Part of being an adult is to not be a jerk. It’s simple I know, but seriously. A few weeks ago I had to email someone whose help I needed. Her response to my plea for help was very passive-aggressive and narcissistic. Yikes! Go back to Rule #1 of adulthood - don’t be a jerk.
I love words and they can be very powerful, so as soon as I received this woman’s response I immediately began crafting a sharp response that would get my point across and make some digs at her jerkiness the same time. Do you see what’s happening here? I was violating my own rule.
A wise friend once told me to give it 24 hours before responding to something like this. So, I walked away from the email and while I was cooling off, in the back of my mind (the way, way back) I heard this still small voice that asked me, “Will she see Jesus in you?”
Pffft! No. Not if I respond like a jerk! She probably gets responses like that all the time. And then I heard the question in my heart again but phrased another way, “How can you be Jesus to her?”
But, I don’t want to be like Jesus to her. She should be a professional. She should know better!
Right. But will you be Jesus to her?
I thought about this a while. Yes. I will.
So, I took a deep breath and re-crafted my email, this time with a word of encouragement and gratitude, and my original request for help was granted.
Who in your life rubs you the wrong way? How can you be Jesus to them? It’s hard, I know. Ask the Lord how He sees that person and get His perspective. Let me know how you do. You matter, dear friend. Your story matters.