When you put fifty people in a room together, you will find fifty different perspectives. God has created each one of us uniquely. We each think differently, respond differently and experience life through different lenses.
As Christians, however, one trait should always be evident in our lives: the love of God. We may all have different perspectives, but love should be present in all we do or say. In 1 John 4:7-8, the scripture calls us to love one another because God is love. It even goes further, reminding us that if we do not love, we truly don’t know God. This makes it clear we have to show love in all our relationships.
When we encounter someone with a challenging personality, it helps to remember how God shows each one of us love every single day. In my daily interactions, I follow a few guiding principles. First, I strive to be kind and speak kindly. I also remind myself when someone responds with a bad attitude, it often has little to do with me personally. Many times, I am just the person receiving the overflow of another situation they are facing.
I choose to show love in all circumstances, no matter how difficult, because that is Christ-like. I am not responsible for the actions and words of others, but I am responsible for my own. Let us commit to showing the love of God to everyone, all the time, every day.
Dear God, help me to see others through your eyes today and respond with love in every situation.
Throughout this day: In every interaction, pause before you speak, choose kind words, and think about how you can reflect God’s love.
Photo Credit: Hoi An and Da Nang Photographer on Unsplash