Lazy Co-Worker

This woman in my office is driving me crazy! She is constantly complaining and only does a fraction of the work she is supposed to. I get so angry around her. How can I feel peace around her?

Many people in our lives will not meet our expectations. We do not even meet our own expectations. Ever since Eve took the bite of the apple man has fallen short. I find the first step to feeling peace around other people is to have peace with who I am. This peace comes from knowing who I am in Christ. I am someone who messes up. Through Jesus I am forgiven. Through Him I am given the Holy Spirit who is my helper and strength. Even with Jesus and the Holy Spirit I still mess up, yet I continually get back up and try again because I am forgiven and loved.

Jesus said, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.”John 13:34

Just as I am not perfect I try to remember the people around me are not either. I pray for them and continually practice forgiving them. It is tempting to gossip about the people that offend us. When I do this it hurts me. Try to hold your tongue and practice love, kindness compassion and forgiveness. If she complains directly to you, simply tell her you are a solution oriented person and complaining serves no purpose. Ask her if she can produce solutions? This may inspire her and it may not. Let your joy come from within and don’t lose it by the behavior of others.