Familial tensions. We all have them. They had them. Particularly the sons of Jacob. Brothers. And we all know the story of how, jealous of the favorite, Joseph (a parent should avoid favoritism as the consequences are problematic!), his brothers were willing to kill him, but on the recommendation of Judah (in blue) they agreed to sell Joseph. Reuben (in red) had hoped to stop this but was too late. The brothers first threw Joseph into a pit. And from that pit, with all kinds of unexpected twists in his journey, Joseph rose to become the viceroy in Egypt. One midrash tells that after all the brothers attended their father Jacob’s funeral, on the return they came upon that very pit, and Joseph stopped and prayed by this hole. The brothers were fearful that Joseph might now take revenge on them. But Joseph’s prayer was a thanksgiving for the journey, even the horrors, dangers, and pain, as this led to his empowerment, where he could save many others from famine, including his family. So, here he was giving thanks to the pit that began it all. Can we be grateful for the bad events in our lives? Maybe if we transcend the limitations?