One of the basic tenets of Judaism is that Hashem repays "measure for measure." This applies both when people do good things and when they do bad. The midwives cared about the families of the persecuted Jews in Egypt and put their own lives in danger to save them. In return, Hashem blessed their own families with greatness.

The following scary story, recorded by Rabbi Zilberstein shlita in Borechi Nafshi, teaches us that when someone is insensitive to someone else's needs, he may be treated in the same way and will have cause for regret.

Two girls were best of friends. They were always together and depended totally upon each other. Unfortunately, one of them developed Cancer in her lungs R.l. and was hospitalized in the Department of Oncology. She wanted so much for her friend to come visit her and encourage her but she did not arrive. Day after day she expected her to come but was disappointed. The reason her friend couldn't visit was that her mother forbade her to go to the hospital. The reason for that was that her husband had died of Lung Cancer and she was afraid that if her daughter visited her friend, she would relive the entire traumatic event of her father's sickness and demise, and fall into a deep depression.

Eventually, the mother of the sick child phoned the mother of the healthy girl and asked her why her daughter had not yet visited her best friend who was very ill and needed her so badly. The mother had no difficulty explaining that she objected to the visit out of fear for her own daughter's health. Even when the mother of the sick girl begged that she let her come at least once, the mother adamantly refused.

Only a few weeks passed, and the healthy young girl complained of severe headaches. After several examinations, she was told that she had a tumor in her brain R.l. Amazingly, she too was hospitalized in the same Department of Oncology and was placed in the very next bed, aside her best friend!

We do not purport to speak for Hashem and dare not do so. However, the mother of the girl said, "If I would have had sense, I would have let my daughter help her friend in need. Since I was stubborn, Hashem arranged it in His Own ways!"

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