Sandpaper People

Be a PeaceMaker not a Trouble Maker

But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure, then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy, good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness. James 3:17-18

Do you have a person in your life that can do the slightest little thing to annoy you? It could be a neighbor, family member, friend, teacher, someone in your school? Are you annoying to someone else that you rub shoulders with frequently? These are called Sandpaper People. They rub us the wrong way! My daughter Abby and I talk about this often. How do we treat these people?

We'd like to wave our magic wand and remove them from our world, but I think God has a more useful plan for these people to be in our lives. Our emotions would like to trade unpleasantries or at times get even when they offend us.

What are some ways we can deal with them? Pray for them, treat them with kindness with our words, do something unexpectedly kind to brighten their day. If all else fails, realize that not everyone is going to love us and we are not always going to love everyone either. There are all sorts of personalities, some just do not mesh. It is Ok to stay at a safe distance but when your paths do cross, make every effort to give that person a smile and a simple hello.

God allows these type of people in our lives to help us grow. If there was a simple formula and everyone got a long without disagreements, or personality clashes we would live in a perfect world, I think they call it Heaven. If you have done the best you can to get a long with someone that isn't trying, turn them over to God and let HIM deal with the relationship.