Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets. -Matthew‬ ‭7:12‬ ‭(NKJV)

Let all that you do be done with love. -‭‭I Corinthians‬ ‭16:14‬ ‭(NKJV)

Remember how uplifting it was when you learned that God loves you for your perfect, finished self, rather than who you were? That happened at the moment when we accepted Jesus for who He was, and what He did out of His love for us.

We didn’t earn that. We didn’t deserve that. But God lovingly and willingly gave His Son so we could be forgiven and free, and live on after we pass from this world.

What if we treated others better than what they deserved?

What if we treated the difficult people in our lives as their perfect, finished selves, rather than treating and reacting to them in response to who they are now? What if we saw them through the same lens God sees us? What if we demonstrated that we were extensions and overflowing conduits of God’s love?

I’m still working on this daily, and challenge you to try it, too. It’s not easy, but with the Holy Spirit’s help, we can shed the resentment and indignation, and then treat others the way God treats us. You may be surprised at the response!