I am constantly on my iPad. It is my source of information, my entertainment, and my lifeline to family and friends. It bothered me that I spent so much time on it, but I wasn’t stopping any time soon. Then it hit me one day: my daughter is going through a really terrible time right now. She is struggling through an exceptionally painful high school experience, and my heart breaks for her. Socially, she is stuck in a rut; educationally, she does poorly and has given up putting in effort after so much failure. Spiritually, she is barely holding on, and I daven and worry about her constantly.

What wouldn’t I do for my child? If, G-d forbid, my child were sick, I would give up everything to save her. What if I gave up my iPad to save my daughter? Could I manage that?

I decided then and there that I would make a sacrifice for her. I would stop using my iPad and take care of my technology needs in a different and less addictive way. I didn’t make an announcement about my decision, but I was ready to do this.

The next day, my daughter knocked on my bedroom door and came to tell me something incredible. She had made a big decision to join a special summer program that would help her grow in many areas. My relief knew no bounds. The connection was crystal clear to me. My personal sacrifice brought about this spark of hope inside my child and gave her the energy to take steps to help herself.

Our sacrifices and personal effort are seen from Above, and in this case, I had immediate gratification from my attempt at controlling my temptations. Wow, it was worth it.