Do you have a desire to influence others in a positive way?
Have you ever wondered what you could do or say to make this happen in the most effective way?
Over the last few weeks, I’ve been striving to influence my kid’s to be disciplined.
We’ve come up with tracking charts & incentives… I’ve told them stories and tried to help them see the value of developing new disciplines in their lives.
I’ve even worked on holding them accountable by checking their work at the end of each day.
All of these things have been helpful but something happened yesterday that taught me, what could be, the most powerful form of influence.
Yesterday was Father’s day and as a dad of 4 kid’s, I have to say it was a special day.
All 4 of my boys showed me some extra love which was great, but Kashton, my youngest, went the extra mile.
First, he wrote me this note.
A bit later in the day he asked me to go on a bike ride with him, and of course, I accepted the invitation.
I really love this little guy and I want the best for him.
How can I teach him things that will help him as he grows?
Here’s where the big lesson comes in.
Over the last few weeks, I’ve been getting much more serious about my daily disciplines.
I’ve been tracking them with an app called “Momentum” which is helping a ton.
One of my daily disciplines is to practice my Guitar.
Yesterday after church, my family sat down to watch a movie and I said, “I’m going to go practice my guitar for just a few minutes and I’ll join you guys in a bit.”
I started to play my guitar and guess who walked in?
Kashton.
He came in and said “Dad, I’m going to play my guitar with you.”
He went and grabbed his little guitar and sat down next to me with an ‘eager to learn’ look on his face.
I spent about 20 minutes teaching him a few simple chords that he picked up pretty well.
What’s interesting about this situation is, not once did I tell Kashton,
“Hey son, you need to practice your guitar.”
Not once did I bribe him, guilt him or even have the intention of trying to get him to play.
He just saw his dad, doing his thing, and he had a desire to follow along.
And that leads me to the what could be, the greatest lesson on influence there is.
Ghandi said,
“Be the change you wish to see in the world.”
If we wish people to love more, we must love more.
If we wish people to serve – we must serve.
If we wish people to ________________, we must ____________________.
And that is how we shine our lights in the most effective manner and help to illuminate the lives of others with our influence.