Devorah and myself were blessed with a precious baby girl, Miriam, this past Sunday. It is common for parents and friends to compare the looks and personalities of our children against a sibling or other relative.
This story of the great Hassidic leader, Zusha of Annipoli should give us pause in our obsession with comparing one child to another, or ourselves to our neighbors.
Once, Reb Zusha seemed distressed. His peers approached him: "Zusha, what's the matter? You look frightened!"
"The other day, I learned of the question that I will be asked in heaven when it my time to stand before G-d." His peers looked puzzled: "Zusha, you are pious. You are scholarly and humble. You have helped so many of us. What question about your life could be so terrifying that you would be frightened to answer it?"
Zusha turned his gaze to heaven. "I have learned that they will not ask me, 'Why weren't you a Moses, leading your people out of slavery?’. They will not ask me, 'Why weren't you a Joshua, leading your people into the promised land?'"
“But what will they ask you”, his confused friends asked. Looking into their eyes he replied, "They will say to me, 'Zusha, why weren't you Zusha?'"
G-d expects each of us to be the best version of ourselves we can be. Not what somebody else is, or what somebody else thinks I should be.
It's a liberating thought, but at the same time it is demanding; so give it all you got!