By Mercy Roland, CEO, MercySpeaks Initiatives
Not everyone who smiles at you should sit close to your heart. Teach your teens to watch out for these red flags in friendships:
Disrespect for Values – Anyone who mocks their faith, morals, or family isn’t safe.
Negative Influence – A friend who pushes them into lying, cheating, or ungodly behavior is dangerous.
Always One-Sided – If they only take and never give support, it’s unhealthy.
Drama & Gossip – People who tear others down will eventually tear them down too.
No Accountability – A friend who never says “sorry” will drag them into problems.
Envy & Competition – If they can’t celebrate their wins, they aren’t real friends.
True friends lift you up, not pull you down. Teach your teens to choose wisely — it’s better to have one godly friend than ten destructive ones.
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