Be Careful Who You Let Into Your Life

I’ve been thinking a lot about how important it is to be careful about the people we allow into our lives, especially when it comes to our kids. As parents, we do everything we can to protect them, but sometimes we forget how much the people around us can influence them, even in ways we don’t see right away.

You might be doing everything “right”taking your family to church, teaching them good values, setting a great example, but then you wonder, “Where did things go wrong?” Sometimes it’s not what you’re doing, but who you’re letting into your circle.

And let’s be honest, sometimes it’s not just friends or acquaintances. Sometimes it’s family. It could be your parents, siblings, or an uncle, someone really close that you don’t think twice about because, well, “they’re family.” But even family can bring negativity into your life, whether it’s gossip, bad habits, or values that don’t align with yours. Just because someone is blood doesn’t mean they’re automatically a positive influence.

It’s easy to say, “I’m not judging anyone. I respect their choices.” That’s fine, but what happens when those choices or behaviors start influencing your kids? Whether it’s someone who loves to gossip, stirs up drama, or lives in a way that doesn’t align with your values, their influence can rub off on your family, without you even noticing.

Some people justify it by saying, “I’m just doing business with them,” or, “It’s not like I’m supporting their choices.” But let’s be real, how far are you willing to go just to make a little money? Is it worth risking your values or your family’s future? We have to ask ourselves these hard questions.

Something my pastor said really stuck with me. People often admire his family because all of his kids are involved in ministry, and they’ll ask him how he and his wife did it. His answer? “It wasn’t because of us. It was because of the community we surrounded our family with.”

That hit me. It’s not just about being a good parent, it’s about choosing the right people to be in your life and your kids’ lives. The people you surround yourself with will have an impact, whether you like it or not.

So here’s the question: Who’s in your circle? Are they lifting your family up, or are they quietly pulling you down? It’s something to think about, because the people we let in will shape our family’s future.