I love to ‘people watch’ and observe how we all relate to one another and respond in different ways. It is so interesting to me that our behavior can be so self-preserving.
I think about this particular person (that NONE of you know :0) ) that is very much like this. He is one of my kids’ friends. He is what I would call a “one-upper.” It matters not what you are talking about, he has a bigger and better story. He is constantly arguing and stirring up trouble with others, in fact often telling you that you are wrong and he is right.
The very sad thing though is that he is a very lonely person and can’t understand why no one likes him. He complains all the time about ‘so and so’ not liking him or being mad at him.
By his trying so hard to impress people, he actually repels them. Of course I know that this goes far deeper in him that I can diagnose, I’m sure that this was learned over many years and ‘who knows what’ else. He tries to give an impression of superiority, but the irony is that he himself has such a low self-esteem.
If only he could see that by ‘lifting’ himself up, he is only tearing others down, and who wants to be around a person that tears you down all the time?
We, by nature, will gravitate toward those who make us feel good about ourselves and avoid those who make us feel “less than” them.
We all want to ‘fit in’ somewhere, we want to belong and feel valuable.
God wants that for us too! I love what the Word says:
Hebrews 8:10 10 This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after that time, declares the Lord. I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. NIV
God knows of our need to belong- He put the desire there! And He is the one that wants to fulfill it!
…and they will be MY people…. I love it!
I am praying for this young man, and I pray that you would lift up the person that jumped into your head as you read this. Our natural reaction is to reject them, but they really are just longing for love and approval.
Blessings friend,
