You think they're annoying??

You know all those annoying habits our loved ones and many others in our lives have?  


Your spouse squeezes the toothpaste tube in the center or leaves the car on empty? 


The kids fight with one another, change their clothes a hundred times a day.


Your mom calls everyday and just wants to know what you're having for dinner.


Your friend stops by and wonders why you can't break free to go for coffee (completely oblivious to the small children running around the house screaming).


The person in the grocery store stops right in the middle of the aisle, blocking people in both directions from getting by.


Someone asks you if all the kids with you are actually yours.


The kid behind you at the red light wants to share his idea of music with everyone in a 1 mile radius.


The old woman in the pew in front of you keeps turning and looking disdainfully at you and your cooing, adorable baby.


Your neighbor starts his day early by mowing the lawn at 6:00 a.m.


The children leave dirty dishes in the sink instead of putting them in the dishwasher.


Your sister says she'd love to help with dad, but she's just sooooo busy and "you don't mind, do you?"


The person in front of you has a "planned parenthood" bumper sticker on their car (what is WRONG with them??).


For some reason you are the only one who shows up to clean the church, even though 6 others signed up.


The lady in the bathroom stall next to you was talking on her cell phone and you thought she was talking to you and kept answering her and she got mad at YOU for interrupting her.


And on and on and on and on and on.........SIGH!


Why can't everyone be more like me?  Loving, considerate, always thinking of others....you know.....perfect!


Hmmmm....perfect.  Well, maybe not perfect. 


Perhaps there might be one or two things I do that might annoy someone (who isn't as patient as I am).


I wonder what I do to annoy others.  


Do I yell at the kids?  Do I always treat others nicely?  Do I return phone calls or e-mails and respond to others in my life in a timely manner?  Do I help others or make excuses?  


Do I??? ______________________________________ (fill in the blank)
Do I??? ______________________________________ (fill in the blank)
Do I??? ______________________________________ (fill in the blank)
Do I??? ______________________________________ (fill in the blank)
Do I??? ______________________________________ (fill in the blank)


Here's what you can do the next time someone annoys you:


1)  Offer a prayer for them - after all, we never know what someone else is going through and it shows great charity to pray for our "enemies".
2)  Forgive them, after you offer your prayer put the incident out of your mind, don't let it simmer inside of you.
3)  Ask God to reveal your faults to you so you can confess them, change them or whatever other action needs to be taken.  Then ask Him to help you.
4)  Praise God for the work He is undertaking in you.
5)  Learn to laugh.  Laughter is much better than anger and frustration.  If you need help laughing, give me a call!!  :)