Love and Difficult People

Difficult people, almost everyone has, or has had at least one. Most of us have, or have had more than a few. Everyone will have one in the future. I use the term "difficult" loosely. So, interpret for your own situation(s). You know who they are. For whatever reason, they drive you nuts, and you might wish they would just STOP! Sometimes you can't stand them, and you wish they would just go away. They may have really hurt you, and you have a hard time biting your tongue or curbing your attitude around them. Whoever they are, and whatever the reason, they are difficult, and dealing with difficult people is difficult. 

I have been annoyed, frustrated, falsely accused, disrespected, ignored, rejected, ridiculed, betrayed, used, lied to, let down, left, and broken by difficult people. It's easiest to pitch a fit and return ugliness with more ugliness. But I'm a Christian and the Bible says not to do that!

"Do not pay back evil with evil" Romans 12:17,

"If possible, as far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men" Romans 12:18,

"Do unto others as you would have them do unto you" Matthew 7:12.

 ^"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. ⁵ It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.  Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres."

1 Corinthians 13:4-7

I need to remember that some people are difficult, but all people are to be treated with love. Some are difficult and don't mean to be. Others are difficult on purpose. And sometimes what I perceive to be difficult is just a misunderstanding.  No matter the reason, the answer is love.  If their “difficultness” is an accident, love is patient and kind. If it’s on purpose, love is not easily angered and keeps no record of wrongs. If it’s just because I don't understand, love is respectful. When difficult people are difficult, love.

I am not how people treat me. I am who I choose to be, and I choose to love difficult people.  I have decided that difficult people are just gonna be difficult. I can't change them, but I can change me. God can change me. When I'm faced with difficult people, and tempted to be difficult in return, I pray my Father helps me to choose love instead. It may be difficult to love, but "difficult" is not a quality of love.