The Yetzer Tov Wins Again

The nasty old Yetzer Harah kept pressuring David to cry and be upset and fight back against his brothers and stand his ground. But David began to realize that his Yetzer Tov was right. His whole family – including himself – would be worse off if he listened to the Yetzer Hara. He said to himself, “If I listen to the Yetzer Hara, here’s what will happen. Everyone will be miserable. I’ll be angry and crying and screaming. Mommy and Daddy will be upset about that, and my brothers and I will be fighting. Everyone will lose! Maybe I should just give in to my brothers’ demands and clean the house, even though it’s not my turn. I know that’s not fair, and it takes a lot of work that isn’t fun, but I also know that if I just go ahead and do it, the house will be neat, and everyone will enjoy it and be happy.”

David knew he was going to need some extra help and inner strength to listen to his Yetzer Tov and do what he knew was right, so he turned to Hashem and prayed:

“Master of the Universe, please help me and have mercy!

Strengthen my resolve to overpower my Yetzer Hara.

Grant me the ability to give in and do what I know is right, so that I’ll be able to perform the mitzvoth of doing kindness and honoring my parents.

Creator of the World, help me avoid causing my parents suffering. Help me be a good boy and to observe Your commandments. Help me to avoid being angry and not to make problems for anyone.

Help me remind myself that even though it’s not my turn, it’s hard, and I don’t enjoy it, if I do clean up the house, I will get a special kind of reward, an even greater one than satisfying my brothers: I will get another mitzvah that’s written down in Heaven’s Book of Good Deeds!

Please also help me realize that what’s happening to me is a test. It’s a gift You are giving me, and I want to pass with flying colors by doing the right thing.

And please give me the ability to always see the good side of other people, even when they’re not treating me nicely, and help me remember that You created everything and everyone with perfect beauty.”

When he finished praying, without saying anything to his brothers or anyone else, David went ahead and did the chores. Rather than feeling resentful, David rejoiced in his heart and thanked Hashem, Who had allowed him to pray to Him and gave him strength.