Avoiding the Airport - Rabbi David Kaplan

jeff had Ruthie we had been married for many many years over 50 well over 50 and they were almost inseparable everywhere they went they went together they shopped together did everything together they raised their family at children grandchildren great-grandchildren and then one day Ruthie decided to go out with a friend of hers Marsha they went off to a tour of Europe there was an organized tour kosher meals kosher hotels I went on an 11 day tour after 11 days over coming back flying back into Israel and Jeff was going to go pick up Ruthie at the airport who was planning on picking her up he knew she'd appreciate it and it was expected there was never a trip that she made that either them made that the other one didn't come to greet them at the airport and the Dyke before they were due to return one of the Jeff's kids was speaking to him it's a dad what time are you going tomorrow to the airport to go pick up mom and he said well I'm not going to be going son was shocked because he'd never heard that his father was antsy waiting he missed her terribly so well dad why aren't you going to the airport he says I'll tell you you know I really want to go but I know that you know mom went with her friend Marcia they went off on this trip and marshes husband is that well he's not going to be able to go to the airport the two of them are flying in together if I go to the airport and pick up mom which I want to do then Marcia's gonna feel bad that her husband wasn't able to come and pick her up and therefore I know what mom would really want from me is to not come to the airport so that Marcia shouldn't feel bad now it's a very important life lesson for us that everything that we do sometimes there's an act of consideration but there's more consideration to be considered over the original act of consideration in this particular case where is Jeff wanted to go that was his personal need his wife would have loved to see him that was there her need but there was an even bigger need which was their marsh and I feel bad Phil any emotional pain because her and be able to come to the airport