Three years ago G-d gave us the greatest blessing any parent could ever wish for: triplets! Our lives changed immeasurably, and we remain eternally grateful and bless Him every day for entrusting us with this gift.
Time has flown; it’s hard to believe they are already turning three. What a journey it has been!
Raising children is never easy, and raising triplets (in addition to five other children) comes with its own unique set of hurdles. Try to imagine ever sleeping again (don’t worry, I can’t either!), bedtime routines, meals, getting everyone out the door in the mornings, family vacations, tuition bills… all are exponentially magnified.
Truth be told, some things were easier when they were infants. Bedtime, for example. At least then when we put them in their cribs they couldn’t get out. Now, they are expert escape artists of the highest order, and we are outnumbered! We put them to bed, say Shema with them, help them relax, stay for a few minutes, but as soon as we leave the room, all three will have jumped out of their beds and are running and dancing excitedly around the house. We tried crib covers and those worked for a few weeks until they figured out how to maneuver their way out of those too. So now I’ve bowed out and handed bedtime over to my wife; somehow she prevails.
But the nachas and joy they give us makes it all worthwhile. In fact, if G-d would bless us with another set of multiples I would again consider it better than winning the billion-dollar powerball!
This week they’ll be reaching an important milestone: turning three. At three, a child’s formal Jewish education begins. Our daughter will begin lighting Shabbat candles every Friday evening and will continue doing so for the rest of her life. And our sons will begin wearing their kippahs and tzitzit at all times.
A child is likened to a tree. Just as a tree needs roots to grow, children need a solid foundation to flourish. And the same way we are instructed to leave fruit trees untouched for the first three years, we leave our sons’ hair uncut for the first three years of their lives. This week, we will be cutting their hair for the first time.
You see, from birth till three a child is a “receiver,” receiving their parents’ love and dedication with little ability to give anything in return. But from the age of three a child transforms into a “giver,” so we begin to educate them and introduce them to the mitzvot they will continue for the rest of their lives. So Avigayil will shepherd light into the world every Friday when she lights Shabbat candles, and Dovid and Yehuda will proudly wear their kippahs and tzitzit from now on. They will all recite blessings and the Shema going forward.
As for all of us who are long past the three-year milestone, it’s a good reminder that life is about giving, not receiving, and we should make it a priority to focus on what we can give to others: How can I improve the world? How can I positively influence those around me? What can I do for G-d? How can I help those in need? There is always something we can do; someone we can benefit.
Please join us on Zoom this Monday evening, January 18, as we celebrate this important occasion.
Shabbat Shalom
Rabbi Uriel Vigler