Take a glance at Adam Harishon. He had everything! The perfect human being, born into a perfect set of circumstances! No genetics to worry about. No hereditary pre-dispositions… he “had it made”!
However, just a few minutes into his creation, he is enticed to sin…and the rest is history! As a result of Adams’ sin and to this day (and until the end of time), we are destined to earn our bread by “the sweat of our brow”. Our women must endure unspeakable (labor) pains to bring children into this world..etc.
Adam realized full well, the havoc he had caused and clearly understood the ramifications of his actions. He also recognized how much he had angered Hashem and that he had repaid Hashems’ kindness with sin. Chazzal teach us that at the end of his first full day on Earth (Friday), Adam saw the sun begin to set. He had never before witnessed such a phenomena! He literally saw the sun begin to go down and he thought to himself….Look what I have caused!!! I have literally caused the world to be destroyed! This beautiful world which Hashem created for my benefit and I have ruined everything with my sin! He could not be consoled and he wept.
However, he soon realized that Hashem was not destroying the world at all! Rather, Hakadosh Baruch Hu was ushering in the glory of Shabbos Kodesh!!! The very first Shabbos Kodesh of creation and the Holiest day of creation!
The lesson we learn from this is obvious.
From darkness comes light and night always gives way to day! Although we sometimes sin and hurt ourselves and our creator, it is never to late to pick up the pieces and move forward! We can always grow from our problems and sometimes our greatest accomplishments come on the heels of our failures!
There is always hope! Never despair!
<Heard from Rav Shimshon Pincus>
