A sandpaper person is someone who "rubs" you the wrong way. They say and do things that upset you and usually have a prideful attitude. You find yourself avoiding them and running in the opposite direction when you see them coming. Negative thoughts flood your mind when you merely hear their name. We all have encountered at least one in our lives.
The best thing to do is stop running! Start praying.
Get things right with God in your own life first.
"Who can understand his errors? Cleanse me from secret faults. Keep back Your servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me. Then I shall be blameless, and I shall be innocent of great transgression". Psalm 19:12-13 NKJV
"Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast
spirit within me". Psalm 50:10 NKJV
"Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my anxieties; and see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting". Psalm 139:23-24 NKJV
Ask God to teach you to love them the way He loves them.
“Be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love.” Ephesians 4:2 NLT
Not one of us is perfect. Remembering this will keep us humbled and less likely to run from the sandpaper people in our lives.If you are a sandpaper person...confess it and turn away from rubbing people the wrong way. God can create, in all of us, a clean heart. Since we have all probably been considered a sandpaper person to someone...pray and ask God to help you walk blameless, to have compassion, mercy and grace when it come to others. Let your speech be gentle. Consider what the other person may be going through.
Have you had sandpaper people in your life? How did you handle it? Do you feel like you grew through the experience? Share your opinion.
Here is a great devotion on how to love sandpaper people. Blessings ~ Jennifer
*revised post from 8/22/08
