My dad gave me this journal for my 28th birthday on December 6, 2009.  Daddy knows me very well.  He knows I love to write, and that I'm a deep thinker.  So, I am sure he would want me to write deep thoughts or ideas into this journal.

And that is what I am going to do, along with thing happening in my life and my family's life.  So this journal is dedicated to my dad, who helped push me, motivate me, lead me, show me the Christian way to live. 

Most of all, my father taught me how to be a leader.  He taught me to not follow the crowd, but invent, create, and desire for more than what everyone else has settled for such as mediocracy.

He taught me to go for excellence in all things, and to always love the Lord.  I remember when I was a freshman in high school, and he had me type up and print off the top 4 priorities in my life.  He asked me to work on the hardest first and then the other things came last. 

Those priorities were: 

1.  God
2.  Family
3.  Education
4.  Cross country running.

I used to think it was dumb to make a list.  Now, I am going to ask my the same thing of my son, Gavin (age 9).  Through the years,  I have never forgotten seeing those prioritie posted on my teenage Kentucky decorated bedroom wall.  The list was forever imprinted on my mind; even when I strayed.

Those four priorities have helped me to refocus numerous times in the past 13 years.  Thank you dad.  A father truly loves his daughter when he takes the time to train her to be a leader.  I love you dad.

Jesus taught us how to lead.  So now, 13 years later, I see how much my earthly father resembles my heavenly father.  Yes, daddy, you are a leader.  My leader.  And you portrayed Jesus' leadership brilliantly.  

Leadership training is very rigorous.  No frills. Daily discipline and hard work is required.  So, even though at times it seemed rough, it was just rigors of diligent leadership training taught by a leader, who was taught by his leader, and his, and so on.  All of the leaders had one great leader named Jesus.

Jesus wants us all to be leaders but the training is rigorous, rough, unpopular, but abundantly rewarding.  I am now calling upon Jesus for help in putting my son into leadership training.  It won't be easy but the imprint will always be there; no matter how far he may stray or how far he runs or how far we stray as a society.  

Leaders aren't just called.  There is a force that always bring them back, no matter how far they run or stray.  The calling to be a leader never leaves.  When a person does stray, and if the leadership imprint is there, something or someone,  or a voice inside of you will say "come back."  A person cannot survive as a follower only of God's Word, but as a leader of God's Word.

Thank you dad for helping me become a leader.

Happy Birthday dad!  (December 29)

Love always for a leader and for a dad.

Libby


Barry is a leadership consultant for Ministry Indicators www.ministryindicators.com  of Jackson, Missouri, a consulting group for churches ready for renaissance.  He also serves as a pastor/consultant/coach for the Missouri Conference of United Methodist Churches.  For questions and leadership assistance and coaching email Barry at bwinders53@cablerocket.com