Recently a sweet blog reader of mine sent me an email asking for advice. With her permission I thought I’d share her question and my answer as I am certain that we ALL deal with mean girls. No matter if you are 12 years old or 92 years old, mean girls are just a part of life.
Source: google.com
Question: Sarah, I’ve got this woman at work who is flat out MEAN. When she is not stabbing me in the back in order to look good in front of our boss, she is spreading lies about me and gossiping. Other people see it to, thank goodness, so I know I’m not imagining just how awful this woman is. She walks into the office and a coldness follows her as she sits at her desk. How am I supposed to work with such a mean person. I can’t very well quit my job…
Answer: I was ready to sit down and really really really think hard about how best to answer your dilemma. And then a simple, yet powerful answer came to me: Pray for her. Simple right? hahaha! Jesus says in Matthew 5: 43-48
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”
Here is how I see it. You really can’t change this mean woman. But, you can change your perspective. Pray for her, that she will see Jesus. Pray for her heart as it sounds like she is a women who is deeply hurting and uses gossip and mean words to bandage over her pain. Ask God to help you see her in a new light so you can love her as He commands us in the Bible. It won’t be easy, but God will bless your obedience to His word.
Would love to hear what you think. Do you have any additional advice to offer to my friend? Leave a comment…
***The winner of the She’s Got Issues Giveaway is Melody. I will send you an email to get your mailing address!
Sarah, I don’t think I could add any more to what you’ve said already. I 100% agree. It is not easy to pray for those who are mean but so worth it in the end when you see God changing them.