[So get this. I just found this blog post, tucked away in my drafts folder. I'm not sure why I never posted it, but I was going through my drafts and ran into it. Turns out, its not too shabby, and was just what I needed to read just now. Interesting how life works like that. Anyway, thought I would share it with you all!]
One of my favorite things about Skagway has been the chance I have to meet so many new people. Of course, I do meet thousands of new people everyday.... but not counting the tourists, I've been able to meet a whole new bunch of people living here in Skagway. I love getting to know new people, even if it does cause me to step out of my comfort zone a little bit.
Sometimes you meet someone and you immediately take a liking to them. They are easy to be around, easy to laugh with and just easy to love.
Other times, you meet someone who is just plain hard to like. Maybe there's not even an apparent reason, you just get weird vibes from them.
So here's my newest thought.
WHAT IF. Everyone we met, we picked one thing about them that we wanted to recreate in ourselves.
For example.
My mom- I would want her patience.
My sister- I am amazed by her ability to feel for others.
My best friend- I admire the LIGHT that she brings with her wherever she goes.
So its easy... right? WRONG. I decided to try it with people I don't love so much.... not that I don't like them, but people that just rub you the wrong way. No names, but here's 3.
1. I admire the way this person is friendly with everyone before she knows them.
2. I love how he shows his love to his family.
3. I admire her ability to be confident and yet humble.
I'm going to be honest with you, this was pretty hard to do. Sometimes when you get a bad opinion of someone, its really hard to shake. You place them in that mold and they will never get out.
In reality, though, we should strive to see others how GOD sees them. God never hold any one person in a higher view than another... why should we?
And everyone has their stuff. We all have our challenges, and they are all different. There are very few circumstances where you can actually make judgments of people. Which is something we are often told, and seldom do.
Because its hard. Its essentially impossible, really.
But here's what I've found, and I hold to this more than almost anything: You can literally love anyone. ANYONE. You just have to take the time to truly get to know them. Even the people that drive you crazy.... they have as story too, and I'll bet its beautiful. You just have to take the time to learn it.
So. This is going to be my new way of giving everyone the chance they deserve. Every person I meet, especially the ones that I may not be inclined to get along with, I will pick something about them that I love.
And then I will strive to develop that quality in myself.
[And that was the end of my draft.
Reading this, I realize how much further I have to go before I reach a point where I can actually be successful. But one day, one step, one person at a time, right?
We live and we learn, and that's what makes life BEAUTIFUL.
But that doesn't mean that its not hard, and frustrating. I guess all we can do is pray for patience, and pray for the ability to love everyone we meet. I sure have a long way to go, but let's try starting here.]
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