“Leadership is not about titles, positions, or flowcharts. It is about one life influencing another.”
― John Maxwell
Last summer I went for a walk at Hovander Park in Ferndale. It was a nice day and I thought it would be a good opportunity to listen to some podcasts I wanted to catch up on and be outside. I started the walk, I had the podcast on, but I couldn’t tell you what it was about. Ever have those moments where you’re listening to something, but your mind is somewhere else so it becomes white noise? That was this day.
Instead of a podcast, a verse went through my mind, and while I was walking, God and I had a conversation about it.
Proverbs 13:22 – A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children…
The question that came to my mind as I walked was “what are you leaving behind?” I don’t believe this verse is speaking of financial inheritance, but more spiritual inheritance.
What am I leaving behind not only to my kids but to their kids? I believe God shared something with me at that moment that I’ve never thought of before. “The decisions and actions I am doing today will impact (influence) my grandkids”.
To know me, you know that currently my kids are unmarried, and have no kids. But to God, that didn’t matter. What I do today, matters to them, who are not even born yet. How? Because I am sending a message to my kids, the message I send might very well be similar to the message they send theirs.
Today I am sending a message to my son about how to treat a wife by how I treat his mom.
Today I am sending a message to my daughter on an expectation of how a wife should be cared for by how I care for her mom.
Today I am showing my kids (either positively or negatively) the importance of a daily dependence on God.
The saying is true, more is caught that taught. As men, we are good teachers, but sometimes poor role models. It’s time to change this.
You, as a man, are a leader. The primary area of your leadership, if you are married and have a family, is in your home. Like Maxwell’s quote above, if you have the title of “husband/father” then you have a position of authority. BUT…leadership is not about titles, it’s about one life influencing another. How are you influencing those who God has called you to lead? Even those who may not even be born yet.
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