From Bitterness to Song: The Transformative Power of Joy

It's hard not to be moved by a song. A song expresses emotions of joy and gratitude. The spirit lifts, and hope is rekindled. Now, after all the bitterness, it's time to sing!
Even before the miracle at the sea happened, Miriam the Prophetess picked up a drum and encouraged all the women to take drums in their hands. "And all the women followed her with drums and dances." She assured them, I am sure a miracle will happen. Something magnificent will occur, something so great that it demands a song, even from us women.

Miriam's character is awe-inspiring to me. She empowers and encourages women to trust in Hashem through all situations. Every woman can find herself influenced by her unique presence.
Thanks to Miriam, Jewish women in Egypt continued to bear children. When Amram decided to divorce Yocheved, fearing Pharaoh's decrees, all of Israel followed, saying, if Amram, the leader, divorces his wife because of Pharaoh's decrees, then we should do the same. Miriam, witnessing this, approached her father and said, "Father, you are worse than Pharaoh, who decreed only against the males, but you decree against both males and females!" Amram took back Yocheved, and so did all of Israel. Without Miriam, no children would have been born!
Miriam didn't stop there. She motivated women to embrace motherhood. Acting as a midwife, soothing both mothers and their newborns with strength and joy. She reassured them that their current hardships would end, and thanks to them, redemption from the harshness and servitude would come.
When the Israelites left Egypt and stood before the Sea of Reeds, with the Egyptians pursuing them and the sea before them, Miriam took out her drum, and all the women followed. Miriam's strong faith that a miracle would happen and the sea would part instilled joy and hope in the women. Her enormous strength and power surrounded them with a special aura of faith in Hashem, joy, and hope. The journey from bitterness to song was possible!

And what did Miriam sing to them? "Sing to Hashem... the horse and its rider were thrown into the sea." You see, both horse and rider drowned. Why? Because without the horse, the rider wouldn’t have reached the sea and drowned.
Miriam told them, without you, they wouldn’t have left Egypt. Only thanks to you were they redeemed! You have the power to guide, direct, and make decisions for the "rider." Thus, she began her song with the horse before the rider, emphasizing the power of women. A woman has the unique strength to "steer" her husband and guide him to aspire to higher levels, levels of joy and faith in Hashem, Divine inspiration, and even prophecy!
Out of great joy and gratitude to Hashem, for recognizing their unique power as women, they danced and sang with drums and dances!

Your strength as a woman, to transform the reality from bitterness to song!
Take "the drum" in your hands and set out to song and dance. Leave the bitterness for a new song, a healing song, and see that through joy, your faith and hope will be strengthened. Surely, everything will turn out for the best! When you start to sing and rejoice, "the sea will part,” and your miracle will happen!