Leadership is always about influence and setting the example for people to follow. Too often people fall into the trap of thinking that leadership is about a position; but truthfully, I have met some pretty bad positional leaders.
I was blessed just recently by Christina with a decision she made. One of her good friends is getting married and it was going to be some kind of reunion of sorts for all her friends. People were going to be flying in from various parts of the United States. Since, she always has to stay home with the kids when I travel, I decided to bless her and allow her to go early and spend some extra time with her good friends, while I stay at home with the kids – kind of like a ladies weekend out.
But the problem was that it conflicted with our TEAM Community Vision Meeting (this is a time of casting vision and refocusing with all the leaders in our church). She had a hard decision to make. A part of me wanted her to go since this will be one of the last times when all her college friends will be able to gather together like this.
Surprisingly, at the last minute she decided to stay and leave after the TC Vision Meeting, which means that she will only be able to go to the wedding and not have time with her friends.
I don’t know why but it really humbled me and reminded me why I love and respect her so much. She reminded me of the important lesson of what all leaders need to consider – the principle of sacrifice.
As we get older, the choices and decisions we have to make get harder. It becomes less black and white and more on the grey. But to find people who have clarity of vision, purpose and focus is hard to find.
I am so thankful that I married a woman who lives out biblical principles every single day in front of me and the children. As the writer of Proverbs said, “Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her” (Pr 31:28).
Now, I feel compelled to give her my frequent mileage for a free getaway with her friends to have a ladies night out. I am wondering if this is how God feels at times when the principle of sacrifice is lived out.