MITZVAH MINUTE: Modeh Ani - Thank G‑d I’m Alive!

B"H


Iyar 22, 5772 * May 14, 2012

==============
MITZVAH MINUTE
==============

Modeh Ani
Thank G‑d I'm Alive!

====================

A new day, new battles. Actually, one battle that assumes different forms: I Want vs. I Should. The day's first battlefield is your bed, and the first shot is fired when the alarm clock rings. I Want reaches out to hit the snooze button; I Should is ready to jump out of bed and take on another day.

That's why the first instruction in the Code of Jewish Law is: "Be strong as a lion when you wake up in the morning to serve your Creator." Because if you win this battle, the rest are lamb chops.

Here's some fodder for your cannon in those early morning forays: Think how, every night, your soul ascends to heaven to recharge. This morning, G-d chose to return your soul to your body and grant you once again the gift of life—a sure sign that there's a little dark corner left in this world for you to come and illuminate. G-d trusts that you are up to the task.

Now verbalize it:



מוֹדֶה אֲנִי לְפָנֶיךָ מֶלֶךְ חַי וְקַיָּם, שֶׁהֶחֱזַרְתָּ בִּי נִשְׁמָתִי בְּחֶמְלָה. רַבָּה אֱמוּנָתֶךָ.

Modeh anee lefanecha melech chai vekayam, she-he-chezarta bee nishmatee b'chemla, raba emunatecha. (Click here for audio of a Modeh Ani song [ http://link.Chabad.org/go.asp?li=5F8F2E3457661FDD36A1DDE72F9BE312&ui=F8C16ABBBCDB72AD0024EE2F647D78D2 ].)

I offer thanks to You, living and eternal King, for You have restored my soul within me; Your faithfulness is great.

These are the first words we utter every morning—while still lying in bed. Our first conscious moments are spent thanking G-d for the gift of life. It doesn't matter what we did yesterday or last night; nothing can taint those first innocent words that sit at our primal consciousness.

Still having a problem dragging yourself out of bed? Use your imagination. Picture yourself lying there while a king or head of state stands above you, waiting for you to get your act together to execute some critical mission.

Well, it isn't a king or president. It is the one who creates kings, presidents, and the entire world at every moment—and you too. Again. Today.


-
Illustrations by Yehuda Lang [ mailto:yehud24@yahoo.com ]. To view more artwork by this artist, click here [ http://link.Chabad.org/go.asp?li=848A8E2A41FE408C1A95B556FAD38FC3&ui=F8C16ABBBCDB72AD0024EE2F647D78D2 ].

- To view this article on the Web, or to post a comment, please click here: http://link.Chabad.org/go.asp?li=0B176C05E36E75697DB64551BCDB56A9&ui=F8C16ABBBCDB72AD0024EE2F647D78D2

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

This subscription is available and better viewed in a graphic (HTML) format. To update your preferences, please click here:
http://link.Chabad.org/go.asp?li=6B8839D7B23B34539B86BE7BCE986769&ui=F8C16ABBBCDB72AD0024EE2F647D78D2

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Copyright © Chabad.org

For more Torah study and inspiring articles, please visit:
http://link.Chabad.org/go.asp?li=B0F48A67F52F0B25A7783E779E6F1874&ui=F8C16ABBBCDB72AD0024EE2F647D78D2

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

** Enjoyed this email? Please help us continue sharing the
study of Torah and Jewish traditions:

Dedicate or sponsor an email to mark your special occasion!
Please click here: http://link.Chabad.org/go.asp?li=A2DB14E8A139D38F6EE4866617F0851B&ui=F8C16ABBBCDB72AD0024EE2F647D78D2

Please click here to make a donation to Chabad.org:
http://link.Chabad.org/go.asp?li=9291F6016C68166D24C6C85A6BE6A417&ui=F8C16ABBBCDB72AD0024EE2F647D78D2

** Important Tip: In order to guarantee that your Chabad.org subscription
emails continue to be delivered to you, please make sure to add our
address, subscriptions@chabad.org, to your address book, or "whitelist"
it in any spam filters or spam programs you may have.

** Manage your complete subscription profile online: Subscribes,
unsubscribes, address changes, vacation holds, and more. Register here:
http://link.Chabad.org/go.asp?li=9E9B85E058FDCF7817DC49100D682AA9&ui=F8C16ABBBCDB72AD0024EE2F647D78D2&emailpk=_323940_1826535@

** To subscribe to more Chabad.org email lists please click here:
http://link.Chabad.org/go.asp?li=E987C2604C9F7CE6326DDD7954EB6D7E&ui=F8C16ABBBCDB72AD0024EE2F647D78D2

** To be removed from this email list please click here:
http://www.chabad.org/unsub.asp?i=5AF46983675481301E6DD73DCE6626C50A0A7BAB8AFB266EB953A387C464D1F6
If you would just like your email suspended and resumed at a later
date, please let us know here:
http://link.Chabad.org/go.asp?li=09A337CF106FC8D2C8065DFE920C34F2&ui=F8C16ABBBCDB72AD0024EE2F647D78D2&email=yurochkadrugach.yurochka@blogger.com

** You are subscribed to the "Mitzvah Minute" email list as:
yurochkadrugach.yurochka@blogger.com. If your e-mail address is changing
please send us your new email address here:
http://link.Chabad.org/go.asp?li=1DB8E30219C2BD651127CFD3385CD627&ui=F8C16ABBBCDB72AD0024EE2F647D78D2&email=yurochkadrugach.yurochka@blogger.com

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Chabad.org
Chabad Lubavitch Media Center
770 Eastern Parkway * Brooklyn, NY * 11213
Web: http://link.Chabad.org/go.asp?li=DE4187A81E6C15C54AF7416E61079B99&ui=F8C16ABBBCDB72AD0024EE2F647D78D2
Feedback: http://link.Chabad.org/go.asp?li=2576441A38EA10CC8425D86AB3B24F6B&ui=F8C16ABBBCDB72AD0024EE2F647D78D2

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>