Friends are one of the strongest influences that we have in our lives. Most parents strongly desire that their kids choose great friends. I used to tell my daughter to “shoot for the stars” when choosing friends. What do friends with “star-like” characteristics look like?
This morning, when I read this verse about friends, it reminded me of a duck we used to have in our chicken coop. She was quite the character and gave me plenty of teaching opportunities. Here is an excerpt from my book, “Raising A Temple“.
“When children come over to our farm and I am showing them around, I like to point out our duck that thinks she is a chicken! She has learned to run like a chicken, eat like a chicken, and scratch like a chicken. I often wonder, if her momma had raised her duckling, how different her lifestyle might be.
She would take flight and explore all the nearby ponds, looking for her food. I conclude our tour at the chicken coop by telling the kids, “Be careful who you choose to be your friends, because you will start to act and think like them.”From pages 227 and 228 of Raising A Temple
Furthermore, the friends we choose affect our relationship with God: “Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God” (James 4:4b). Wow. When you think about it that way, wouldn’t anyone be more careful about the friends he or she hangs out with?
Walk with the wise and become wise,
for a companion of fools suffers harm.” Proverbs 13:20
“Walk with the Wise and become wise,
for a companion of fools suffers harm.” Proverbs 13:20
| Want to read more about teaching your kids about friends and how to recognize a fool? The rest of the chapter is in Raising A Temple, | |
LORI JANE HENSLEY 