Unfortunately, we need them

I came across a thought from Rabbi Zelig Pliskin this week that challenged me to view things from a different perspective. Rabbi Pliskin wrote, "View every person you find difficult as your partner in character development."

It is easy to be patient and kind with other people who are patient and kind themselves. This is not a challenge. The challenge is being kind and patient with the rude person at the store, the obnoxious guest in your house, or the co-worker who yells at you and is constantly negative. As much as we would like this person to be on another planet, they are necessary for our own personal growth.

We need to view encounters with these people as tests, to see that we are what we believe ourselves to be.