Have you ever converted enemies into friendly acquaintences through love?

[Mark_Robert]

I’m trying an experiment at work. There are some people that seem to be dead set against me. It’s like they hated me from moment one. They’re the type of people that never speak to me and from whom I often receive negative vibes. The normal reaction would be to treat them, in kind, with disregard. However, starting this week, I’ve been forcing myself to respectfully acknowledge them each day with a friendly “hello” or “hey how are you doing?” I don’t make it a big deal. Heck, I don’t even wait for or expect a response. I’m just making it a habit to put into practice what the bible teaches about loving your enemies. I figure, why burn bridges? At least I’m giving them the opportunity to change their minds if they so choose later. Most importantly, I feel like I’m doing the right thing. Their unkindness does not justify my own. It will be interesting to see what results take place. I was wondering whether any of you have ever turned an enemy into a friend through kindness? Thanks.

 

[dmelosi]

I have always tried never to stoop to others’ level. It makes little difference to me how others act towards me…just be yourself.

 

[acadian]

I had a situation with the principal of my children’s school a year or so ago. I was upset about some things, and when I confronted him, he took it personally. A lot of things were said and done that probably shouldn’t have been (on both sides). Whenever I had to do anything at their school, my stomach was in knots, and we eventually looked into switching schools.

After taking a deep breath and talking with my pastor, I made an appointment with the principal and apologized for my part in the mess. (He never apologized, but that’s not my problem.) His mother passed away about a month later, and even though he wasn’t on my list of favorite people, I had a Mass said for her at the church near school and sent him a card. He never said anything about it, even though our paths crossed several times.

A month or so after the Mass, he knocked on my window while I was waiting in the pick-up line and thanked me - telling me how much the Mass had meant to him. At the last PTC meeting, he put his arm around my shoulders to ask a question. I have been back in his office with more concerns this year, and the relationship has been quite cordial.

Yes, it’s possible.

 

[SaintJoanOfArc]

Quite recently as a matter of fact. I had an encounter with a girl with whom we have a mutual friend. Immediately following, she spread rumors throughout the dorm about me. I handled it absolutely terribly at first. I just gossiped about her and resolved myself to believe that I was better than her because of the person I am and who she is. Well. After confession one day I felt absolutely terrible that I’d been gossiping about her and decided we should clear things up… (this animosity had been going on for about two months). I prayed, asking God to grant me an opportunity to confront her about it all… So last week I sent her a message apologizing for any initial offense I’d inflicted upon her. I don’t think she was too keen on accepting my apology at first, but she sent me a second message apologizing as well and now we’re actually working on building a friendship

It’s funny, because at first I felt totally justified in my reasons for not liking her… but when you realize specifically what an individual’s circumstances are and why they are the way they are… well. I think it taught me that I’m not actually better than anyone (who’d have thought!?) I’ve just been blessed with much better circumstances.

 

[InLight247]

I’m trying an experiment at work. There are some people that seem to be dead set against me. It’s like they hated me from moment one. They’re the type of people that never speak to me and from whom I often receive negative vibes. The normal reaction would be to treat them, in kind, with disregard. However, starting this week, I’ve been forcing myself to respectfully acknowledge them each day with a friendly “hello” or “hey how are you doing?” I don’t make it a big deal. Heck, I don’t even wait for or expect a response. I’m just making it a habit to put into practice what the bible teaches about loving your enemies. I figure, why burn bridges? At least I’m giving them the opportunity to change their minds if they so choose later. Most importantly, I feel like I’m doing the right thing. Their unkindness does not justify my own. It will be interesting to see what results take place. I was wondering whether any of you have ever turned an enemy into a friend through kindness? Thanks.

What you are doing is commendable.
Try also pray for them, it does not have to be long, just mention their names in your prayers and ask God to bless each of them.

See what will happen.
God bless!

 

[Michael_Neal]

it works, when I actually am able to bring myself to practice this virtue it almost always has a good result.

 

[ILUVGSUS2]

The Godmother of my children works with me in a different department. Her boss absolutely hated me for a long time. If she ever saw me talking to my friend, she would get angry. She actually went to my boss and told him I was keeping her from doing her job - not once but twice. I can’t stand animosity…but for a long time, I couldn’t even bring myself to simply say hello to her! I started praying for her and for myself where she is concerned. In praying, I asked got to open her heart and to open my heart to forgive her. I also asked God to bless her. After awhile of this, I finally went to her and I told her that I was sorry for all the negative feelings I had and wanted us to start over. After this, I left it all in God’s hands. I no longer have negative feelings for her.

God will take care of the situation if you allow Him, so pray that He will take care of it! He will be glad to!

 

[BarbaraTherese]

In my life there has been an overcoming of some sort of crisis that could have made an enemy simply be treating them as if the crisis had never occured…and maintained a friendship given time if in some instances a cooled one. Prayer, one can be assured is always prime and central. Memory tells me that in my life there has been one instance where I found it impossible to ignore the crisis and hence an ‘enemy’ eventuated…and assessing the situation decided it was best to leave things that way. There is nothing at all however to prevent me to continue to care about them and to love them prayerfully and to hope prayerfully that all will go well for them. To keep them in prayer…Blessings this Easter…Barb

 

[uglygal]

Yes … several weeks ago at work I had to work with a man who got on my nerves in every possible way. I couldn’t stand him!
I prayed to the Father to help me love him and to love him through me . In the end I even came to like this man and became friends with him.

 

[MarieVeronica]

I have never converted someone else (that I know of). But Our Lord certainly converted my heart… on one occasion.

When I was still working outside my home… there was a certain lady I worked with. Early on, she gave me reason to “think” that she was against me… by her words and mannerisms.

But over time… Our dear Lord showed me that the problem was with me. I was far too sensitive in regards to this lady. And in the 8 years I worked, we became fast friends.

By the time I departed… she was one of my best friends.

 

[mercygate]

Yep. I have had cranky colleagues. Testy people. General jerks, who tried to make me and everybody else miserable. Such casual colleagues have been converted by my giving them a big smile and treating them as if they were my best friend. Y’know, mentioning I hadn’t talked to them in a while. Complimenting them on something they do well.

Others have been converted by my saying to the general audience – “Hey! Don’t let Sheila in here! She’s nothing but trouble!” – basically, calling their bluff when they come on with vinegar. When their crankiness is a front and you breach it, sometimes you find a really nice person underneath.

One time when a supervisor came after me with a brick bat for “making life difficult” for him, I zapped an e-mail back stating the goals of the project we were working on and that I was 100% committed to getting the project done on time and under budget. I stated that I had NEVER had such huge misunderstandings with people I had worked with, and asked to meet with him the next day to straighten stuff out. Never once did I let my personal dislike for this guy to color the way I interacted with him. We now have a good working relationship. Now he thinks I’m superwoman and credits me with the ability to handle difficult people.