We sat there, enjoying our meal together, when the conversation moved into an area of gold.
“So, who has inspired you and why?”
What followed was great revelation, great insight into those who have been the influencers in the life of my, now adult, son.
The people named were not surprising to me, though I did find it interesting the order of who was mentioned. Then there was the why question … why did this person, or that, stick in your mind as inspiring?
Youth leaders, teachers, camp leaders … those were the areas of leadership that they all originated from. Mostly men (as this was my son), but women as well. Descriptors such as authentic, available, consistent, interested, solid, challenged to work harder, be better flowed from his lips.
I found myself to be so encouraged.
As a mom, a parent, it is always good to know that your child received encouragement towards growth from someone else. It is good to see that our children are not just impacted by us, as parents, but by others around them. That they take into adulthood the whispers of encouragement from others.
“If your actions inspire others to
dream more, learn more, do more and become more,
you are a leader.”
John Quincy Adams
itsawonderfilledlife 