For an effort that seems like nothing more than nothing

The weight of a snowflake is nothing more than nothing, but has the potential to be much.

I shared that with a dear friend today and tweeted it I loved it so.  This is the key to everything.  In what way can we not apply that the very smallness of every little thing has the potential to be the weight of it entirely.    

If you are struggling to move that aspiration forward you have to recognize one area that can be inched along in a small way immediately.  Take on that one thing and add it in, embrace it, and master it.  As you will soon see it will fit into your life with ease, regardless of how impacting it seems at first.  Your regular priorities can still exist while you add inches forward toward the area you are intentionally improving.  Take on one aspect to getting yourself in the goal’s direction today!

How will that help, you ask.  One snowflake size amount of effort at a time and it will be much.

Real leaders are felt

When you were the boss it felt like a team, I was recently told by one of my former employees.  I was so thankful for his words and was proud to have had a chance to work with many great people like this man.  Don’t worry I’m not about to write about how wonderful of a manager I was and make this about how missed I must be.  Actually there was one key word that he said that made me want to share it with my oldest son.

Look again at what had been said: it felt like a team.  He described my leadership in the tangible sense.  The atmosphere felt cohesive when I was the leader.  The greatest way to successfully lead people is to have them willing to follow you.  Owning the business, having a familiar last name, or having the most seniority does not establish criteria for a leader.  I worked intentionally to grow and lead a team and not to act like a positional manager.

This week my son realized he was a leader on the sports team.  One of the teammates asked him why he wasn’t the team captain when clearly he was the team leader.  With frustration my son came to me for advice on what to say to these kinds of remarks.  As he explained why the other young man appears to fall short as the leader, I asked if any feelings of resentment were being juggled.  My son admitted he was wrestling with a few mixed emotions. 

We talked for a while and he decided he’d rather be the leader others follow than the title without merit.  Unfortunately too many people would rather rest on their position than attempt to lead people who have the sense they are worthy and significant. 

So to my son and to you today, I suggest we gratefully accept the affirmation of our actions well done and do what leaders do best; refer back to why our teammate makes us stronger with praise.  

Everyday is a first day

As I prepared myself and the boys for their first day of school the conversation and emotions ran in many directions.  One part made me think of you and one of our recent conversations, sister.

With the high schooler sitting up front for the car ride still adjusting the contents of his bag and the middle schooler in the back buckled up as tall and tight as he could manage I thought of the many words we shared in the ride to and from school last year.  Teenage boys carry more than sweaty sports clothes and vibrating cell phones.  They carry the determination to rise through the relationships they encounter, both pleasing and uncomfortable.

You and I know what it is like to make it through the day with people who have disappointed us or hurt us still marching inside our path.  Going to school is no different than the rest of the world where animosity and cruelness thrive.  People who have caused us pain are often in places you and I want to go, even if it isn’t History class. 

We all have to be intentional about who we are, what we say and how we think about everyone.  We will cross tracks with people who don’t stir up positive thoughts.  The truth to remember, I told them, is that with every negative thought or glance you create you are weaving those threads as part of who you are.  You will never damage them as much as your own hearts when you dwell on negative words or thoughts toward someone you don’t enjoy seeing.  Be in control of you, be steadfast in how you think and control yourself, choosing who you weave yourself to be, I said. 

When I drove away I prayed.  I am excited for all they can learn and experience this year.  They can develop friendships, memories and themselves.  I am sad for their disappointments, the moments they’ll be hurt or given bad influence.  I prayed for their continuous discernment as much as their safety.  When I got home I read a verse that jumped out at me.

May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to You, O Lord, My Rock and My Redeemer.  Psalm 19:14

Every day is a first day of some kind.  Today I’m grateful for these words in Psalm to reassure me this effort has been long fought.  As someone else living to be the best version of you that you can intentionally be, I thought you might delight in our first day words today.

Love you.