If it wasn’t for . . . We’d Have No One to Serve
In my Blogs, I don’t like to discuss personal things but in this one, I will. My dear wife just had a heart ablation that had complications and she has been very, very sick, first in ICU, now in a regular room, and at home where hopefully she’ll be better. I have been caring for her and deeply loving her the whole time.
In my last Blog, we discussed two fundamental leadership character aspects, service and humility. So what is the leadership lesson found in my story?
For the last five days, Melissa has been under my constant care, but that’s not remarkable. What is remarkable is the realization of the deep and abiding love I have for her. Does this have anything to do with servant leadership? Maybe. First, the example a leader sets means so much. In our situation, the one exercising leadership has been Melissa, with the kind countenance toward the medical staff, always with a smile and always with appreciation and a thank you.
Second, for everyone called upon to exercise true leadership, that act becomes an act of love. A great commander loves the people for which he or she is responsible. This in military parlance makes the leader’s job all the more difficult. Sending people into battle or exercising tough fair discipline is necessary but not easy when there is love for those people.
LEADERSHIP LESSON: Great leaders love the people for which they are responsible, even the ones they don’t like as they exercise leadership within and outside their organizations. The examples a leader sets speaks volumes to people who are always watching.
The true leader in THE STORY is THE ONE. The one who always sets the example and the one who loves us far beyond my love for Melissa. THE ONE would be He who said, “I did not come to be served, but to serve and give My life as a ransom for many.” There is much more about servant leadership and “CARE” for people in my book Growing and Building, Faith, Prayer, and Leadership. The book is full of lessons for today’s leaders.
