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MOMSense, September/October 2007
Live Out Your Influence
Every mom has a sphere of influence.
By Elisa Morgan
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Moving Announcement
Elisa Morgan has a new column. You'll still find her insight occasionally in the pages of MomSense, but her regular column is now in FullFill, MOPS International's new magazine to encourage women in all seasons of life to maximize their influence. You'll find a fresh approach to living out your influence, now, as you are mothering young children and through all the seasons of your life. To read sample articles and receive a special FullFill subscription price for MomSense readers, go to www.FullFill.org/momsense.
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"OK, try it again, Eva. You'll get it." I watched with consternation as my then 5-year-old daughter grasped the shoelaces in her chubby fingers, poked her tongue through her teeth and began the frazillionth attempt to tie her shoe.
"No, remember, the bunny goes AROUND the tree trunk and then back in his hole—like this," I guided. "MOM!" she exploded in frustration, "This is TOO hard!" Shoelaces flying, we both fell back on the couch and sighed. "You'll get it, Eva. You're almost big enough! But let's take a break," I offered.
Another day in the life of another mother. Just like yours, huh? A mix of try-again, do-it-over and take-a-break. Moms leading our little ones through their triumphs and messes, influencing their choices and attitudes and efforts. This is the essence of leadership. You are a leader. Every mom is a leader.
At times I've been ashamed to face this reality. I've rounded the corner into the family room and found my child punctuating the air with a pointed finger before an obedient line of dolls and stuffed animals. Out of her mouth came phrases such as, "You know Mommy doesn't have time for this kind of behavior!" Oh dear. Where had she picked that up? Me?
But then there are other moments when I'm heartened. "We no say NO!" my 2-year-old grandson, Marcus, announces, his face puckered into a firm grimace. Helping a 2-year-old move away from a NO! posture is an accomplishment for any adult. Such a moment is the result of continuous influence from a mom-leader.
Oh sure, sometimes it's hard to pick out just what we're accomplishing with our modeling and maneuvering. More often our pleas for cooperation and adjustment appear to go unheeded. The shoes stay on the stairs and never make it up to the closet. The dishwasher remains full even after multiple requests for it to be emptied.
Why bother?
Because every mom is a leader. Every mom is an influencer who makes a difference in the lives of those around her.
We hide the shoes in the laundry room and shrug our shoulders when they can't be found, thus leading toward a different choice in the future. We turn a hot grilled cheese sandwich and holler in mock desperation for a plate to appear, and influence a hungry child to come running with a clean plate from the rack.
Whether full-time at home, split between three school-levels, juggling employment, marriage and pets or mothering on your own, every mom is a leader! You have a sphere of influence. Invest it. Live it out. Live your life fulfilled.
And buy Velcro sneakers!
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Contemporary Reflection: Influence—Who Knew?
By Adele Calhoun
Recently I received a nonelectronic handwritten letter. Each word of this beautiful unnerving letter had been deliberately crafted. It was one page of unaffected clarity, knife-edge insight and concentrated attention. I put it on the kitchen counter and read and re-read it. Finally my husband asked me, "Why do you keep reading that letter?" I said, "I wish I could meet whom this letter is about. It seems to be about me, but who knew I could mean this to anyone."
God knows I'd love to be someone who influences others. But it's not always clear to me when I am making a difference. Much of my life is about doing the next thing. Do these dishes, cook these meals, bathe these children, visit this friend, make this phone call, buy these groceries, pay these bills, teach this class, write this article. These tasks don't necessarily seem high profile or influential. But my letter reminds me that I am often watched when I don't know it. And every hour of the day can be useful and influential when I live in God.
So I don't have to wait to become influential, I can offer myself to God in what I am given—in the reality at hand. The byproduct of this journey will spill out in influence—and one day I can say, "Who knew that in all the details I was becoming the person I wanted to be."
Excerpt from Summer 2007 FullFill magazine
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Copyright © 2007 by the author or Christianity Today International/MomSense magazine.
Click here for reprint information on MomSense.
September/October 2007, Vol. 10, No. 5, Page 9
MomSense
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