The life of Sarah was one hundred years and twenty years and seven years, the years of the life of Sarah. (Genesis 23:1) All of them were equally good. (Rashi) Sarah looked back after 127 years, and all her days, even the darkest, the weariest, even those when she was held a prisoner in the depths of evil of Pharaoh’s palace—all were good and filled with beauty. All the pain was worthwhile, in truth, a pleasure, to become who she was, the mother of us all. A life, after all, moves in whatever direction you place its arrow. When your arrow points forever backward, always blaming the present on the...