Monthly Archives: March 2017

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TEACHABLE MOMENTS

God's Love and Discipling of Others (Especially our Children) Starts with Us

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“My son, pay attention to what I say; turn your ear to my words. Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart; for they are life to those who find them and health to one’s whole body. Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” Proverbs 4:20-23

As I was reading a blog by Keith Webb on “How Vulnerability Makes you a Stronger Leader” I read two insights on leadership and vulnerability: 

“When we honestly acknowledge our faults and weaknesses we unlock leader development dynamics that strengthen not only you but the people around you.”

“Being vulnerable really comes down to humbly acknowledging weakness, asking for help and empowering others to use their strength” (keithwebb.com)

MOTHER, THE CEO

What stands out in your mind’s eye as you read these quotes above? As mothers we have the opportunity to grow in skills of leadership development too. Yes, leadership development. We are leading, as well as modeling what leadership looks like to our children. Scary thought.

So what leadership dynamics are you learning along the way?  

As parents we don’t always have the answers yet we make our kids often feel we do. What happens when they are grown and don’t always have the answers? What are we modeling for them?  

It is in those “Teachable Moments” where we find some of our greatest growth and most significant impact.  Below is a simple story (not always this clear) where the principles of leadership are displayed and can be applied in most any situation as we work with people.

When our daughter was 13, now 33, she decided she wanted to cut her hair. I was out for the evening so the next morning when I went to wake her up for school I noticed her hair.  The whole front of her hair had been chopped off.  “Kelli what did you do?”  I could have used a little bit of humor at that moment. (more…)

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TEARS IN A BOTTLE

Grieving well

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“You have taken account of my wanderings, put my tears in Your bottle; are they not in your book?” (Psalm 56:8)  (NASB)

When I share my heart, tears just seem to flow unexpectedly. Feeling uncomfortable I say “I am sorry” followed by excuses as to why.

When I read from Scripture I draw encouragement from Paul’s tears, a great strong image of a man. In Acts 20:19, it says “as he served the Lord in all humility, he had many tears and trials.” Also in 2 Timothy 1:4 we see that Paul was mindful of even Timothy’s tears, a Church Planter.

Yet when I cry I somehow feel embarrassed. I am not sure where that feeling comes from but I find spilling tears, to be vulnerable. I cannot always predict or hold them back, they just come. How about you?

When I was recently attending a women’s retreat this past October 2016 (www.WomensDeveopmentTrack.com) one of the expectations of my small group was that we would not apologize for our tears, trying to make it a safe place to share. It was so freeing but I must say it wasn’t easy to break old habits.

This was the first public meeting I had been to since my younger sister’s passing last July, just 4 months earlier. To be honest, I was a little nervous about going, a little fearful even. I wanted to grieve well my sister’s death and not shortchange what God was doing in my heart. I was still wrestling with what it means to grieve well.

Many thoughts entered my mind: There will be strangers there? What will they ask me? Would I have anything to give them? Maybe I will share too much? Will they understand? I was already vulnerable in my grieving and the thought of putting myself in a more vulnerable situation was scary. Too much unknown in a season where I didn’t know exactly what I was feeling. What was I thinking signing up for this retreat? (more…)