Right now, as a ripe 18 year old in college, there is a lot left to be answered in my life. This past year, I have grown exponentially. In small ways, such as learning the value of laundry and wearing clean clothes and also in much bigger ways with my self as a person.

This year has brought a lot of new experiences. Some good. Some bad. But all helping me grow in some way. This past season of my life, I have been heavily thinking about the future. My future wife. My future kids. My future occupation. And on an even bigger scale, my future self.

At first, I figured that many of these questions will remain unanswered for a while, so I drifted towards a mindset of indifference. However, questions such as "where am I going?" "who am I becoming" "what type of husband will I be?" "What type of father will I be?" continued to flood my mind. So I dug deeper. Is there a way I can answer these questions now? Is there a way to figure out where I will be before I even get there? Is there a way to figure out who I will become before I even begin to grow?

To give you the short answer: yes there is...

Where am I going? Who am I becoming?

What type of husband/wife will I be? What type of father/mother will I be?

Questions that many would love to have answered. Questions that for many, have already been answered.

I believe that all of the answers to these questions rely around one simple concept: who your friends are.

Thats right. I believe that through our friends all of these questions can be answered. You know why? Because who your friends are determine who you are and who you will become. Surround yourself with people that you want to become because who you hang around is who you will become, whether you like it or not. My biggest mentor in my life has drilled this concept into me. He has often told me, "show me your friends and I will show you your future."

Who you hang around is who you will become, so make sure you hang around people you see yourself becoming.

Make sure God is at the center of your friendships. Make sure you pray over your friendships. It is important to realize that friendships really do mold you into who you will become and determine where you are going. I strongly believe that God works through people, and majorly friends. So pray that God surrounds you with good people, people you see yourself becoming.

Friendship is valuable in so many ways. Friendship provides comfort, safety, laughter, memories, guidance, love, and growth.

Friendship has influence. Friendship will either influence you for the good or for the worst. Which direction you go, is up to you.