Life goes by quickly. I sat down last night to have dinner with a friend from junior high. While I haven’t seen her in over 10 years, we talked like it was passing period between PE and general science. She’s not a close friend, but she’s a good friend. On the way home I thought about how our lives have taken different journeys, but that we’ve both had the support of good friends throughout the experience. I laughed thinking about goofy junior high things we did, unaware that the world was quietly waiting around the corner.

“Um, why are you sharing this with me?” You might be wondering.  Under the clarity of morning I am coming to grips with the powerful influence others have upon us – starting at a very young age. I realize I’m preaching to the choir here, but this nugget of information is one I wished I had conveyed more when I was in the classroom each day. I came across this excerpt from What We Want to Say to Grads published by David Cook:

“In high school an old man told me something I have never forgotten. He said, ‘Show me your friends and I will show you your future.’ I carry this thought around with me, even to this day. So I say to you: choose your friends wisely, for they will shape your thoughts, habits and values – and the way you view the world – more than you could ever realize at this very moment.” J.R. Briggs

The “show me your friends” quote is often attributed to Bill Cosby, or simply words of wisdom, but it is one I plan to reiterate with the young people in my life and encourage you to do the same. And, it’s never too late for us to evaluate the folks we hang around as well.

Want the book? While this book was developed as a Christian book it has great nuggets of wisdom for young people of all walks of life. Check it out at Amazon: What we Want to Say to Grads 

Want a new blog to follow? Check out author J.R. Briggs