Distance From Bad Influences

The story of Avraham Avinu is quite remarkable. He was one man who changed the status of the world. Single-handedly, and with Hashem’s help, he was able to influence and elevate all of society.
The key to his success was the recognition that in order to flourish, he needed to place himself in the best possible environment. He needed to recognize who might present a detriment to his being able to fulfill his holy mission.
This recognition required him to part ways with his family and the comfortable place where he grew up. He needed to rise above his emotions and sentiments, and face reality.
He was brought to the Holy Land where he would be able to have a closer connection with Hashem. He had to make a new beginning which meant his being a stranger in a strange land.
We need to make similar decisions in our own lives. We need to live in a place where we are surrounded by good people. Everyone is influenced by their environment no matter how strong they think they are.
When I counsel young people before marriage, I always tell them to be aware of potential troublemakers. A good indicator is to see the reaction of close family and friends to their engagement. If there were those who did not seem genuinely happy for them, it is a warning signal. It might not be a good idea to let them into your life.
The same is true of well intended family members. It is necessary to set boundaries from the outset. Otherwise, the meddling could become highly destructive.
Life has many difficulties and challenges. We must place ourselves and especially our children in the best possible environment for success. This is a lesson to be learned from Avraham Avinu. It is a lesson that we should take very, very,seriously.‹