We Are The Reflections Of Our Friends

Walk with the wise and become wise;
    associate with fools and get in trouble.

Proverbs 13:20 

Quite a number of years ago, I made what I thought was a good friend.  We would talk about everything and we would I was convinced my friend was just that....a true friend.  That is, until I discovered that they had shared some of the things we had discussed with others, and had twisted the discussion to make me appear to be an idiot.  I was ashamed, embarrassed, humiliated, angry, and mostly hurt.  How could someone claiming to be a true friend do such a thing?

Since that time, I admit I have made that mistake again and again, but I have also tried to make sure to have friends who are very wise.  One of these wise friends told me to never allow someone to get close enough to know the dark places in my life.  While I understand the logic, I struggle with this because a true friend is one who knows everything about you and likes you anyway.

The longer I live, the more I have come to realize that I am the reflection of the friends I keep.  If I have friends who choose to get in trouble or stab me in the back, then I reflect the fact that I have been foolish to have them as friends.  If I have friends who want to see me succeed as I want them to succeed, then I will reflect the wisdom of being mutually supportive and respectful.

We reflect those we call "Friend".  Be careful who you allow yourself to reflect.

"Hey Ya'll Watch This!"

People ruin their lives by their own foolishness
    and then are angry at the Lord.

Proverbs 19:3 

 Have you ever done or said something that was completely boneheaded?  You see, in our minds, we have this idea of how everything is going to turn out.  Then reality has this habit of smacking us in the face.  

We have warning labels on items that, when you read it, you wonder "Who kind of idiot does this?" 

 Think about it: 
     * Found on a tube of Preparation H - "Do not take internally"
     * Found in a manual for a chainsaw - "Do not use while naked"
     * Found on the fence of a power substation - "Touching the wires can cause instant death"
     * Found on a gas pump - "No Smoking"

Doing and saying foolish things can ruin our lives, and yet when we do them, we have the nerve to get mad and blame God?  God's not the one who said or did the foolishness.  I am convinced that God will allow us to face the consequences of our foolishness to remind us that we need Him.

May God bring us to the point where we are willing to study what He has to say and think before we carry out our own foolish plans and ideas.