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“You become like the people you hang around, and to a great degree, you end up going wherever they’re headed.”

A thought by Bob Goff, (2012-05-01) from his book, Love Does: Discover a Secretly Incredible Life in an Ordinary World (p. 118). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition. (Click on the title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.)

Friends and family have such an impact on us.  And it isn’t the blood that we have in common but the attitudes and view of life that makes the difference. 

The key friend that I have needed and wanted to become like is Christ.  Oh I know that it sounds like one of those right things to say but it is true.  Why wouldn’t a person want to be close to the one who created you and sacrificed their life for you?  If you have really caught the truth of that then of course you would want to hang around with Him.

The other deep friend that I have is my wife, Margaret.  I would die for her just as Christ died for me.  She is someone who had a choice in living in my life and she has stayed with me and sacrificed dreams for me.  Now I am able to do the same for her.  She has made a major difference in changing me from a moody self-centered difficult person to live with to who I am today.  I am different because of Christ and because of her.

Have you connected with someone who is truly changing you in a positive way? Oh I also know that wrong choices can make a major negative difference in your view of life.  I have seen that in so many people’s lives.  They made the choice for the wrong reason and it has totally changed the direction of their life in a totally wasted way. 

Oh please understand the importance of who you hang out with and who you spend quality time with.  Their view of life has a way of seeping into your attitudes and actions and in turn into your total future and who you become.

Please stop and see where your friends are headed.  Is that really where you want to go?  You still have control over where you want to head in your life.  Many married couples who have a strong marriage start hanging out with couples who are headed in the wrong direction.  The women are always putting their husbands down and the men are always looking around.  If you stay in that circle you will become like them.  Please be careful.

Maybe you hang around the wrong group at work.  They are always putting down their bosses and gripping about everything.  Is that where you want to go?  Or do you want to change things for the better?  You want to make a difference.  Find a group of friends who also are looking to make a difference.

Back when Bob was young he did a little hitchhiking and he said, “What I’ve decided is a pretty good idea is to just ask people where they’re going before you get in with them. If they aren’t heading where you want to end up, just wait in the ice plant by the highway a little while longer.”  Pretty good advice for life.  

 So where are the people you hang out with headed?
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