Adapted from: Living with Miracles by Rabbi Binyomin Pruzansky

Simchah is great medicine. It infuses us with energy and the ability to tackle life’s tasks. Nothing is too hard when we’re happy and positive, but when we’re down, the smallest task seems like too much. The tzaddikim say that there is no greater way to serve Hashem than with simchah.

At Camp Simcha, children whose lives have been upended by illness, hospital stays, and medical treatments have a chance to get back their childhood. The camp exists for one simple purpose — to give these children the time of their lives.

When Reuven signed up to be a counselor, he knew he would have to throw himself into the job, heart and soul. Reuven was assigned to a camper named Dovi, and he made it his mission to ensure that Dovi had an incredible summer. Day by day, the counselor and camper bonded with each other and shared many moments of laughter. Besides this aspect of the job, Reuven had one other important responsibility: to make sure Dovi went to the infirmary every day to receive his medications.

When the last day of camp approached, Reuven helped Dovi pack his belongings. He took the suitcase out of storage and opened it up to begin the job. But then he stopped in his tracks and the blood drained from his face. There, staring at him from inside the otherwise empty suitcase, was a large bottle filled with pills, labeled with instructions to take one twice a day. Dovi hadn’t taken it once in the entire time he was in camp!

“Oh no!” How could I have missed this?” Reuven thought. He immediately took the medicine and ran at full speed to the infirmary to show the doctor the pills. He feared that because he missed giving this medication, Dovi’s health would be compromised, and it would be all his fault.

When he walked into the infirmary, his face was tense with fear. He handed the bottle of pills to the nurse. “Here, look at this,” he told her. “I just found it in Dovi’s suitcase, and he hasn’t taken it all summer!”

The nurse read the label and appeared confused. “This is impossible,” she said. “Let me show this to the doctor.”

Reuven waited with a sick feeling inside. Had he harmed this little boy he had tried so hard to help? The doctor came out of his office and looked at the bottle.

“Wow, I can’t believe this,” he said.

“I know. I’m sorry. I really messed up!” said Reuven. “Is Dovi going to be alright?”

“Don’t worry,” said the doctor. “You didn’t mess up. Actually, you did an amazing job. You see, this medicine is a powerful painkiller. When Dovi came to camp, he was in so much pain that he needed high doses of this medication. You did such a good job and made him so happy that he didn’t feel the pain and never complained about it all summer long! He never asked for his pain medicine.”

Reuven was relieved. He marveled at the power of simchah to free a young boy from the burden of pain and let him experience pure happiness.

The prescription is the same for everyone. The more we focus on the good in our lives, the happier we are. The power is in our hands.

Ramp up the simchah in your life by being mindful of the many gifts you enjoy: A pleasant, sunny day. A good meal. A warm greeting from a friend. The world overflows with evidence of Hashem’s kindness!