Leave it to your children to teach you a lesson. I continue to feel pride and delight in what my children have taught me this week. Through Scouting and with the youth group at my church I try to stay in tune with what I see in other kids, but when your own cause you stop and reflect it is a cherished treat. Both my children, through their recent actions, have strengthened my faith, made me realize I need to be more courageous, and continue to live up to the Scout Oath and Law.
I think all parents admit they hope their children make good decisions and eventually become people of influence. That is a focus we all should consider. No matter where we are in life we should always strive to be a positive influence to all we know and new friends we make. This can be exhibited simply by saying hello to someone, or flash a smile to someone as you pass them on the street or in the hallway at school or work. Who knows, that may be the first time that person has been acknowledged by anyone for a long time, and your seemingly trivial gesture may leave them feeling better about their day.
What if what you believe is challenged? How do you react? Do you quietly say to yourself “No big deal, I am going to get on with the rest of my day”? Do you react negatively and outwardly where you look bad and stress relationships, or do you become apathetic? As I mentioned, this week has caused me to evaluate what I believe and why, and what I would do if was challenged. Thanks to the actions of my daughter I have a renewed since of faith and pride about the direction I am headed. Leaders must be passionate about what they are doing. They have a strong vision and belief for what they think is right. They can taste it because the vison is so clear. Using these tools in a positive way can create change. My daughter recently had the opportunity to stand up for she believed in, express her concerns, and in the process, feel good about herself. Even though she may have hoped for more, she took the initiative in what she did. Without input from me nor her mother she shared concerns she had in a positive way, expressing what she thought was inequality and disrespect…Proud Dad!
On the heels of her extraordinary profession, my son used an opportunity given to him recently. Deep down to his fiber he is a scout through and through. I’ve known this since he was a Tiger Cub almost ten years ago. Baden Powell once said, “It’s the spirit within, not the veneer without, that makes a man.” I always remind my scouts that what they learn and recite is more than just words one night a week. I encourage them to move what they know in their heads to their hearts, and try to live like a scout every day, everywhere. When our children do something like this unprompted, we parents are unware unless told by other leaders or mentors. When this happens I mentally ring the tally bell of success. Having the opportunity, my son reached out to a scout parent during an event recently sharing how he felt about this parent’s scout and hoped to see him again. Because of this causal effort, and the brotherhood and kinship scouting provides, it appears renewal may be coming. He could have chosen to stay silent in the presence of this parent, but instead, had the courage and leadership to reach out. I was unaware of this until the parent told me the background story…Proud Dad!
Standing up for you believe and considering others before yourself go a long way towards being a successful leader. Leaders strive to make an impression. They cannot help themselves in doing so. Good leaders…servant leaders, put self last for the sake of their relationships. When leaving camp, we ensure we leave the place better than we found it. Marvin J. Ashton a respected Elder of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) was quoted, “Leave people better than you found them.” I think that is simple to digest. Because of the relationship my son had and my daughter’s passion to stand for what is right, my children have exemplified this principle and hopefully left those they interacted with better than they found them.
