A Lesson in Emunah
Some days are just an adventure from start to finish.
My day started off beautifully I got the kids ready, dropped them off at school, and dove into my daily routine. Work was busy and filled with excitement from the students, but during my lunch break, I took a moment to step outside, sit in my car, and just breathe. It was a much-needed pause in the middle of a hectic day. Before returning to the classroom, I spent a few minutes cleaning out my car and sorting through some papers. Once I was done, I headed back inside, ready to continue teaching. Everything felt completely normal until the end of the day.
As I walked to my car, ready to go home, I reached for the door handle, but it wouldn’t open. I tried again. Nothing. Then it hit me, where are my keys?
Panic took over instantly as my mind raced to retrace my entire day. I rushed back into the building, searching my desk, my classroom, and every place I had been. But my keys were nowhere to be found. The more I searched, the more my anxiety grew. Desperate, I even started emptying trash cans, hoping that maybe just maybe my keys had somehow ended up in the trash. Thinking I might have thrown them away when I was cleaning my car on break.
At that moment, my co-workers walk in one by one. Seeing me in full-blown panic mode, everyone offered to help. Another co-worker Miri immediately jumped in to help. With a kind and generous heart, she reminded me to say the Pasuk for lost items. We said it three times together as we continued searching. Despite our efforts, the keys were nowhere to be found, and as 4:15 rolled around, Miri had to leave. I was left standing in the classroom, still keyless, still unsure of what to do next.
Now, I’m standing in the room, taking a deep breath, trying to stay calm as I start making calls. I arrange for someone to pick up my car, find a ride for my kids to get home, and arrange a ride back home for myself. The stress is still there, but I’m determined to find my keys. As I’m in the class my little brother calls me and we talk and I’m venting explaining my frustration, he calmly said, “Hana, these are the moments when you have to have faith. This is when you have to trust in Hashem. Believe that you will find it, Stay calm.”
That was the wake-up call I needed. I took a deep breath again and reminded myself I will find these keys. I am not leaving without them. I looked around the room once more. Walking and taking on the phone and that’s when my eyes landed on my other jacket, the one I had worn during my lunch break. A sudden memory flashed through my mind I had switched jackets when I went outside. Could it be? I walked over, reached into the pocket, and there they were my keys.
A huge smile spread across my face. My brother and I laughed. I immediately called everyone and everyone who had helped, laughing as I shared the news. What had started as a chaotic, stressful moment turned into a powerful reminder that emunah, patience, and trust in Hashem can carry us through anything, even something as simple as lost keys.
So today, I am grateful. Grateful for the reminder to trust, to stay calm, and to believe that everything happens for a reason. And if anyone saw me frantically searching through trash cans, well… let’s just call it a lesson in Emunah.
Emunah