The Gemara of Rosh Hashana (17;a), mentions an eye opening incident, which took place when Rab Huna was lying sick in bed. He was visited by Rab Papa who, upon seeing Rab Huna's critical condition, told his family members, in Rab Huna's presence, to prepare his shrouds for him. Miraculously, Rab Huna recovered. Rab Papa, who heard of his recovery, was too embarrassed to see Rab Huna.
Sometimes later the two scholars met. Rab Papa asked Rab Huna to explain to him what happened, since it was clear that Rab Huna was lying on his death bed. Rab Huna's answer was an astounding one. "Indeed I was facing the gates of death," he explained, "the decree was, that it was time for me to pass on to the next world. However, that decree was changed!"
Why was the decree changed?
Rab Huna explained that the Holy One blessed be He said to the angels: "Since he (Rab Huna), did not respond harshly, when he heard Rab Papa instructing his family to prepare him for his 'last journey', it would be appropriate to forgive him and grant him life."
Rab Mordechai Eliyahu, 'a"h, explains that we would have expected Rab Huna to express anger with harsh words towards Rab Papa, but, on the contrary, Rab Huna went against his nature and kept quiet. He did not harbor any ill feelings towards Rab Papa. Our Father in Heaven, acts with us the same way we act with others. If we are not particular with our fellow Jew, let things pass, don't take revenge or bear a grudge, He will do the same for us.
We ask the Holy One blessed be He to forgive us. We must, therefore, work on ourselves tenaciously to diffuse anger, hostility and any negative feelings. We should develop the art of forgiveness, reconnect with our brothers and sisters, speak to our parents and our children and all those we have lost contact with. In this merit, may we be granted complete forgiveness from Heaven.
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