Young man do you have big dreams of being the next Steve Jobs, Mark Zukerberg or Bill Gates? Do you dream of being CEO or captain of industry or even a local manager at your own firm? Leadership skills are often thought to be natural traits, one God wrote in the very fabric of the design of natural leaders. Perhaps those potential leaders naturally utilized those God given talents. Possibly those natural leaders took advantage of a training ground provided by God and learned to hone their leadership skills like any other skill you might learn instead. Possibly you have been provided this same training ground on which you can learn leadership skills but you have not taken advantage of this supportive atmosphere. Perhaps God actually expects you to step up and lead this little band of people that look just like you. He expects nothing less than your best everyday. Generations of people count on your abilities and performance actually!
Now if He gave you this training opportunity, He gave you a “second in command” who gives you a lot of input. Are you wisely taking this input into consideration and utilizing the gift that is your second in command to the best of your ability, or are you shutting down this gift? You took vows, you know her well. Are you ensuring that your second in command is fully fed spiritually, nurtured and loved by you so that she is capable of passing on those qualities to the rest of your company, your children? Are you praying daily for your second in command so that she is built up to fight any battle that comes her way? You know there will be germs, hormones, trials and everyday things. She needs all that support to keep her safe and spiritually filled. She needs that support to be ready to help you lead that family of yours.
Many young men come home and have a need to talk about their day. They need to unpack the events. They go to work all day. Jobs can be frustrating. They just want to come home, have a moment or two to themselves and eat dinner. They like to unpack their day and then after dinner just go and play a game on their cell phone or computer and let their attention disappear into the game. They like to unwind that way.
They fail to see that their second in command who has been stuck at home alone with their children with little or no adult interaction also needs to unpack her day. She spent her day prepping the meal, doing laundry, picking up after the kids for the hundredth time, assisting with homework, breaking up fights and helping with melt downs. She also had a need to unload her day. That young man may fail to see she needs to be filled up emotionally and spiritually. He may miss signs that she is starting to run on empty and is in desperate need of prayer and his spiritual leadership.
God gave him this wonderful practice company, practice ground if you will, for him to learn excellent people skills, and leadership skills, all in an environment where everyone wants him to succeed! The problem is that the company of home wants him to succeed at leadership and not in any way shape or form at selfishness, that’s where it gets a little stickier.
God gave man a company of tiny people to manage. Man just has to look up from his phone. He has to remember that God gave him that responsibility but that he also chose them and to that end he should begin on his knees. He should remember that his wife and children have that same need for validation, connection, intimacy and love that he does. Their needs being met are his responsibility even if he needs to delegate some of it. He, as their tiny tribal leader needs to monitor that this is completed, especially for his wife.
His family is a true practice ground. He loves them perhaps more than he loves himself. They will be his legacy and a testimony to the skills he acquired. They will also be more patient than any corporation ever would as he learns and fine tunes his skills.
It’s up to him to view it as a leadership opportunity and directive from God. A chance to prove to God he is grateful for the blessings that God gave him when God gave him his beautiful family.
Will he start each day on his knees? Will you? Will he put his phone down or put away other distractions ? Will you? Turn your TVs off and plug back into your family! Make sure your second in command’s needs are met. Make sure her spiritual cup is filled because those children feel like a spiritual battle some days! Make sure she is fully ready to support you in your leadership mission and goals. Use the gift of a second in command wisely! Listen to her, God may be speaking through her. The best leaders work as a team.
Put your pride away, it has sharp edges and you’ll poke someone’s eye out. Use every resource you have and train every day! Use this great opportunity given to you by the great provider! Learn to be the best leader you can be. Soon someone outside the home will notice your skills, how could they not?! There are so few truly good leaders out there.
Be a great leader. The one God designed you to be. Then go do something really awesome!
by Vicki L. Pugliese
media by Elizabeth Balch
http://www.elizabethbalch.com
Introspective Sojourner 
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