2003 Who Is This Man? Day Three

As you now can see, there is no doubt that we are friends – that is, Mr. X and I. However, I never realized the impact that I had on his life through his children. They are grown now and I have not been in Youth Ministry in years – however, in the past few years there have been many occasions which have given rise to comments that made me realize his thoughts.

It was very important to him to have me do something at one of the kids' weddings. It was only important to me just to be there. At first, I thought he was just feeling awkward because I was not asked to be involved in the services. I reassured him – truthfully – that I was really okay with being a part of the witnesses. The two kids had developed their own support structures and new lives as they grew. I ended up doing a prayer at the reception. As he introduced the prayer, he got emotional and a bit nervous (nervous is just simply not him!) as he spoke of how his child would not be who he was without my investment and how appropriate it was for me to pray for them now. I was really humbled.

There have been a couple of other times where Mr. X has made it very clear – not in an “official thank you way” but in the course of real life and unplanned stories and comments – that he really believes we were a big piece of his children growing up well.

So why am I writing about this? So what does this have to do with leadership? Am I just lifting myself up?

Mr. X gives the gift that so few ever give in ministry – the gift of recognition of the investments that pay off. Leaders always hear about what people don’t like or what they want next. In fact, people hear the same things constantly. Sure, the good stories come out at anniversaries and special events designed to celebrate men and their accomplishments but how many people recognize and focus on the investments that paid off in life. How many people are so focused on those investments that they are woven into everyday events that have nothing to do with the investor being recognized for his good investment?

I hope when I grow up as a leader I can be one half of the healthy, self-depreciating, sincere and thankful person that Mr. X is today. It is a goal to genuinely hold the great investments of others as high as the challenges of the day and not to simply keep them for the next anniversary of whatever. It is a goal of mine to clearly see that I did not make it wherever without the incredible investments of others in my world.