In what has been arguably the most foolish "regime" (to recycle the words used for the last president), I reserve one credit to the current leader of the U.S.: he has taught me the incredible value of saying what one means, meaning what one says and following through on those statements.
I am not being facetious, when I say that nearly daily, a news clip or sound bite will again remind me that if I cannot make promises I intend to keep, be gracious when I am accosted and apologize when I make a mistake, I should consider a change in my duties of leadership or get down on my knees and beg for help.
But how very far I am from implementing such basic principles of leading. In my case, the sphere of influence is minute: four to be exact. The dog could sometimes be included in that figure, rounding up the number to five.
No one is more aware of my fallen sinful nature than those four under my influence. I promise that I will exchange a desired reward for some help: take out the trash, feed the rabbit, carry a dirty clothes hamper to the laundry room, make a bed in exchange for reading a whole chapter in Little Britches before bed, a few jelly beans or "a piece of cash" (in Sam's very words). Then I forget to remind sixteen times or it is well past bedtime or I came across 42 other messes that I thought couldn't wait until tomorrow and I don't fulfill my promise. I feel bad. But I don't apologize or explain why the reward wasn't granted because bedtime is past or it's time to move on to something else. In the process of begging for help, I fall asleep. Then another day starts.
But hopefully, I've given those under me the impression that I am also a work in progress. That I'm not above asking for forgiveness. Admitting I've erred. Working on a correction. Attaining correction bit by bit.
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