Fine Friends and Prickly People

Is it possible that every person in your life is here because of a divine purpose? In her book “God’s Guest List”, Debbie Macomber claims this is so. Macomber firmly believes that everyone – even the “prickly people”, as she calls them – are sent to you for a reason. A person may need something from you or you may have something that person needs. Someone may come into your life because there is something he or she can teach you or that you can teach that person. Macomber says that whether someone is a life-long friend, or someone you know for only a short while, there is a purpose for that contact. Life lessons are learned from this variety of people and relationships. She claims that even people you don’t like or people you simply “put up with” are a gift sent to you in order to learn any number of traits: patience, tolerance or understanding.  Perhaps they are sent to us so that we can learn to be strong and gain the confidence to stand up for ourselves, or for others.  Sometimes a “prickly person” goes on to become a valued friend, but even they remain a prickly person, you have been taught a life lesson.  People we don’t particularly care for or who are not necessarily kind to us, have something to teach us. We need to learn to accept those who have a negative influence on us as readily as we accept those who bring happiness and joy into our lives.  We should not dwell on the negative, but simply understand those downers serve a purpose and move on.

Her book caused me to examine my own life and the people who have come in and out of it, and to reflect on the people who have been permanent fixtures in my life.  I think Macomber might be onto something.  Even not-so-nice people in my life have been there at a time when I needed their skill, talent or even guidance and perhaps a lesson in assertiveness. While they may have caused disruption or sadness, there was a reason they were there at that particular time.  The people I love have given me strong support when I needed it most. I have also come to realize that two precious friends, now deceased, were a part of my life when I needed them the most.  If you think back on your life, I think you will come to the same conclusion. 

 

       All of these people – friend and foe – are part of the “guest list” of our lives, and we should appreciate each and every one of them. Suddenly it all makes sense -  knowing that your friends and your “prickly people” have been picked out for you and sent into your life when you needed them the most.   Having fine friends and prickly people in your life . . .it’s a good thing