Reflection

At church a couple weeks ago, father said "You are who you hang out with".

Now, as he said this, I sat there are nodded my head in agreement, and i started thinking about all of the people that I associate myself with.  At the time, I believe I had a growing relationship with God.  I talked so much with my friends from church, went to church events, and I was happy.  But truth is, happiness is fleeting.  Even though I hung around these good people at church and outside of school, at school my group of friends are not religious in any way.  They are good people, yes, but there is so much gossip, drama, and unhappiness - and it is now that I truly understand what Father said.  Over the past few weeks, there's been an emptiness inside of me - on that wasn't there before.  I noticed it a while ago, and I told myself "Pray." but I never did.  Why?  Because the people that I surround myself with don't tell me that.  I have no encouragement, no help.  I've become them instead of myself.  It's like the saying "You are what you eat."  You eat junk food, you become less healthy and less fit and essentially become a feeling of junk.  When you surround yourself with negative people, your thoughts start becoming negative, and you become like them, even though you think differently.  Their actions become your actions, and over time their thoughts become your thoughts.  

When surrounded by people who lift you up and support you is when you will thrive.  If you surround yourself in HIS glory and love, joy will find you.  And the truth is, joy is everlasting.

We are who we surround ourselves with. 

Remember that.