influencing those closest to you

Proverbs 27:17  NLT

As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend.

Our son and I just returned from a trip that was just the two of us.  Mostly we just took in the sights in the LA area of California, but we also took in some really cool conversation and moments we want to treasure.

This is one incredible kid.  He is our youngest, and he has a personality that is developing.  In face his sense of humor is getting stronger as his whit and wisdom.  I am amazed by him in so many ways, and this trip proved this once again.

Several of our moments together will stick out to me for a long, long time.  It was awesome to watch him enjoy some of the things that we saw.  Some of the conversations we had were intense.  They were even a little uncomfortable, but they happened.  Even they went pretty well.

One of the things that stands our to me in the lives of young people is the way we let things slide.  It is ok to compromise or to give in to pressure.  Most have little or no good influence in our lives, and that is why we as a family asked an important question a few years ago.  How can we influence our kids for God a little further.

We made some choices.  One choice was this special trip when they were 13 years old.  I am not the best at confrontation or of our hard conversations, but getting away, out of your comfort zone, there are ideas shared and motives examined that may be left alone.

I will treasure a lot of what we did, but I will most treasure the fact that I helped shape or sharpen my son as he becomes a man and continues to grow up.

I will also pray that some of the things we talked about will sink in.  It is easy to follow the crowd or do what is comfortable, but I pray that my son will be a difference maker.  I pray that he will pursue good.  Purse doing good and not just being good.  Pursue pushing evil aside and influence others for what is best and how God, our Savior and Lord, influences us.

How are you influencing the people closest to you?

Romans 12:21  NLT

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.