Monday, December 30, 2013

Loving the Difficult People in Your Life


“She had been beside my locker for three long years in a row. It was one of those girls that were hard to love. She always wanted to be the life of the party. In class, she’d add obnoxious comments to embarrass some and produce laughter from others. I never tried to get close to her. I didn’t want to be “connected” with her. I would avoid her in the hallway. I’d sit beside her, and not start up conversations with her. I’d laugh at her comments to be polite. I’d talk wrongly behind her back. I’d always said, “I want to find a solution in helping her.” That wasn’t my full intent. I remember [so] well the times I prayed and asked God to give me opportunities to love on her and show her my caring spirit towards her.  I could see her hiding behind those fronts and masks. I wanted to see her so badly tear down those walls and masks. But, I didn’t know how to address it. I just didn’t feel ready to commit to a friendship/relationship that took so much effort and work. I guess, I would have to say it’s partly pride. It was so incredibly selfish of me. “
       Every human alive on earth has people; they don’t connect very well with. PERSONALITIES PROVOKE. CONVICTIONS CONFLICT. HABITS HARASS YOU. PEOPLE DON’T [quite] MEASURE UP TO YOUR LEVEL.
     Who are those people in your life? Think about it for a second with me.
 Recently, I have been thinking about those people in my life that are difficult to love.  The questions that came to my mind were: How can I love them better? Why don’t they get along with me? What do I need to do to begin loving them? Did Jesus love difficult people?
What do I need to do to begin to love them?
 I need to obey his commandments.
(YOU DO, TOO)
God said in His Word, “That love your neighbor thing…I meant that.”
Who is your neighbor?
Neighbor means anyone. 
The poorly dressed man on the street corner. The girl with the gossip habit at your High school. The missionary’s teenage daughter. Yes, the person that is difficult to love.
Do you really, truly love your difficult neighbor?
1 Corinthians 12: 21 says, “The eye can never say to the hand, I don’t need you. The head can’t say to the feet, I don’t need you.”
You should have no reason to say to your neighbor, “I have no need of you.”
You have to have a heart that is willing to follow these commands. (Evaluate yourself.)
       How can you love them better?
 You can love the difficult person by serving them. I read an article online about serving the unlovable people in your life. The article said this, “Serving gives us an easy way to see how we should love. It’s not just some mushy, hard-to-grasp emotion but a move to action. Secondly, Serving someone has a way of changing the way we see them. If you are constantly looking out for a way to help someone, it’s very hard to think of their worthlessness. It’s very hard to stay mad at them.”
        How can you serve someone this week?
   I encourage you to bless and serve someone this week. They would appreciate it so much.
      You should look past then into whom God made them to be. Yeah, this will be so hard and difficult. It’s so worth it, though.
As humans, we tend to look into the outward appearances and characteristics. I encourage you to look into their heart.  [try it. Ask God to help you.] Their story matters just as much as yours does. You could end up being one of their biggest blessings.
       Did Jesus ever have to love difficult people?
He loved many, many, many difficult people. Jesus loved the Pharisees, hypocrites, mockers, and his tormentors. Toward the end of his life, he loved the people about to betray, deny, and desert him. Guess what? Jesus was fully aware of it.
           1 Corinthians 11:1 says, “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.”
Jesus washes the feet of men, who were unworthy of it. Jesus never put on a fake love, a false front or made them feel insecure or stupid. He truly, completely loved them.
       This proposes the question, “How can you completely love the unlovable in your life?”
    Follow the Example of Christ.
           It might call for some sacrifice with your best friends this week, but you will be blessed to serve a difficult person.
 I’m going to be completely honest with you.  This is something, I am working on. It doesn’t come easily or naturally for me. (or any other person) I have put a paper in my locker to remind myself to love others around me that are difficult to love. I DARE you to come with me on this adventure. Will you?
                Begin to love those, who SEEM impossible to LOVE.

     You never know, God might have a blessing in disguise waiting for you.

by Simone
*If you have tried this and have amazing-God stories, I’d be so happy to hear! You can contact me at: authorgirlsim@gmail.com