A PIECE OF MY HEART... it feels like sand paper

Last summer when I went on a missions trip to Ecuador, for 2 weeks I sanded down concrete walls. After a few days of sanding, I actually got pretty good at it. I  know some people who are also pretty good at being like sand paper. I call them "sand paper" people, because they rub us wrong.

We all know someone like that. Sometimes they don't mean to rub us wrong, but they do. On the other hand, I know some people who DO mean to rub us wrong, its their mission in life. Often times, it is difficult to know how to handle these sand paper people. Sometimes we try to change them, but most often, we try to avoid them and run the other way when we see them coming.

When I was sanding down the walls in Ecuador, at first I could not see the good in it. After all what was a few bumps on the wall going to hurt? But after awhile, I could see the difference sanding was making. The walls were becoming much smoother and will be almost ready to be painted, leaving no bumps or flaws. My perspective changed after I could see the good the sanding was doing.

Our perspective needs to change when we look at "sand paper" people. If only we could see them like God sees them.

"Be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each others faults because of your love." (Ephesians 4:2)

God looks beyond the abrasive behaviour of sand paper people, He looks at the inner beauty that many cannot see. He recognizes the worth that is under all of the roughness. May we look at others like God does, may we see the value in others like He sees.

and that is a piece of my heart today;