Just Like You
Hear, my son, your father's instruction, and forsake not your mother's teaching, for they are a graceful garland for your head and pendants for your neck. Proverbs 1:8,9
Influence; an incredibly powerful word. Most of us get so caught up in our everydayness we seldom stop to look and see whom might be following us. The hum drum of monotony puts us to sleep and before we know it everything we thought was important vanishes into the night and we simply become unaware of whom may be affected by our lackadaisical attitude. Whether we are aware or not, there are those who look at us through eyes of trust, or through feelings of pressure, or through actions that push them in one direction or another. Whether we want to admit it, acknowledge it, or refuse to accept it, we are all influencers. The question is...what kind of influence do we employ? By our own example, we lead others into a fulfilled future or we show them the ropes of a dreary existence? Either way, we are being observed, then followed.
We are not hermits that hide from others on a sound proof, vision proof island. We live so that those whom observe us are encouraged to do as we do, talk as we talk, and walk as we walk. Leading is so effective that without our knowledge someone else picks up on the smallest details and begins to act like you act. The little ones begin to repeat what they hear and never one time did anyone say "repeat after me." As they get older they begin to take up our mannerisms, and no one ever said, "act like I act." We are not aware of how much we influence until an embarrassing moment occurs, such as when from the grocery store buggy some words are used by our three year old that turns a salty ole geezer a few shade of pink. Why does that happen? Even in our most protected moments; even when we don't have a clue that anyone cares; even when the doors are closed and the lights are out, we are on stage in someone's life. The power of how we live will lead someone into a life of dysfunction, disaster, and dissolution, or into a life of health, wealth, and well being.
A very important issue in our lives is realizing we really do matter to the future of someone. Even if we have an incredibly low opinion of whom we are, our value, our abilities, there are eyes peering through the windows of our house hoping to catch one more glimpse of who we really are. Everyone has someone who thinks they hung the moon and tells the sun when to rise. All of us have someone who is trying to match our footsteps and are living for the day they can be just like us. Just because we have, more than once, found mud on our face; even though we have slid into the ditch more times that we want to admit; even though we have embarrassed ourselves and the ones we love, more times than we can count, there is hope. Not a single person has always had their act together and we all have led some to stray. But, if right here, right now, we understand that we are being followed, if we embrace the power of influence and begin living with those that come behind in mind, we will leave this world with someone shouting from the rooftops, the value we have given them.