Madea's Family Reunion: I'm not Mad at Ya!

In "Madea's Family Reunion" a fight breaks out between a mother and daughter: Victoria and Vanessa. The fight is the culmination of tension that existed between mother and daughter throughout Vanessa's life. Vanessa's father abandoned Victoria when she was very young and Victoria therefore had to market herself as a single mother. Victoria was able to get married, but at a detrimental price for Vanessa because she knowingly allowed the new stepfather to rape her daughter. Because of the malicious way Victoria treated Vanessa most of her life, no one was disappointed when Vanessa tried to slap the color off her mother's face during their brawl at the reunion.
The scene from the movie makes me think of another family reunion and fight that no one would have questioned had it occurred. The reunion I speak of is found in Genesis 42 where Joseph's brothers encounter him for the first time since they forced him into slavery more than fifteen years ago. The brothers come to Joseph because their is a famine in the land and because his new position as prime minister of Egypt made him responsible for food distrubtion. The most interesting aspect about this encounter is that contrary to popular opinion, Joseph does not desire revenge. Better yet, Joseph isn't even mad at his brothers. The reason he is not mad is because his mature assessment of the events that transpired because of his brothers' evil intentions helped him realize that their malicious plans actually helped him attain his dream. Instead of fighting, Joseph actually fed his brothers and blessed them with gifts because "what they intended for evil, God turned into something beneficial" (Gen 50:20).
What's the point? The point is when we encounter persons who have harmed us, instead of seeking revenge, we should thank them because an assessement of our life will more than likely reveal we have increased--naturally or spiritually--in some way or another. Their ill plans may have led you to pray more, read the Bible more, go to church more, work harder, or plan better. In short, enounters with enemies should be a time of blessings, not curses.

Peace!