If you really think about it.....what is "being the bigger person"? All too often it seems like it's simply an opportunity to roll over and let the person kick you again.
Welcome to the post, Negative Nancy. Sheesh, I am not in a negative mood, although it certainly sounds like it so far.
Anyway, I am in a situation at work with a person who continually treats me poorly - and does it knowingly (as she has disclosed it to other people). While I can appreciate that not everyone is going to like me, I also don't expect those who don't like me to go out of their way to make life harder. I want to scream, "Isn't your day busy enough without mucking up mine"? Even if I wanted to intentionally make someone's life more miserable (and I genuinely don't), I simply don't have the time or capacity to make it happen because it would mean putting something more important on the back burner to spend time making it happen.
Back to the point, this person does ridiculous things and I keep going back to the adage, "be the bigger person" or "put your big girl pants on and get over it", but the fact of the matter is that the more I take this nonsense, the more she's dishing it out. When is it time to say, "Forget being 'the bigger person'.... you aren't treating me this way anymore!"?
My sweet mother (who is and always will be a better person than me) pulls out the "be Christlike and forgive" but let's be honest, that gets old after literally years of the same rubbish this person throws my way.
At what point is it okay to stand up for yourself and not be considered unChristlike or stooping to someone's level?
What I really need is a pocketful of small pebbles to be thrown at those who do dumb stuff.
I'm reminded of when Christ cleansed the temple of the change mongers. He was angry. He was upset at their actions. And he took action, while not actually hurting anyone. Sometimes standing up for yourself is Christlike. I think it all depends on how you are handling the situation. If you react and lash out at her in a hurtful manner, then you are definitely stooping to her level. While on the other hand, if you think it out, know what you are going to say, and handle it in a kind and professional manner - even a prayerful manner - then you are within your right to stand up for yourself. Maybe you would truly be doing this person a favor, because you would no longer be enabling her to think it's okay to treat people this way. Just a thought. :D
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