The Price of Leadership

August 17, 2023Leave a comment

“Cultivate in yourself the qualities you admire most in others.” – Arnold Glasow

After my dad passed away, I began working through some of the boxes of memorabilia from his business and life. Among the treasures I found old tattered pictures of my great grandparents and yellowed letters of gratitude written to my Dad from friends and associates. I discovered information about my ancestors and numerous awards dad had received. One was a leadership award from “The Price of Leadership Hall of Fame.” On it were printed these words:

Leadership is bought with a price that can be paid by anyone, anytime, anywhere, and a person is as much a leader today as they ever will be because the price they are paying today is determining the kind of leader they will be tomorrow. The price: loneliness, weariness, abandonment, vision.

Stop and ponder this bold statement. As much as we would like the role of leadership to be easy and fun, it rarely is. Leadership is hard work. It takes courage and vision for sure. But it also takes walking the lonely road of integrity and being willing to stand for what is right and true. Yes, leadership is costly. Loneliness, weariness, abandonment and vision are traits of a long and challenging journey – a path few are willing to take.

Positive and lasting leaders lovingly lay down their own self-interests and press on with a vision for the future. Are you willing to pay the price?

Check out the new book I wrote with my dad. Click here to order.

Staying Steady Through the Rocky Roads of Life

May 27, 2023Leave a comment

How do you handle the tough stuff in your life? We all face obstacles, difficulties, and even tragedies at times, but the question is how will we respond to these challenges. Personally, I’ve weathered through my own fair share of sad circumstances. I’ve learned to grieve the loss and grow in strength through each.

This past week, I shared a bit of my story on a podcast with my friend Tasha Calvert. Listen in by clicking the link. I hope it will give you encouragement and strength in the difficulties you face.

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/digging-in-with-tasha-calvert/id1623106116?i=1000614127246

Photo by Julian Hochgesang on Unsplash

The Toughest Job You Ever Loved

May 12, 20231 Comment

The process of shaping the child, shapes also the mother herself. – Elisabeth Elliot

Motherhood made me a better person. I must admit, before having children I was a fairly self-focused young adult doing whatever I pleased, whenever I pleased. But when that first little bundle of Grace arrived, I grew to understand a depth of love and selflessness that I had never experienced before.

Caring for someone else’s needs above our own changes us. It stretches us, grows us and creates a hidden beauty just waiting to be uncovered. It seems a bit counterintuitive, and yet it’s true – the more we give from the heart, the more our heart is filled.

Whether you’re a mother or you have people in your life whom you pour into, may we continually find joy in the giving and not the taking, the stretching and not the hoarding, the sacrifice and not the self-centeredness. We are put here in this world for a purpose, and it is not for self-promotion, rather it is to give our lives away in loving and serving others. That’s the joy of motherhood! It’s the toughest job you ever loved.
Photo by Caroline Hernandez on Unsplash

For more of my thoughts on Motherhood, check out The Power of a Positive Mom

Encouragement for Moms

May 5, 2023Leave a comment

Ever felt a out of your comfort zone? As moms and grandmoms, there are times when we can feel a little overwhelmed. For the next few weeks I want to provide a few inspiring devotionals for moms, as you serve in the hardest job you ever loved. Here’s a Mother’s Day devotional from the book of Esther.

“Appearances can be deceptive. The fact that we cannot see what God is doing does not mean that he is doing nothing.”

Sinclair Ferguson

Key Scripture Esther 4:13 – 16: ‘Don’t think for a moment that you will escape there in the palace when all other Jews are killed.

If you keep quiet at a time like this, deliverance for the Jews will arise from some other place, but you and your relatives will die. What’s more, who can say but that you have been elevated to the palace for just such a time as this?”

Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: “God and gather together all the Jews of Susa and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. My maids and I will do the same. And then though it is against the law; I will go in to see the king. If I must die, I am willing to die.”

Devotional: God placed Esther in a place of honor; a long way from her humble beginnings as a young Jewish girl. She held the title of queen, living in a Persian palace. Little did she know that God had an even bigger plan for her life. After a decree to destroy the Jews was unwittingly signed by the king, she had to step out of her comfort zone and into unknown territory. One thing was for sure, she knew she must depend on God. As she began her walk of faith, she asked for her people to fast and pray. She didn’t rely on the comfort of her position, but rather the comfort of God’s sovereignty.

It would be nice if we could live in a comfy, safe situation with all of our ducks neatly in a row. Unfortunately that’s not always how life plays out. It may be a stretching experience like being asked to serve in a leadership capacity or it could be a stretching experience due to injury or tragedy. Whatever takes us out of our comfort zone, takes us to the throne of grace. We can learn a lesson from Esther: Trust in God’s sovereignty, pray for His help, and make a wise plan of action.

Prayer for Moms:

Sovereign Lord, praise you that you have plans that are far bigger than I can see. I trust you and know that you are working in ways that are beyond me. Thank you that no matter what I go through, you are with me. No matter where I am, you are there. In the nice, comfy times and in the stretching, scary times I know you will never leave me. Please grant me strength and wisdom for the path you want me to take. In Jesus Name, Amen.

“God’s ways are behind the scenes, but he moves all the scenes which he is behind.” – John Nelson Darby

This devotional is from my book, “The Power of a Positive Mom Devotional and Journal.”

The Joy of Life

March 15, 2023Leave a comment

When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
Colossians 3:4

As followers of Christ, He is not just a part of our life or a nice guy that we segment off to Sunday mornings. Christ is our life. He is in us, He lives through us. He gives us strength and wisdom for our journey. Most importantly He gives us the promise of eternal life. He is the one who makes us who we are. He is our life and without Him our lives would be incomplete and without purpose.

This verse from Colossians is filled with great promise. It not only reminds us that our life is abundantly fulfilled and enriched here on this earth through Christ, but we also have the beautiful promise that He is alive and we will be with Him in glory. What a beautiful future awaits us in our heavenly home! What joy for those in Christ who have gone before us! As we head toward Easter, let us celebrate the risen Christ who gives our life meaning as well as hope for eternity.

Photo by todd kent on Unsplash