We often take the everyday wonders around us for granted, don't we?

Midrash Tehillim, a collection of rabbinic teachings that illuminate the Book of Psalms, encourages us to do just the opposite. To really see the miracles, the kindness, the sheer providence woven into the fabric of our existence. Specifically, Midrash Tehillim 103, in its wonderfully earthy way, uses the example of pregnancy to illustrate this point.

The verse in question is "Bless the Lord, O my soul, and do not forget all His rewards." (Psalm 103:2). Seems straightforward enough. But the rabbis, masters of uncovering hidden depths, find profound meaning even in this seemingly simple statement.

Rabbi Abba bar Kahana offers a striking image. He says, imagine holding a coin in your mouth. Almost immediately, gravity takes over, and it falls. But then look at a pregnant woman. She walks upright, yet the baby remains safely within her womb. It’s like a person on a ship in the middle of the sea, somehow kept safe and secure. Why doesn’t the fetus simply…fall out? ! Animals, who walk on four legs, keep their young safely inside. And yet, a woman, who walks on two, manages the same feat! It’s truly remarkable.

The Midrash isn’t just making a biological observation. It's reminding us that there's a force, a divine hand, constantly at work, ensuring the continuation of life. It’s a subtle, often overlooked act of kindness.

And then, Rabbi Simon adds another layer. He emphasizes the inherent fragility of a woman. "This woman is made up of poking [thin and fragile] parts," he says. It sounds a bit harsh to our modern ears, but the point is clear: a woman's body is delicate, easily vulnerable. Rabbi Simon argues that if she was left to her own devices for even an hour, she could die. Think about the dangers of childbirth throughout history! The fact that women survive and thrive, that they carry new life within them, is nothing short of a miracle.

Both rabbis, in their own ways, are driving home the same message: Don’t forget! Don’t forget the constant, often unseen, blessings that surround us. Don't forget to acknowledge the divine care that sustains us. Don't forget to offer thanks for the wonder of life itself.

These early rabbis found profound inspiration in everyday life. What do you find miraculous? What seemingly ordinary thing fills you with a sense of wonder and gratitude?