SOME people are really hard to love

There is this guy at work that just does not like me.  To be honest I'm not all that fond of him either.  He's from Kenya, thinks poorly of my country and is really self centered.

My light colored eyes have photosensitivy and it's getting worse with age, so on Sundays there are only three people in the office and two of us are sensitive to the fluorescents so we do not turn on the lights.  When we explained this and asked that Sundays we keep the lights off he did not take kindly to it.  In fact he got quite belligerent and pretty much told me to mind my own business.  I really thought my eyes were my business but I'll get back to you on that.

The point I'm trying to get at is him and I frequently have small altercations like this and he holds a grudge each and every time.  Since I don't share that personality trait I like to move on quickly and be done with it.  However there is one trait we do share and that is the self centeredness.  I have trouble remembering this, though, when I'm in the middle of it.

So what's my point right?  Well, I struggle and I mean really struggle some days to be civil to him.  It takes all my human strength which got me to thinking...why am I using human strength?  Why haven't I prayed for this enemy like I have others?  Yes, in fact every time I have prayed for the betterment of my enemies the ill will towards them has gone away and I've truly become to care so you would think that I would do this first hand.  NOPE!  I don't.  For some reason I like to put myself through grief of my own before I get around to this. It must be the HUMAN in me.

So today I'm going to pray for him.  I will pray for his success, salvation, peace and prosperity.  At first it may not be what I want but it isn't about me.  As much as I sometimes want it to be, it just isn't.  Today I will do it because I am supposed to but if the days go as they have in the past, past in time I will want to pray for him and will want every good thing to be his.  After all he is just as much God's kiddo as I am.

Mathew 5:43-47

 “You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy.  But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you!  In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike.  If you love only those who love you, what reward is there for that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much.