Circles Of Influence - The One Year Daily Acts of Kindness Devotional

Circles of Influence

Walk with the wise and become wise; associate with fools and get in trouble.

Proverbs 13:20

My son is fourteen and in the throes of his teen years. He’s a good kid who tries hard and loves to be involved in activities. He has a tender heart and wants to get along well with others, and while this has afforded him many benefits—he’s well liked by his teachers and peers—it comes with one small weakness: he can lean toward pleasing people, even when it means doing something he knows is wrong.

I’ve had many conversations with my son about choosing wisely whom he spends his time with and whom he lets influence his life. This mama knows all too well how hard it is not to just go along with everyone else, especially when you want to be liked. I’ve struggled in my own life with the same desire to please others. But I’m committed to teaching him that sometimes we need to be discerning with friendships. That we are always kind to others, no matter who they are, but we don’t have to let others have influence over us, especially those who could potentially lead us into sin or danger.

The people we choose to allow into our circles of influence will show us who we will become. If we spend most of our time with people who are negative and judgmental, we’ll most likely end up being the same. But the opposite is true as well: if we surround ourselves with people who desire, as we do, to love others well, to believe the best about people, and to serve those around them, we’ll end up doing more of those things as well. This, in turn, grows our ability and desire to be kind.

Whom have you given influence in your life? Have you been wise to pick people who are wise themselves?

—Kendra

— Today’s Act of Kindness —

Evaluate whom you allow to influence your life. If you don’t currently surround yourself with kind, wise influencers, identify someone whom you’d like to let into your circle of influence.