~Relationships

Watching my children develop relationships with others has certainly taught me so much about the influence of others. In each situation where they have not been careful in choosing who they surround themselves has been detrimental for them personally and to our family. As parents, it is distressing to watch our loved ones being torn apart spiritually and emotionally by others. I find it even more difficult when they allow it to continue.

It is my desire as a mother that my children learn to discern who threatens their relationship with God and their relationship with their family. I remember one of my children saying about one of their friends, " I don't like who I am when I am around them." This person had so much influence in their behavior that they did not have the strength to be true to their own beliefs.

We choose to have people in our own lives that will tear us down emotionally and spiritually just like the people of Israel in Judges 2:3: Therefore I also said, I will not drive them out before you; but they shall be thorns in your side, and their gods shall be a snare to you. They had become complacent and no longer obeying God who had given them so much blessing. He warned them that hanging with the wrong crowd would have negative consequences.

Dear Lord, watch over all my children and grandchildren in their relationships. May they choose those who will encourage them in their life!

I took this picture on my way to work.