Monday; February 18

While today is “Presidents’ Day” – and is set aside to honor all of our presidents – for many of us, the day is most closely associated with Presidents Washington and Lincoln.  Each of the forty-four men who have served the United States as president has placed his stamp on our nation, but these two are seen as having exerted an exorbitant amount of influence. 
Not long ago I came across a quote by the “Father Of Our Nation” who observed, “Be courteous to all, but intimate with few, and let those few be well tried before you give them your confidence. True friendship is a plant of slow growth, and must undergo and withstand the shocks of adversity before it is entitled to appellation.”.  As I pondered these words of wisdom, two things came to mind.  First, as President Washington noted, we should be friendly to people.  The structure of our nation was established on mutual respect and camaraderie, so if we constantly practice meanness and ugliness toward others we mistreat them, rob ourselves and lessen the effectiveness of our nation and our community.  My second observation may seem to stand in conflict with the first, but as Washington said, we must be cautious with our closest alliances.  Being “friendly” should be a hallmark of our nation, but becoming “friends” with someone must be the result of a tried and true relationship.  True friendships guide our lives and influence our decisions, so we must enter into them cautiously. 
Who are we allowing to influence us?  Is it making us better or worse?
Think About It!

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