I have discovered that I am surrounded by type A’s. They drive me nuts. They make me want to go postal. How can a Christian be a type A and still be a Christian? With a lot of humility and discipline.
Yes, I have those type A’s in my life. Always have. They have dictated my dress, my hairstyle, my glasses/contacts, how I raise my kids, how I pray, how I keep house, etc. I have discovered that their influence has been extremely unhealthy for me. As I try to pull out from under them, I feel like God is putting more of them in my life and I can’t understand it.
Once I was talking with someone casually. There was no particular point to the conversation except to get to know one another. My defenses came up as comment after comment was made about how they did not let their kids do what we did and how shocked they were that I would like that movie. Every comment began to be critical. Warning bells went off! It was a good thing, too.
Right after that the person decided that I needed to get right with God and proceeded to contact me every day with “advice” on how I needed to do things better. They even began taking over my domestic duties and appearing at the house doing my work and explaining how I really should be doing. At this point the line of being polite and not being a doormat has to be crossed by me. The results are pretty radioactive.
That is where I am REALLY struggling with God. I am to be a reflection of Him. Okay. Bring on the whip of cords! Seriously, what do I do with a type A? Most of you would say that I should sit down with them and explain how their actions are rude, tactless, intruding, pain in the butt, and suicidal. Sorry to break it to you. Type A’s don’t like to be told that they are wrong. Been there! Done that! Still have the scars!
It does not help that I am not that same type. I don’t want to be up in people’s faces. I don’t want the confrontation. Then why is He putting them there? Showing me how not to act? I get it!!!!!!
In truth, the actions of Type A’s severely depress me. It is because of those in my life that I have wished to run away and never see another human being again. They have caused me more hours of crying and hiding from the world. I need to toughen up yes, but all I see is me becoming like them and I would rather stay withdrawn.
I always thought that if you were a Type A that it was hopeless for you. I was told once by a Type A that if that is the way God made you then you have to accept as well as everyone else. That pretty much took all the hope in my life away. Then God introduced me to someone who said otherwise.
There is a woman I know who exhibits many of the Type A personalities except that she nice. J She is not afraid to face someone. She is a take charge person. She can walk into a room and have everyone lined up and working. Being in charge is easy for her. She’ll tell you like it is. She has her opinions. Yet, all is done with God guiding her. In taking charge, she does not do it because she can or wants to. She does it because she has to and God has called her to do it. When she has an opinion, she is not in your face giving it to you as fact. She prays about it and only mentions it when God directs her. I began to realize that any personality can be reined in and used in a Godly manner. Hope was returning.
Yes, this woman does scare the pants off me. And I still love her. Her strong personality makes me cower. Why? Because every other person with a similar type has used me as their doormat and wiped their feet all over me. I’m having to grow a little to accept a Christ-like type A.
Now, that I have a hanging mob after me I will be leaving the country under an assumed name.
God, help me deal with the Type A personalities in my life that are not guided by You. Help me hold up and listen only to You. Show me when to speak up and when to be quiet. Help to find the right place to hide the bodies.
No comments:
Post a Comment