I am about to get all #realtalk for a minute. Some times people annoy us. It could have been the person who stole your parking spot, or a rude comment; perhaps, it was someone being unsupportive or cold. Whatever the reason, sometimes we are on our last cherry coated straw, and it wouldn’t matter if the situation deserved our annoyance or not, they are going to get it; because at that moment, that final straw equals the stubbed toe from earlier, the burnt breakfast, the lost keys, the extra bill, the friend who you don’t talk to anymore. It’s a culmination of annoyances that haven’t been shaken off yet.

So what do we do, when annoyance stirs up?

Get some space. Run, run far

Sometimes we just need a few minutes to clear our head, and that’s ok, because honestly some days are just rougher than others. It doesn’t matter what someone does, it is just who is in your line of site at that moment. It is so much easier biting our tongue, than spending however long it takes mending a relationship. I am not talking about unresolved conflict here, I am talking about having a bad day and knowing you will say something negative purely based on emotion.

Come away by yourselves to a secluded place and rest a while.

Mark 6:31

Pray. It’s good for the soul.

Talk to God about what’s bothering you. It doesn’t take long for things to start coming into perspective. “Oh, that’s right, I got three hours of sleep last night that’s why I am crabby. Thanks for the reminder God. ZZZ.”

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

Philippians 4:6

Be kind despite the situation.

Even if someone is acting annoying, we still have to keep ourselves in check. Loving our best friend is easy, but what about those people who say mean things about you… just cause, or the people that constantly overstep their bounds. What about them? Love… love and watch God’s grace abound. Love is not an emotion based on feeling warm and cozy, it is a choice, that is really put to the test daily.

But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.

Matthew 5:44

Talk to them.

Take some time, think about why you really are annoyed and actually share that wealth of knowledge with others!

Sometimes it’s just because you are having a tough day. During those times, if I am up for it, I will warn those around me, “I am sorry, I am having a rough day.” This, at least in my mind, gives me a temporary pass for future things I may say, and hopefully allows the person I am talking to, to not get too hurt by any blunt comments.

Other times… you may have specific things that annoy you that really need to be addressed. Just go for it. Don’t wait until you are emotionally charged to talk to them, or you have accumulated a list of things. Just address it quickly and move on. It doesn’t always have to be a big to-do. People have a variety of opinions, and personality traits so if we think that we will always see eye to eye we are sadly mistaken. There will be a time in every close relationship that something will annoy you, so it’s learning how to deal with those moments with grace and love despite what our emotions are telling us to do.