Apronstrings to Leadership

As mother's day approaches this weekend, we will all have several things to thank our mothers for, and to thank God for in giving us mothers. Certainly among those things we appreciate on Mother's Day (and always) are the love and nurturing compassion they show, the comfort of their gifts and thoughtfulness, their home-cooking, their constant concern and instincts to give that special word of advice when needed, and more.

But I challenge every one of you this year to reflect on your mothers in light of the concept of leadership. Usually, when we hear that word, it evokes images of George Washington at the bow of his boat, forging ahead across the Potomac River before battle, or the captain of the volleyball squad, or the general manager of a department store, or the governor of a state. But how often do we stretch that umbrella of leadership to fit over our mothers?

The truth is, as John Maxwell said, "Everything rises and falls on leadership." This includes the family. Everyone is called upon at various times or stations in life to be the essence of a leader. Our parents are both just that, as well. Here too we sometimes get hung up on the societal norm (thought it's becoming a lot less of a prevalent standard in recent times) that the father is the leader of the household and family. While it's true that he is the ultimate leader, as his God-given and biblical role dictates, mothers have big leadership impact as well.

Their leadership began in the simple yet toilsome act of birth - i.e. they led you into the world! They typically are the ones at home with their young children in the greatest expenditure of time, leading them through those learning processes like crawling, walking, talking, reading, what to play with and what's too dangerous, and so on. They lead by word all the lives of their children, but also, and perhaps most importantly, by example.

A mother is a leader when she shows her daughter(s) how to respect and honor their father, and submit to his loving and responsible attempts to guide the family through life. She is also a leader when she encourages her son(s) to seek their father's guidance in manly things, that they might define, learn to be, and become the type of person to be that she can't 100% emulate for them. She's a leader when she exemplifies the importance of education and good habits and the importance of faith, as she reads, learns, practices good hygiene and dresses with excellence, and emphasizes the need to attend church and be around those who share their spirituality. A mother leads when she speaks, as she shows her children how to season their talk with grace and humility and gentleness; when she praises and thanks her God and prays to him with her children she shows the beauty of devotion. She leads when she is the first to apologize, the first to forgive, the first to stand up for what's right in the face of difficulty, and the first to serve others' needs.

Let's all stand in awe of the massive responsibility that mothers around the world have in their motherhood. Truly, everyone in the family construct has their own unique ways to lead someone else, and without leadership things fall apart. So thanks to moms everywhere, for their commitment and caring ways of leading as only they can! They are the leadership glue that helps hold our families together. And where the family is strong, so too is the country in which those families live. Leadership, therefore, promotes and protects freedom!

God bless.