One of my continuing/recurring writing gigs involves providing up-to-date content for Family First, one of the world’s best Websites dedicated to creating and curating resources for families (see links to all these sites at the end of this article). My writing is featured in Family First and All Pro Dad. Then once in a while my work will migrate over onto the iMOM pages and I can claim a trifecta!

Once a month – along with others in the writing stable – I send in a series of ideas from which assignments are generated. Sometimes everything I send “hits the sweet-spot” then at other times a few of my ideas don’t make the cut.

This month one of my suggestions generated a thumbs-up from everyone on the editorial team, yet bounced back because it didn’t fit with the general focus for the coming summer’s emphasis.

I liked it too! So I decided to publish it in this blog instead (modified). Who knows, maybe it will generate more views than had it landed where it was first targeted?

“And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations…” Revelation 22:1-2

Five Ways To Be Leaders in Service, in Generosity, and in Compassion:

By Derek Maul:

In the past few weeks my home church community has experienced loses that hit us like heavy punches to the gut. Both Tom and Cynthia were far too young; both deaths were from cancer; both were active leaders in service, in generosity, and in compassion; both followed Jesus as an intentional way of life.

Talking with mutual friends, it is clear that the best way to honor these exceptionally good people is be to become better leaders in service, in generosity, and in compassion ourselves. As people with influence we all have this opportunity to show our neighbors, our children, our colleagues, and our friends a better way.

Here are five ways (among very many) to be leaders in service, in generosity, and in compassion:

1. Let our deeds do the talking: Volunteer on the front lines of putting ourselves where it counts. Avoid telling people how to help and start actually helping ourselves. There is an adage in creative writing that insists, “Don’t tell the reader, show the reader.”
2. Adopt a deliberate attitude of gratitude: My son Andrew has a phrase he likes to use: “First World problems, dad….” He’s right. We have so much. It makes us better servant leaders when we recognize how much we have to the thankful for.
3. Model humility when it comes to your own blessings/good fortune: Believe me, friends, we did not get to live in this beautiful community because we’re all that, or because we are such deserving people. I am not well-fed and comfortable and taken care of because I am any better than people who live in poverty and desperation. When I understand this then I am better equipped to help others.
4. Talk positively about people who are in need: The first person I helped feed and house had a PhD in Engineering. When I bring a meal to someone who is hungry I’m simply sharing time with an interesting person. Talking negatively would be leadership in discrimination. Need is equal opportunity.
5. Invite others to join you when you serve: Leaders don’t lecture, they don’t sell, and they don’t browbeat, they invite. Leaders in service, in generosity, and in compassion have already beaten paths in these areas; invite others to walk alongside you.

We live in curious times, and we are moving into an uncertain future. As we begin to move forward, those of us who value service, and generosity, and compassion have a real opportunity to become influencers in the best possible way.

In love and gratitude – DEREK

• Family First
• All Pro Dad
• iMOM