The Duck Who Thought She Was a Chicken: Choosing Wise Friends

"Walk with the wise and become wise: associate with fools and get in trouble." Proverbs 13:20

Friends are among the most influential forces in our lives, which is why most parents hope their kids make wise choices. I used to tell my daughter to “shoot for the stars” when choosing friends. What do friends with “star-like” characteristics look like?

Let me share a story from our farm that illustrates this idea: “When children visit our farm, I always love to point out our duck that thinks she's a chicken! She has learned to run like a chicken, eat like a chicken, and scratch like a chicken. Sometimes I wonder: if her duck mother had raised her, how different her life might be. She would probably take flight and explore all the nearby ponds, searching for her food and living as ducks do.

At the end of our tour, standing by the chicken coop, I like to tell the kids, “Be careful who you choose to be your friends, because you will start to act and think like them.” (Excerpt from pages 227 and 228 from my book, "Raising A Temple.")

The friends we choose can even affect our relationship with God. As scripture warns: “Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God” (James 4:4b).

Wow. When you think about it that way, doesn't it make you more cautious about the friends you spend time with? 

The lesson comes to life every time I remember our little duck, who has forgotten that she was meant for more than scratching and pecking with chickens. Her story is a living illustration of Proverbs 13:20: "Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm."

As you reflect on your friendships or help guide your children through theirs, remember the story of our little duck. Choose friends who inspire you to grow in wisdom and faith!