Influences

I drove down a curvy road when out of the corner of my eye—I saw it—just in time.  A gigantic rock bounced down the hillside at me. Reflex made me swerve. I barely missed it. The boulder crashed down the other side.  It uprooted a sapling. The huge monstrosity landed with a thud against a giant tree.

A gasps escaped my lips. The brakes screeched as I skidded to a stop. My hand trembled as I drug it over my face. A few moments passed as I tried to catch my breath. That was close.

"Thank you Lord Jesus! You protected me again!" My prayer was spoken in a whisper but with urgency. I knew I could have been taken down with the boulder. My little car would have been no match for the rock's enormous weight and momentum.  Finally, I felt calm enough to keep driving. My glances around me and up the hill became more frequent as I carefully drove. I replayed the scene over in my head.  Soon, my thoughts turned to the rock itself. It had seemed to be after me, but I knew that was not true. It was a reddish color made out of the dirt surrounding it. It may have started small but as it rolled it took on mass.

The last few days it had rained. The mountains here were thousands of feet high. If a stone dislodged and gathered dirt and mud around it, bit by bit, it would grow. Over and over again soil, leaves, and debris would grab hold. I knew rolling a snowball around your yard made it bigger, until you had the base of a snowman. Maybe, this applied to masses of soil, mud, and leaves.

My thoughts compared the rock to my life and the things I let affect me. I know bitterness starts as a small hurt or offense, but will grow into an ugly mass if I let it. People, circumstances, and things I read and watch mold me into who I am. Those can be good and make me a strong rock full of peace, love, and kindness. Those could also be bad influences that make me weak, sad, bitter, and even cruel. I may surround myself with a mixture of great and poor influences.

I want to be strong, kind, and full of love for others. How can I make sure I become that way? I need to pick good friends that build me up--not put in negative thoughts that will make cracks in my being. The books I read and the shows I watch should be carefully picked. The activities I do, places I go, and all the things that occupy my time should be considered.

This is the way the Lord wants me to live. He wants to be the focus of my life. The Lord should be my guide when I decide who to hang out with, places to go, what books to read, shows to watch, and things to do. As I’m around these things I want them to help me become a solid person who makes the best choices. I want people to see a strong woman with deep faith, love for others, kindness, and with a conviction to do the right thing.

What do you want to become? Strong? Weak? Solid but with a crack of bad running through? Choose wisely. I don’t want to think I’m solid--then break apart because I let in some bad influence. There is a saying: a bad apple can spoil the whole bushel. I don’t want to be spoiled or turn out bad because I was around the wrong person or thing in my life. How about you?

Ponder and memorize: Hebrews 10:24 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works. (NKJV)  Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. (NLT)

Proverbs 27:17 As Iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.

Proverbs 27:21b and a man is valued by what others say of him.

Verses in NKJV unless otherwise stated