How to Deal with Disrespectful People

None of us are exempt. No matter how much we purpose to live a Golden rule life, at some point we will all face a disrespectful person: putting our noble resolve to love as Jesus did to the test. Whether it be a boss, leader, father, or husband; we will all be challenged by someone.

On more than one occasion I have found myself in this place: paralyzed at the intersection of choice. I’ve had to choose between treating the unnamed person the way they deserved to be treated, or offering them what was unwarranted. I wish I could say I always chose the latter option: turning the other cheek, aiming high when they went low, and killing them with kindness.

On the contrary, I have taken the most traveled road of immaturity far too many times. I’m quick tempered by nature and prone to spontaneously combust at the mere hint of injustice. Couple this trait with my tendency to hold a grudge, speak my mind, and vent in a demonstrative fashion and you have a lethal cocktail.

Thus, when it comes to respecting the disrespectful I have several failures intertwined with a few moments of grace. Occasionally, I have opted for maturity rather than the antithesis of it; but it has been a struggle.

Wouldn’t it be great if God gave us a pass? I mean, he knows the difficult people in our lives. He is completely aware of those times where we’ve been the recipient of inappropriate comments, public humiliation, and blatant disrespect. But the Bible offers no escape clauses when it comes to respecting others.

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