Policing Bad Behavior

My grandson told me that when he hears a police siren, he knows FOR SURE that one of his friends at school is getting a visit. "Why do you think he is the reason the police are coming?" I ask.

"Meme, he is a bad bad boy and causes lots of trouble." Well, ok. But this is the same kid that my grandson also tries to play with sometimes - usually to his detriment if his stories are accurately narrated. I've tried to share with him as best I can what I am learning about being a good friend.

Here are some questions that I ask Christian to consider when choosing friends.

"Does this friend help you be a kind person when you play? Are they kind to you and others?"

"Does this friend make you feel happier when you are having a sad day?"

"Does this friend share?"

I try to mix the questions up a bit, but my point is this: a friend, a true friend, needs to refresh our soul. Christian is too young to hear the rest, but when he is in first grade I will share more. I will tell Christian that I try to pick friends who make me a better person, who make me feel less anxious and frustrated by the world and more at peace in the present. I will tell Christian that I try to stick with friends who do not always make me happy - because sometimes we need loving pushes to grow, but who always have my back. I will tell Christian that good friends make you a better human, especially when you disagree on issues. But right now, I'm just working on getting Christian off this idea that he runs the police and they will do his bidding by picking up kids who do not follow his rules. It's a process, right? We're all doing the best we can AND we are working to learn more and do better.

Just as lotions and fragrance give sensual delight, a sweet friendship refreshes the soul.

Proverbs 27:9 The Message