Difficult People

"We should love one another" 1 John 3:10

There are people in my life that are difficult to love. No matter how much I limit my time with them or am around them, I have a difficult time loving them. I dread seeing them. I dislike how just their presence creates tension in my world. I abhor how I allow them to make me feel.

I have tried praying...I have tried ignoring...I have tried kindness. What I have found is that I can't force it...I just don't like spending time with them.

In light of my last post and my 2012 mantra of "Living in Love", I need to figure this out. My heart is not speaking from love.

"For God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything" 1 John 3:19

1 John discusses loving one another. This is a chapter that I will be reading...and rereading this year. I need it to pour into my soul. I need to feel it...to believe it.

"We love because He first loved us" 1 John 3:20

God loves me so much that He sent his only son to die for MY sins. He loves me so much that there is a place in His heart that only I can fill! ME?! How is that possible?

I can be difficult to love at times. I can be moody. I can be angry and hateful. Who isn't? But...He still loves me. He shows grace to ME!

Who am I to think that it is not my responsibility to extend the same grace to others...to these difficult to love people?

So I will continue to pray...pray for them...pray for me...continue to ask God to soften those hard places in my heart. I will continue to "act as if" these things are completed in me...until I no longer have to act...because...now...I love these people...and see them as children of God that are hurting. Then I will pray that God heals them and softens the hard places on their hearts.

Or maybe...I have it wrong...maybe I need to pray both things at the same time.

How do you deal with difficult people?

My perfect life

My life is perfect! My kids are always perfectly dressed, love to eat green vegetables, and are never disrespectful. I have a "good hair day" everyday. My husband is also perfect and always thinks of my needs first. My house is so clean that you could eat off the floors!

Now, if you believe this, please quit reading now because I am about to burst your bubble.

My kids are not perfect (although I think that they are darn near it)! In order for them to eat green vegetables, I have to disguise them. My husband is definitely not perfect...but he's perfect for me (most days)! We have had our share of ups and downs. At one point, we were separated, and I didn't think that we would be together today. Thankful and blessed that God intervened and saved us from ourselves. You are more that welcome to eat off my floors, but you are probably going get dog hair in your mouth. Now, my hair...well, let's just not get started on that one!!!

No one's life is perfect. Although someone's life looks perfect on the outside, you never know what that person deals with on the inside. God only gives us what we can handle. Each person has their own cross to bear...one that another may not be able to handle.

It's very easy to judge others, whether good or bad, instead of taking the time to truly get to know someone. That person that you think is fat...or ugly...or lazy...or..."perfect" could really need a friend or a kind word. We often think that judging only goes one way...judging the negative in others. But...I have seen people judging when good things happen to someone. I think, in this day and time, that we need to build each other up, celebrate our successes, and encourage one another. After all, we are all imperfect people!