Listen

His brothers wept too, fell down in front of him, and said, “We’re here as your slaves.”

But Joseph said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Am I God? You planned something bad for me, but God produced something good from it, in order to save the lives of many people, just as he’s doing today. Now, don’t be afraid. I will take care of you and your children.” So he put them at ease and spoke reassuringly to them.

Genesis 50:18-21

Think

Joseph had the chance to do to his brothers what they did to him. He held the power to punish them but decided not to. Why? Because in a crisis, compassion is much more important than revenge. He was no longer a slave and did not want any of his family members to suffer as he had. So, he used this chance to remove their fears and show them love. It was not an easy decision and many tears were shed, but Joseph forgave his brothers. Forgiveness is for the undeserving, and judgement is up to God.

Each of us has power, and we too can use it to either get even or forgive. Holding hurts, hatreds, and revenge in our hearts does us more harm than good. It usually takes more grace than we can muster to show kindness to those who have wounded us, but we are never alone when we try because God is always with us.

Kamal Hassan

Pray

God, may I not let what others do decide what I should do. May I respond to problems with the loving kindness I have on the inside. Despite how hard it is to forgive and how long it may take, let me remember: what I cannot let go of will never let go of me. Amen.

Go

I don’t feel no ways tired,

I come too far from where I started from.

Nobody told me that the road would be easy,

I don’t believe He brought me this far to leave me.

from “I Don’t Feel No Ways Tired” by Curtis Burrell (1978)