Something a lot of people enjoy at this time of year is getting together with friends and family.

But let’s be honest. There’s also a lot of people who DON’T enjoy that part of the holidays!

Why?

Because certain people can drive us crazy. Some have attitudes, habits and opinions that drive us up the wall!

In the Bible, Christians give evidence of the Holy Spirit within themselves with the qualities of “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23). From what I see, it doesn’t seem to exclude gatherings with friends and family over the holidays!

So in an effort to help us out a bit, let me share an insight I once read. I think it was from the Christian psychiatrist M. Scott Peck, but I can’t be sure.

One of the reasons certain people really annoy us is because, deep down—on a subconscious level—they remind us about something annoying WITHIN OURSELVES.

Impatient people, the argument goes, frustrate us because they remind us of our own impatience.

Unloving people frustrate us because they remind us of our own lack of love.

Brash people frustrate us because they remind us of our own lack of self-control.

Kind of changes how you look at people, doesn’t it?

So as you get together with people over the next few weeks, and as you get worked up under the collar about so-and-so, remember that all of us are imperfect. There’s only one perfect Person—and none of us are him.

All humans are a work in progress. Including you.

By Matthew Ruttan