R'Moshe Leib Masosov z"tl, was once traveling through the forest when he was ambushed by a group of bandits. The head of the group, recognized R'Moshe Leib, as R'Moshe Leib would always have his house open for people to eat and sleep if they needed. The head of the group himself had eaten and spent time at R'Moshe's house and he therefore felt gratitude towards R'Moshe. He told R'Moshe that he would not kill him but instead he would be taken to the hideout of the bandits and he would become the teacher of the bandit's son. R'Moshe was taken to the secret hideout and began to teach the boy but the boy wasn't very smart and couldn't grasp anything that he was taught. Every night the bandit would test his son on what he learnt, but since his son didn't understand anything and was unable to answer, his father would beat him. The son never made a sound and was quiet. After a few weeks the father realized it was useless to keep R'Moshe around as his son was helpless. He decided to free R'Moshe and instructed his son to accompany R'Moshe and show him the way out of the hideout and back to civilization. As the boy was walking with R'Moshe, R'Moshe asked the boy how he was able to keep quiet and not scream when he was beaten. The boy answered that the first thing they teach them as bandits is that no matter how badly they beat you never speak. R'Moshe pressed the boy further and asked him practically speaking how did he keep quiet? The boy answered that there are three things that he kept in mind. One, was that at some point the beating would end, it wouldn't last forever. The second thing he would think is that each smack would be the last. The last thing he kept in mind is that at the end of the day it is his father who is hitting him.

R'Moshe said that the young boy taught him so much in terms of trust in G-d. Many times a person is faced with difficulties and they feel like they are getting smacked and enduring a "beating". A person needs to remain strong and keep in mind that there will be an end to the troubles, the troubles may end at any minute and that it is our Father in Heaven, who is only interested in what is best for us, has orchestrated these troubles.

Shabbat Shalom,

Heath