netsavim - vayalech

The Torah tells us that when we return to Hashem He will gather us from around the world and bring us back to the land of our forefathers. All the curses will go on our enemies and we will get an abundance of blessing. Then the posuk continues, כי המצוה הזאת אשר אנכי מצוך היום לא נפלאת הוא ממך ולא רחקה הוא, for this commandment that I command you today, it is not hidden from you and it is not distant. כי קרוב אליך הדבר מאד בפיך ובלבבך לעשתו , rather the matter is very near to you in your mouth and in your heart to perform it.
 
The Ramban says that the mitzva referred to over here is the mitzva of teshuva, for that is the mitzva that's near to you and easy to do because its  בפיך ובלבבך לעשתו it’s in your mouth to admit what you did wrong and in your heart to accept upon yourself to be better from now on. It’s something that requires no outside intervention, one does it oneself.
 The אוצרות התורה asks, how can you say that teshuva is easy and near to you? We all know how hard it is to break a habit and stop doing whatever sins you're used to doing and not to give into temptation and change your ways.  How could the Torah say about teshuva כי קרוב אליך הדבר מאד that is so close to you to do?
 
Someone once asked רב משה פיינשטיין זצ"ל why many of the children of the immigrants who came from Europe to America in the previous generation didn't remain frum. They withstood great trials to remain shomer Shabbos; a lot of them went through fifty two jobs each year because they were fired every week when they didn't show up on Shabbos. How is it after such self-sacrifice their children didn't remain shomer Shabbos?
 
Reb Moshe answered that even though they had great self-sacrifice they failed on one point. Each week after being fired, they would complain and become depressed and upset about it saying, "It’s hard to be a Jew". The children grew up constantly hearing how hard it is to be a Jew in America and that it required great self-sacrifice. They felt that they weren't on that level of constant hardship so they left it all behind. Contrast that with the ones who when they too were fired every week came home full of joy exclaiming to their families how lucky they were to be able to withstand the tests and trials that they were given and now would be able to keep Shabbos properly. Those children were infused with a love for Shabbos and mitzvos and remained true to Torah.
 
Perhaps what the Torah means over here is a different kind of Teshuva. Conceivably it's referring to a teshuva of attitude. For the most part we all try to do the right thing. We daven three time a day, we learn when we can, do chesed give tzedaka etc. But are we happy about it? Do we complain as we do it? Maybe what the Torah is telling us is that teshuva can be easy. You're already doing the right thing, now its בפיך ובלבבך לעשתו it's in your mouth and heart to do it. Do it with the right attitude; make that change of heart and be happy with what you're doing. Always show the love you have for Mitzvos so that your children will see that they’re enjoyable and you’re happy when you do them and will want to share the joy and emulate you!