What's Wrong with Them?

Our good friends, Hallie and Greg, have 2 dogs, Charlie and Sadie. We love to hang out with them, and when we do, we bring the dogs so they can play too. There's just one problem: Virginia doesn't like Sadie.  Sadie is different than Virginia. She has a different kind of bark and plays a little differently than Virginia is used to. Virginia doesn't quite know what to do with her. She usually ends up trying to get us to save her & let her sit on our laps, or hides under a piece of furniture. She looks up at us with her pitiful eyes, saying, "What is wrong with that loud, crazy dog!?" Sadie is a very sweet and fun dog, and we're hoping over time Virginia will get used to their differences and find a way to play with her that they both can enjoy.

I can be the same way with people that are different than me. God has designed and gifted me in specific ways to enable me to serve Him, but these same gifts can also make it hard for me to understand other people's perspectives. I am a laid back, go with the flow kind of person. When I encounter a person who is "Type A", I am often tempted to be annoyed with their extreme attention to detail. I think, "What's wrong with them!? They are making a big deal over something that doesn't matter!" I assume that just because it doesn't matter to me that it doesn't matter at all. I forget that just as God made me patient, laid back and easy going, He made that person highly detailed & committed to excellence. I forget how much I need that person to help me not miss details that are very important. They need me to help them relax and let go of things that aren't important.  We need each other, and God gave us each other as a gift to help us navigate through life.

Nothing is wrong with the way God made Sadie. Nothing is wrong with how he made Virginia either. They just need to learn how to play together. Similarly, when I get frustrated with people who are different than me, it's not that something is wrong with them, or me. We are different, but equally important and created by God to bring Him glory with our unique gifts.  I'm praying that God will help me value and be thankful for those whose gifts are different than mine, and that I would work with my brothers and sisters in Christ to serve God together as a team.