The wedding was just a few weeks away, and the stress was starting to get to Sarah. Her mother-in-law, a woman who had a history of passive-aggressive behavior, had insisted on helping her with the wedding planning. Sarah had reluctantly agreed. She had no idea that her mother-in-law had a secret. The woman had always wanted to be a wedding planner, but she had been forced to give up her dreams to be a stay-at-home mom. She was resentful of the wedding, and of Sarah’s happiness.
When Sarah went to her mother-in-law’s house to pick up her dress, she found a strange scene. The dress was hanging in the laundry room, and a half-empty bottle of laundry detergent was sitting on the floor. Sarah’s mother-in-law, a woman who was normally meticulous about her home, was flustered. “I was just trying to help,” she said, her voice filled with a desperate sadness. “I saw a few wrinkles, and I was going to use a steamer, but I must have used the iron by mistake. I am so sorry.”
Sarah’s revenge was not about anger or humiliation. It was about compassion. She saw her mother-in-law’s pain and resentment, and she knew that this was a cry for help. Instead of screaming at her, she sat her down and talked to her about her dreams, her regrets, and her life. She told her mother-in-law that she understood her feelings, and that she wanted to help her find a new purpose.
Sarah’s revenge was to offer her mother-in-law a chance at a new life. She helped her find a new job as a wedding planner, and she gave her a chance to finally live out her dreams. The revenge was not a cruel act, but a compassionate one. The mother-in-law, in turn, was so grateful that she became a loving and supportive mother-in-law, and the two women, once enemies, became friends.
