Take Me to Your Leader

I think it is interesting, in a way, how you see people once they have left your life. You can look at the things you learned from them, how you grew (or not), and perhaps even learned some things about yourself along the way.

Some leave a good impression. Others, well... Not so much.

The way you see them is not an attempt to put them on a pedestal or tear them down, depending on the circumstances, but perhaps it is God's way of showing us the things we chose to ignore when that person was active in our life. You know, those little things they did that were either annoying (or pleasing), thoughtless (or thoughtful), or just plain unkind (or considerate).
Do you recall some people who affected your life in some way? How do you remember them?

It takes wisdom, and sometimes God knocking us over the head, to realize things at times (usually with me it is the knocking over the head thing!!!). When it comes to people and how they treat us, I like to think most of them have good intentions, although it does not always work out that way.

When people leave our lives in the negative sense (by choice, not necessarily by death), it can be painful, but there is a blessing in the pain, because for some reason, I believe, God did not want that person in your life long term. Perhaps you were only meant to learn something from that individual, and grow in some way.

A recent realization of mine showed me something I was missing in my ‘paper man.’ This paper man represents the qualities and characteristics I am looking for in a husband. I came to the understanding that I was missing a very important quality in my previous paper men, which started out over 10 years ago with three legal pad sheets filled to overflowing… Now I’m down to about 10 lines. NOT because I have lowered my standards, but because I have realized that once these 10 or so things are fulfilled, the rest is natural and God blessed. A young lady I know has met the love of her life and she has said “God has way out dreamt me on this man.”  I know He will do the same for me.

I realized I never once put down 'LEADER' as a quality I was looking for.

Oh, I had Christian at the top of my list, but just because a man is a Christian doesn't always mean he is capable of being a leader in the home. I've seen far too many who lean one way or the other (too weak, too dictator-like).

When I talk of a leader as a husband, I am looking for a TRUE leader. Not the guy with the “my way or the highway” attitude, or the one who has a pride issue in his heart. A true leader is one who is strong enough to listen to his spouse, take her advice at times and understand he is not always right. A true leader knows he needs to listen to those he has charge over.

Now ladies, this is not cause for you to always think you are right either… just sayin…

 

Proverbs 2:1-3 (NASB)

1 My son, if you will receive my words
  And treasure my commandments within you,
² Make your ear attentive to wisdom,
  Incline your heart to understanding;
³ For if you cry for discernment,

Lift your voice for understanding;