Attitude Reflect Leadership
I ask my daughter to take out the trash and I get a sassy response instead. I beg the two younger siblings to stop arguing and fighting, but tears erupt and one storms off the bedroom hurt. Later, I hear one daughter snapping at the other, complaining about some small seemingly insignificant event.
And, I feel like I want to explode. The attitudes around our house have been everything but kind, friendly, compassionate, gracious, grateful or generous. So, I turn to the Lord, asking for wisdom, wishing for a miracle pill to change nasty attitudes into glowing sweet cherubic faces. But, what the Lord shows me is somewhat surprising.
Myself.
Starting out the day by barking out orders to kids moving slowly through morning routines and losing my cool when we are 2 minutes later than I had wanted to be. I see myself, almost through another pair of eyes, as I rage at the kids for leaving backpacks on the floor and boots in disarray.
As my husband and I settle down to relax for the evening, we turn on the TV and watch snippets of a favorite movie, “Remember the Titans.” The team of interracial high school football players were struggling to find unity and to really work together towards their goal. Team members were looking down upon one another based upon skin color and allowing pride to affect their attitudes. The captain, Gerry Bertier, asks his co-captain, Julius Campbell, why he can’t keep his guys from intentionally hurting the other players. In this heated argument, the co-captain says, “Attitude reflect leadership, boss.” And with these words, he makes it clear that the behaviors of the whole team were following the inner thinking and expectations of their leader.
This fact impacts so many areas of our lives. Every one of us is a leader in some way to some person or group of people. At church, you may be a Sunday school teacher, or a member of the worship team. Your leadership impacts the attitude of those who follow you.
The apostle Paul said this about himself as a leader,
“Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me-put it into practice.”
Philippians 4:9
He knew that most of what we really learn is not “taught,” it’s “caught.” And if I’m walking around blowing out steam, it’s like a bad virus that everyone in the house catches. “Grumble-itis!”
At the same time, I am tempted to criticize the leaders I follow: my pastor, my boss, etc. Can I blame my bad attitude upon their poor leadership? No. The Lord still expects me to be responsible for myself while at the same time I am responsible for the way I lead others.
My own grumbly attitude had leaked down to my children and their behaviors and interactions with each other. If I had not snapped at them, they would not be quarreling with each other in the same tone of voice they heard mommy use.
My prayer for you (and me) this week is this: May we remember that our behaviors and attitudes don’t just affect us, they impact everyone listening.
Heather Cox
Thanks Heather! Great reminder how our attitude impacts others. So often the Lord wants to work in us and that often does not involves making ours circumstances easier! I’ve come to realize He is more interested in transforming me than making my life comfortable! This is hard since my flesh prefers to be comfortable!
Oh, that is so true, Heather. Our attitude does affect everyone around us. May I not grumble, but with a cheerful attitude encourage others.
Excellent reminder, thank you! I have seen this many times in our home. Great post.