I get daily words of inspiration delivered to my email from various sources. I’m an advocate for inspirational quotes and sayings. They’re a TREMENDOUS help to me. They’ve gotten me out of many sticky situations and horrible behavioral patterns. Not to mention they often lift my spirits when I feel defeated.
Here’s what helped me out today and thought I’d pass it on for those who could use a much needed reminder. This one is from Joel Osteen:
So often, people try to make others fit into their mold and be just like them. We think, “If they would just change, then I wouldn’t get upset. If they would just do it the way I want, then they wouldn’t get on my nerves.” But really, we need to give people room to be who God created them to be. Life is too short to spend it trying to fix everybody. Sure, we should encourage people and help them grow and come up higher. But we have to come to the point where we step back and say, “All right, this is who God made them to be, and I’m going to accept them the way they are. Just because they don’t have my same strengths, I’m not going to let that frustrate me.” We have to choose love every day because love covers over our differences and offenses. Love is what allows us to appreciate what others bring into our lives.
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The key points for me are: “We need to give people room to be who God created them to be…..We have to step back and say ‘alright this is who God made them to be’…..Just because they don’t have my SAME strengths, I’m not gonna let that frustrate me.”
My much needed reminder is to step aside and let the people in my life be who God created them to be. It’s not my job to fix them.
Photo by Vitasamb 2001
Once again a very good topic. I realized a long time ago you can not change people. Everybody is an individual and that is what makes us so special. It is not our job to fix them. Just love and support them. And watch God work!!!
Sharon, bravo! I agree. And the best part is to watch God work! I get such a kick out of watching God work in me and seeing Him work through others. It’s my all time favorite thing—seeing God’s grace, mercy, and blessings unfold to change, strengthen, and build us up.
This was great. It really is a reverse of the typical- (easy to fall into)- perspective.
I like these sentences too… “We have to choose love every day because love covers over our differences and offenses. Love is what allows us to appreciate what others bring into our lives.” This meant a lot to me today, because I have been really aggravated and angry with some folks very close to me. I find that it is easy to use our own gifts/ abilities as a measuring stick to others- and that is not really fair.
We should also remember to apply this quote to ourselves. I often get frustrated at my self- and expect myself to act differently/ better than I do. this is usually done in hindsight…LOL But as you say, this is who we are and we need to remember to love and nurture ourselves as well. We cannot be who we are not, nor can we use our ‘strengths” to compensate for others shortcomings/ weaknesses.
Susan, that’s exactly why this post was a much needed reminder for me because as you said it’s easy to use our own gifts/abilities (strengths) as a measuring stick towards others, which isn’t fair.
I do that a lot to my husband and children when they’re acting like “crazy aliens,” but I have to remind myself that my strengths are not their strengths, neither are my weaknesses their weaknesses. It’s then that I step aside and allow them to be what God created them to be (until, of course, they act like aliens again, which then restarts the whole process).
Also, great perspective that we should apply this quote to ourselves. We do forget to do that as well.
We certainly need to live and let live, and find a way to be accepting of others while attempting to help where we can, but also realizing limitations in doing so. I have to remind myself that the younger folks in particular, have to find their way in their time.
I tune into Joel every Sunday and often feel he is talking to me personally…..as I am sure others feel.
Starla, sometimes it’s easier said than done to live and let live, but that’s exactly what we all need to do, all the time. Because we’re not designed to fix people. Only God can do that. Like you said, we can only try to be accepting and help where we can.