Bad company corrupts good character. (1 Corinthians 15:33)
Whatever we surround ourselves with feeds our spirit, our thoughts, and our emotions. During this time of such unrest and unknown, we are surrounded by negativity. Have you ever noticed that you feel physically drained after being in a pessimistic conversation or group? Our emotional health is heavily dependent on our outlook. If the only input we are giving our minds is shrouded in despair, loss of hope, or even just a constant stream of negative opinions, there will be a very real physical response. When our minds are not operating positively, we begin to make choices that might not be the healthiest. We might find ourselves reaching for food and beverage choices we would not otherwise make; our sleep can be impacted; our interactions with others, especially our patience, tends to be altered. However, the opposite happens when we are feeling our best. When we surround ourselves with “good company,” it feeds our soul. Family, friends, and loved ones tend to be our “safe place.” When we approach obstacles in life with a more optimistic outlook, it helps us to keep hope. It helps us to subconsciously make other choices that are good for our mind, body, and soul.
As families are weighing their choices and public schools begin to open, it is so easy for others to make assumptions or judgments. No matter what choice you made for your child’s education this coming year, try to find yourself a support system. Connect with families who are making the same choices, or set boundaries with families and friends who may not agree with your choice. Do not allow others to cloud your own thoughts and feelings. When those boundaries are crossed, it impacts the entire family. Children are looking to their parents for trust and safety. If the company you keep is preventing you from feeling at peace or comfortable with the decisions you make for your family, it might be time to seek out a new “safe place.” Friends and families should be able to share their feelings and thoughts comfortably, respectfully, and with a keen sense of understanding. It is more important than ever to remind ourselves of the verse above from 1 Corinthians 15:33: “Bad company corrupts good character.” Monitor the company you keep and make your own circle one that helps you and builds you up.
Dr. Leanne Badham
Director of Precious Cargo Academy
For those struggling to find “good company” and to set boundaries:
Dear Lord, please help us to set boundaries. Help us in building our own good company and to not lose the hope and trust that you provide. Amen.
Activities for Home:
Make bird feeders for your garden: roll a toilet paper tube in peanut butter; coat it thickly and cover the whole tube. Then roll the covered tube in bird seeds, and hang somewhere you can see out a window, or on your porch.
Make paint-sicles: place different-colored paint into an ice cube tray. Place a wooden stick into each section, and then place in the freezer for a few hours until the paint is solid, and the sticks are held in place. Then, pop them out of the tray and take them outside to draw creations onto the sidewalk. The paint will wash away with water, or in the next summer rain fall.