I told him that having a: לֵב שֶשָמַח בִּגְדוּלַת אָחִּיו heart that rejoices with his brother’s greatness is not for him. He needs to focus on: חַיֶיךָ קוֹדְמִּין you come first, and realize how much greater he is, since Hashem trusts him enough to give him difficult tests that his friend doesn’t have. His friend is a simple person who must have everything going 100%. But HE is a Tzaddik whom Hashem trusts, since he can be a true Jew despite so many Nisyonos. Although this person has his own measure of success, I said that his MAIN success is his stormy past.
The person who struggles with Nisyonos is far greater, and his best part is his difficulties! Notice how this Parsha starts off describing Rivka as: בַת בְתוּאֵל הָאֲרַמִּי אֲחוֹת לָבָן הָאֲרַמִּי the daughter of Besuel HaArami, and sister of Lavan HaArami, and Rashi says that the Torah is praising Rivka who was a Tzadekes despite her background. It is a hard job to constantly work on appreciating what Hashem gave you, and to feel you are luckier than everyone else because you have worse Nisyonos!
STORY
A friend of mine just became a Melamed (Rebbe), and things are okay, Baruch Hashem. One day he was so tired at the end of the day, that he had to give his boys a long break (it was probably Min HaShamayim, since this Rebbe is intense, and the kids probably needed an extra break). That very day, his parallel Rebbe asked him how he is able to be so smooth without getting tired!
Envy is ignorance! People can live a lifetime of unnecessary pain! Yaakov was a: ישֵב אֹהָלִּים person who dwelled in the tent. We can suggest that he worked on Sameach B'chelko; i.e., he stayed put and appreciated what he had and who he was. Eisav was an: אִּיש שָדֶה outdoorsman, which symbolizes looking for “greener pasture” and better life situations. Yaakov always said: יֶש לִּי כֹל וישלח לג יא I have EVERYTHING.
The more ugly and smelly fertilizer - the more beautiful the tree and its fruits. Your difficulties in Avodas Hashem and your rotten past makes you Davka superior to others.
