If you haven't read Max Lucado's, “Every Day Deserves a Chance”, grab a copy the next time you're out.  I promise it will brighten your day.  I think my favorite part was the comparison of a Dog's journal and a Cat's.  The Dog began every entry with “Oh Boy” and puctuated every entry with, “My favorite!”  The Cat couldn't seem to see anything but the negative and as hilarious as the mock journal was, it was very eye openning.  How do I view my day?  Do I see it in a negative light or a positive one?

In the last week though, I've begun to apply this to people around me.  How do I view others?  Do I focus on the good things about them...or do I zero in on their faults instead?  I'm asking...no, I'm begging God to help me with this.  I want to view people as God does.  I want to love them unconditionally but also be able to discern what is a healthy relationship for me.  Relationships can be so complicated and unfortunately, sometimes even harmful.  I am faced lately with some decisions about relationships that I am finding difficult at best.  Is this someone I can trust?  Is this someone who will uplift or tear down?  Also, if it is determined that a relationship with someone isn't in my (or my family's) best interest, does this mean that I don't love said person?  I don't believe it has to.  I think we can love someone and yet also know that it is harmful to associate with them.  Our pastor did a series on the people we associate with (it's one of my husband's favorites) and in one of the talks he causes us to question who we allow into our “inner circle”.  Our inner circle are the people who will influence us the most and guarding who comes into that relationship with you is huge.

“A righteous man is cautious in friendship, but the way of the wicked leads them astray.”  Proverbs 12:26(NIV)

This very topic came up recently when we noticed our son exhibit some behavior of another child he's been hanging out with...and not positive behavior either.  It reminded me that my own Dad used to say, “you can't stick your hand into a can of red paint without getting red paint on your hand”.  Our friends, those we allow close, will rub off on us in some way.  While we talked with our son about the influences of others, it became painfully aware that we had some tough decisions to make ourselves.  We've been in turmoil over a particular relationship for years - recetnly we've been trying to carve out a friendship where we are uncertain if that is possible right now, let alone wise.  So far it's served to cause higher tensions in our own home and certainly hasn't brought out the best in us.

“He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm.”  Proverbs 13:20(NIV)

So where does this leave us?  Only God knows and so we [Erik & I] are diligently seeking His wisdom and not our own.  I'm sure I'll have more to write on this in the future but for now I'm just trying to turn this particularly stressful Monday into my favorite day of the week.

“This is the day which the LORD has made; Let us rejoice and be glad in it.”   Psalms 118:24 (NASB)

Erik also posted on “The Sway of They”