How to Love Someone that is Hard to Love

"Love your neighbor as yourself." We all know the drill. Jesus calls us to love even our enemies. But loving people can be so HARD.

Today Fr. Mike offers us some 3 practical tips and a word of challenge to lean into loving those we find difficult to love and care for.

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[limepiper]

This is amazing, I just had a big fight with my mother who is an incredibly difficult person. Please pray for me it is hard to love her sometimes.

[rhwinner]

Christ loved us when we were unlovable, so let us strive to love _especially_ the unlovable. 🙏❤️🙏

[oza]

"Love is a one way street. Relationships are two way streets."

This line can legit can change my life.

[craftygirl]

My husband and I separated. I married a difficult person who is difficult in many ways. I love him and I don’t always understand how to properly love him. My husband made some serious mistakes in our marriage and as a result of all this, I pray like crazy. My husband has turned to lies and cheating because of his personal problems to love. I put my foot down and we’re getting help but it’s not easy. It’s not easy dealing someone who struggles with love. God loves us and I understand it all. The truth has set me free but it hasn’t set my husband free. Prayers! I will practice learning to love him more. Hoping God will help his heart. ❤

[coraleethomas]

Working in customer service is always a test of my charity for sure😂

[RighteousDay]

The one who bites or barks, who behaves in an unloving way, is in pain, and will also likely be feeling separate from love, peace, worthiness or a sense of safety - perhaps, all of these. Unloving behaviour is a revelation as to what is UNSEEN, what is being FELT and experienced within. Thus, behaviour helps make what is invisible to the eye, VISIBLE. The one who has behaved in an unloving or mean way, should not be condemned and judged as "less than human" or not worthy of Love. In fact, it is they who are most worthy of Love, which is by virtue of the reality that their NEED for Love is greatest. It has become clear to me that the person behaving in an unloving way is, in their pain and unbearable suffering, ALLOWING others to see this - to see the Truth of their inner world - in the hope that they receive the help - the love, support, connection and the lessening of their suffering - that they indeed need 🌱
Meanness is not an indication of "badness" within a person... Rather, meanness *reveals* pain. Mean Means Pain 🌱 Moreover, at its core... every unloving behaviour is a Call for Love 🙌🏽🕊

If you read this... God loves you unconditionally and has got you, my friend 🌱

[mong]

Please pray for my daughter who is hard to love 💕 She has a heart of stone and is avoiding to communicate with her family. When all is said and done, I can only pray for her conversion of heart. May God grant her peace and love. Amen 🙏🏻

[dromero]

I have a difficult time with my brother. He never stops talking to let others say anything. He complains almost every single day. If we say anything to him about carrying his cross and/or being more positive or we disagree with him, he snaps. The family doesn't want to be around him or lands up on bad terms because he talks and complains too much and, is a know it all. Even though I try so hard and pray so much for him, he seems to be one of my heaviest crosses. God help us. ✝️

[analyza]

I have been going through a tough time personally, i have prayed day and night for over a year now for some sort of sign. I truly believe this is the sign i had been needing, i see it loud and clear. God is so good.

[therese_paula]

Amazing.
A relationship is a two-way street.
But Love is a one-way street. You just love.

[Melissa-dzje]

"We Are Always Definitively LOVED by God!!"
I looked up the word DEFINITIVELY ~it means, in a way that is ❣️Definite, ❣️Complete,
❣️Final, or ❣️Absolute! 🙌 WOW!! Soo Beautiful to think about! Thank You Father Mike for this reflection!!

[DSkye-nm]

Dear Father Mike: I have tried for many years tolerating speaking with my brother who is ten years older than me. He’s abrasive and selfish and cruel and abusive. I finally struggled to put up boundaries several times which he overstepped shamelessly and I finally told him he can not speak to me that way. He swore at me and said something vile and told me to never speak to him again. He’s blocked me from reaching him. He’s way too toxic for me so all I can do is to pray for him. I cannot be abused by his narcissistic personality anymore.

[Pablojimenez-rg]

Hey everyone I have important tests coming up this week could you all please pray for me to do well and answer to the best of my ability. Thanks very much🙏✝️ Mary pray for us!!

[dawnlapka]

The scripture says " Be cunning as Serpents and gentle as Doves. " I really needed this reminder. I have a life full of people who are difficult to love. But I am equally as difficult. Because of this, God gives me plenty of reasons to be patient with those family, friends acquaintances and people that I serve to be patient and love with that one way street. Thank you Father Schmitz.

[Indrafran]

Thanks for giving us guidance on this Father Mike. My parents are difficult to love and I know where they’re coming from. I pray that God grant me the grace to be the “bigger person” so I don’t end up resenting them for what they did to me.

[DistinctiveThinking]

😂😂😂😂😂😂😂❤ I always changed the video speed when I listened to you, Father, but this, was so funny, I am crying in laughter. I always say, "My goodness, this priest must drink a lot of coffee!"☕️❤

[leiahmerrick]

father Mike, we love you just the way you are. When I started watching I found your energy charming and your enthusiasm infectious and still do.

[nehyeshua]

That would include everyone around me. My solution, love God more. I cannot care about the rest more.

[johannaraisch]

I have a Co-worker who just drives me Bonkers. Good words and advise … I will put into action

[schneider]

Hahaha! I always listen to you at 1.5x faster speed already!
This video was speaking to me in many ways. Thank you and God bless you!