A challenge
By dlkuku
@dlkuku (1935)
United States
June 11, 2007 2:23pm CST
It's so easy to spout off, 'Love thy neighbor', but it's not always easy to love others.
Oh, it's easy to love some people, like the beautiful people, the kind people, the sweet natured people, the bubbly, happy people, but what about the unlovely? The ones that are poor, or dirty, or their personalities leave something to be desired.
Personally, I find it easier to love the poor, the sick and the elderly, than a person with a bad attitude. I have a real hard time loving those who put themselves on a pedestel, or are on a power trip, or just think they are better than everyone else. I also have a hard time loving those who are just plain mean spirited.
So I am challenging myself, and I am challenging all of you.
I am having a hard time with one particular person, I just don't like her, and no, she is not here on mylot so ya'll can breathe easy, it's someone at work.
I have been nothing but nice and polite to this person, but on the inside I seethe every time I have to work with her. She just has a bad attitude.
So I am challenging myself not only to be nice to her to her face, but to also change MY thoughts and inside attitude towards her.
And I will even pray for her.
Jesus said, pray for your enemies. This is a hard concept to swallow, why should we pray for someone who hurts us, or dislikes us?
Because He wants us to love that person just as He does. And when we are praying for someone, it makes it hard to hate them.
I want to be sincerely nice to her, not just superficially. So today I start.
What about you? Is there a person in your life that you really can't stand? Are you up to the challenge of loving that person even when you don't want to?
3 responses
@mamacathie (3928)
• United States
12 Jun 07
I have learned through my many years here on this earth that the best way to handle someone that seems unlikable is to pray for them. It seems through prayer our feelings begin to change, whether God changes us or God changes them. It does work. It is not the easiest thing I have ever done but it does work. Don't give up.
1 person likes this
@miamilady (4910)
• United States
22 Jun 07
Hi. Yes there is someone like that in my life. It is my mother in law. She really tests my patience. Sometimes I am more successful at being understanding than others. What I try to do, is to remind myself that people are they way that they are for a reason and we don't always know what those reasons are. You might be able to thing the same way inregard to your co-worker. You don't know what she has been through in her life to give her the demeanor that she has. Sure, it shouldn't matter. People shouldn't be rude or mean or take their problems out on others. But in real life they do. Maybe it is a behavior they learned as a child. Maybe they just don't know better. It is always better that we treat others with sympathy and respect regardless of how they treat us. This doesn't mean that we should let others walk all over us. We don't have to tolerate abuse without standing up for ourselves, but we should also learn forgiveness and sympathy. Good luck with your self challenge!
@mlgb_24 (638)
•
21 Jun 07
we don't necessarily love all the people we meet. i think we can only love a few. i'm so transparent so it would be hard for me to be extra nice to somebody if i don't feel comfortable. but sometimes at the end of the day, i'll just think that he's not the one who's paying my wages anyway, LOL!! just talk casually and i'm sure the tension will break down sooner or later.
