealth and eternal goodness.
Chayey Moharan #97
With permission taken over from: Daily Dose Of Rabbi Nachman
