Friday!

Proverbs!

Do not make friends with a hot-tempered person, do not associate with one easily angered, 

or you may learn their ways and get yourself ensnared.

Proverbs 22:24-25 NIV

Good advice.

And this proverb reminds us that we are influenced by those we spend time with, influenced in ways we may not have considered - our emotional responses.

The warning about getting yourself ensnared is literally snaring your soul. The word for soul here is "nephesh"; a soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, passion, appetite, emotion. It's the emotional centre of who we are is at risk of being trapped by someone else's way of responding. So be careful who you spend lots of time with.

It's really difficult when we don't have a choice, when that person is our boss, a parent, teacher. We can't always just manage our time with them, so being aware of the influence of others is a good start. 

Putting in boundaries for ourselves, asking for help to do that, helping others with putting healthy boundaries in, learning other ways of responding. 

This proverb is about breaking the cycles. 

Cycles that ensnare us, our personhood. Maybe it's breaking free from a person, supporting someone else as they make space from that person, and finding new ways to live.

#proverbs

#wisdom

#somethingtochewon