friendships...

Oh funny how we go from family to friends....

Over the years I have worked as a preschool teacher and our motto was every one in our school was our friend... nice I know, it would be great if it were that easily done.

I've watched my oldest children in friendships through the years, some I approved of and others I didn't but knowing how I rebelled against my mother's friend wishes for myself, I took it to prayer and some friends I'd allow the kids to sleep over at their house while other friends were only allowed to come to our house. I never thought to pray for godly friends or role models, well to be honest I never heard the godly term until 2003, my baby was then 10. I prayed for Christian friends but today Christian has lost a lot of its meaning because people say they are Christian yet you learn later they don't believe in Jesus.

I use to tell my children to let their light shine, that they needed to remember they are different than some kids. Was this right??? I don't know but I do know my kids had friends that were good and some that were having bad influences on them, my kids invited kids to church and learned to pray for their friends. Today, I don't know any of their friends nor do I know if they have friends that are godly or bad influences but I can still be praying because God knows and sees it all.

In fact I have practiced the same standards with Joel however, I have added the advice of telling him he is a leader not a follower. Does that mean he makes the right choices every minute of every day, nope he's human just like me.... I am praying for him to have good friends and that any friends that will lead him down a wrong path away from God be removed from his life. There are kids he befriended because other kids were mean to them (that is a Christ like character but is he strong enough to stick with some of these kids when they may become drug users or drag racers, or oh the so many things that teens find to experiment with, only with protection from God).

As I read this chapter I'm sitting here on the balcony of my hotel room looking out at the beautiful ocean. Thinking about going down to take a walk this isn't something I would normally do alone but I know when Ric gets back he will not want to go because of his hurt ankle. Ok, I've decided I'm going before it gets too crowded and hot... I've been so sick for 4 weeks and this is the first week I haven't felt terrible. Besides there are several wives left here while our husbands are in training... maybe I'll meet a new friend. Think I'm going to take Joel's motto everyone is worth getting to know even if I'm too shy to make new friends, I can fake it. :)

Have a great week!!