Satisfaction is elusive for some people. In Pirkei Avos, the Tanna extols one who is sameach b’chelko, happy with his lot. This means that he does not determine financial success by how much he has accrued, but, rather, by what he has – period. He understands that he is blessed according to what Hashem has determined his needs are. Everyone receives from Hashem enough to meet his needs. Many of us are dissatisfied with just having our “needs” filled. We also want to satisfy our “wants.” It does not work that way. A truly wealthy person is a satisfied person. Thus, we ask Hashem to “satisfy us from Your bounty.” We should be tzufreeden, happy, with what we have, because that is what we need. First, we ask Hashem to give us; then we ask Him that what He gives us should satisfy us. We ask Him to grant us the ability to be happy with what we have.
In his Yaaros Devash, Horav Yehonasan Eibeshutz, zl, defines tuvecha, Your goodness/bounty, as that which Hashem considers good, a specific reference to kosher food. It is possible to err and ingest foods that are either actually not kosher or have come into our possession by means that are not kosher. We know that mistakes occur. Therefore, we ask Hashem to watch that what comes into our mouth be food that is worthy of being consumed by a Jew.
