BLESSED ARE THE MERCIFUL... TRANSFORMING THURSDAY

I suppose you could say that I've been in the "studying people" business my whole life.  Raised in many different cultures, schools, neighborhoods, and churches... I have been fascinated by the multiplicity of differences in people for a very long time.

Hippocrates, "the father of modern medicine", said that there were 4 basic personality types.  He gave them a name connected with different functions of the body.  Since Hippocrates, there have been many different studies/reports dividing personalities into 4 categories.  Let me share 5 different paradigms of personality here:

1. Hippocrates  (Sanguine/Choleric/Melancholy/Phlegmatic)
2. True Colors (Yellow/Red/Blue/Green)
3. Animals (Otter/Lion/Beaver/Golden Retriever)
4. E. E. Milne characters (Tigger/Rabbit/Eeyore/Winnie)
5. The Theater (Star/Director/Producer/Audience)

The extroverted "fun loving" personality is called:

1. Sanguine by Hippocrates
2. Yellow by True Colors
3. Otter by Animals
4. Tigger by E. E. Milne characters
5. The Star by The Theater

The extroverted "leader type" personality is called:

1. Choleric by Hippocrates
2. Red by True Colors
3. Lion by Animals
4. Rabbit by  E. E. Milne characters
5. The Director by The Theater

The introverted "detailed/analytical" personality is called:

1. Melancholy by Hippocrates
2. Blue by True Colors
3. Beaver by Animals
4. Eeyore by E. E. Milne characters
5. The Producer by The Theater

The introverted "easy going" personality is called:

1. Phlegmatic by Hippocrates
2. Green by True Colors
3. Golden Retriever by Animals
4. Winnie the Pooh by E. E. Milne characters
5. Audience or Watcher by The Theater

In any group of humans, you'll find:

1. An array of "functions" per Hippocrates
2. A "rainbow of colors" per True Colors
3. A "zoo" per Animals
4. "Great story characters" per E. E. Milne characters
5. An "entire cast of characters" per The Theater

How easy is it to love others who are so different from you?  What about the same as you, but they just don't seem to think about things or do things the way you do?  If you are like me, you might have trouble being patient and kind to them.

Years ago, I began considering not only a person's personality, but so much more.  A simplistic way to understand people a little more is what my hubby and I refer to as getting to know someone with a GPS.

• Do I know their Genogram?  In other words, do I understand their family dynamics and background?
• Do I understand their Personality?  Is it from "Nature or Nurture" or a little bit of both?
• Can I grasp the enormity of their Strengths?

Often times, studying/considering the GPS of a person will help me to give them grace and mercy when I disagree with how they are acting.  As the Choleric/Red/Lion/Rabbit/Director personality, I might get frustrated with a person and feel like he/she has no clue; my patience runs thin.  It is then that I must follow these transforming principles taught by Jesus:

• "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy." - Matthew 5
• “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will.” - Matthew 26
• “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.” - Luke 23
• "Love is patient; love is kind..."  1 Corinthians 13

• Giving others a break is extending mercy; calling them "stupid" or "fool" is not.
• Saying, I don't wanna, but I'm a gonna'!" is extending mercy; griping and whining while doing it is not.
• Forgiving over and over again is extending mercy; holding onto a judgment or grudge is not! 
• Reaching out with a helping hand (of patience and kindness), even if you don't want to is extending mercy; keeping a clinched fist is not!   

May these principles transform all of us in the weeks, months, and years to come.

BLESSED!  OH, THE JOY!