A Bounty of Blessings

I've noticed a difference in the way people in the Jewish community speak with a pregnant woman about her pregnancy than those in secular society do. When I speak with coworkers and people in secular society, I'm usually greeted with a slew of questions- when are you due, how do you feel, boy or girl, etc etc etc. Often I'll get the story of how their pregnancy was, how it was harder or easier, or how I could learn from their experience(s). I appreciate the stories, and know that people are interested and do sincerely care for my and my baby's wellbeing- but they demonstrate it through a mini inquisition and the empathy of shared experience, rarely actually verbalizing their good wishes.

When I speak with someone in the community, I'm immediately greeted with a blessing- "B'sha'ah tova", in a good time. Then come a couple questions- and each answer is followed by a blessing...

coversationalist: How are you feeling?

me: Baruch Hashem, very well, thank you.

coversationalist: Baruch Hashem, you should feel wonderful. When are you due?

me: Early January.

coversationalist: It should be b'sha'ah tova and you should have an easy birth. Do you know if it's a boy or a girl?

me: We know, but it's a secret.

coversationalist: You should have a healthy baby, a yireh shamayim!

Both approaches have their own flare, but there's no replacing an actually-verbalized blessing. There is a famous story of a very poor family who has one daughter of marriagable age. She is getting older and older, and her parents become increasingly concerned that she will not find a match. They approach their rav, who inquires as to whether the girl had a Shalom Bat when she was born. The parents explain to the rav that they barely had enough money to get by, and were unable to hold a Shalom Bat for their daughter when she was born. The rav tells the family to hold a Shalom Bat now, and the parents gather all their savings to hold a modest Shalom Bat- for a grown girl. The entire community comes to their home, wishing a mazel tov to the family, and wishing "torah, chuppa and ma'asim tovim" to the daughter. Within weeks following this rather unusual Shalom Bat, the daughter has found her b'sheret. The parents return to the rav and ask as to how this happened. The rav explained that at a Shalom Bat, each person bestows blessings on the new child, and these blessings are heard in Shamayim- each one a prayer. So many prayers Hashem cannot ignore.

So I have a new appreciation for my conversations with people in the Jewish community.