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Bad Attitudes

Let’s face it. We all have crummy days. Days when we want everyone to leave us alone. Days when nothing is going right. At the same time, we have wonderful days where people in our lives are having crummy days. They take their frustration and anger out on us. In most cases, we don’t know the effect we have on others during our bad days nor do others know how they are responding to us on their bad days.

Recently, I had a friend who was just having a bad day. Things weren’t going well for them and they were frustrated. Their interactions with me were short, curt, and not the normal. I felt I had done something wrong. I was trying to think of ways to improve the situation because as you know I like to fix things. Sometimes though, there isn’t a fix. You can’t fix someone’s bad day. In fact, trying to fix it, could make it worse. After ruminating on it for a while, I decided to let it go. I wouldn’t let the person’s interactions with me, which most probably weren’t about me anyway, impact my day. I would pray, look towards the good things in the day, and just enjoy life.

I know, it’s easier said than done.

“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” – Philippians 4:8

“And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful.” – 2 Timothy 2:24

When I look at both of these verses, it looks like I am the one with the problem, not the other person who is making me feel this way. Here’s the shocker, it is your problem. If they are having a bad day and it’s impacting your outlook, you can change it. (I know there are some cases where this may not apply such as safety and such). These specific cases are where you are letting someone who is taking out something bad on you rather than the true source of their frustration.

The Lord commands us to think about things that are noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and praiseworthy. Thinking about the negativity just doesn’t work. There is no solution to that, only further heartache. At the same time, we can’t help everyone who is having a bad day. We can smile and be ourselves. We can offer help but know when the best help is none at all. Even when help is refused or not accepted, it’s not about us.

We are in control of our own feelings and actions. Though, trust me, this is one of the hardest lessons in life.

Are you willing to look to God when other’s actions are bringing you down? Are you able to see you aren’t the cause of their bad day?

I am willing and able (with the help of God)