Q. A severely ill person who has deteriorated lately and now lays in bed constantly and requires help from his spouse even for menial things, such as going to the bathroom. He is a Talmid Hacham and always had great bitachon in Hashem’s help. Yet now that he feels he has become such a heavy burden on others, his will to continue alive has now greatly diminished. He wants to know what is Horav Miller’s opinion if one should will and continue to daven to Hashem for life, when it so detrimentally affects others.
A. Horav Shlomo Miller’s Shlit’a opinion is that the Rov or whoever is close to the patient should explain and emphasize to him that in reality he is doing a very, very great benefit and service to the ones who help him, since they are complying with one of the greatest mitzvos there is.
He should not feel at all depressed or guilty for becoming a burden on others. On the contrary, he should daven for them in the name and zechus of the extraordinary mitzva that they are doing. He should be aware that after all, he is the one who is making this possible with his illness and all his suffering. There is no doubt, that in the end, the ones who helped him in his great time of need, will only be so grateful, for the opportunity he created with all his severe pain and great need.
Rabbi A. Bartfeld as advised by Horav Shlomo Miller and Horav Aharon Miller Shlit’a