Musings at Altitude

When I travel a lot and get totally consumed by the business challenges, I often times need to be reminded about my priorities.  Today, my 14 year old reminded me of those priorities when she asked me to take her to a local food bank so she could drop off food that we had bought at her urging last time we were at the commissary.  The mission of the organization we visited was “serving neighbors facing financial crisis.”  And while there, after dropping off the food, she wanted to know how she could do more to help, and she volunteered to stop by weekly and help in any way she could.

I’m not sure I’ve ever been more proud of her – it’s something very special when your children take the lead for the family and through their own actions show the rest of us how God wants us to be. 

On the plane on the way home this week I was reading a book that focused on “servant leadership”.  It was a good read, and I was reminded of simple acts of kindness that could go a long way to living a life of servant leadership.  As I watched my 14 year old today get passionate about giving to and serving others, I realized how all those lessons I learned in that book are being lived out in the compassionate heart of my daughter. 

I sit here tonight smiling because through her actions she has reminded me of my priorities not only to be a good father to her but also to be a good servant leader to others.  That should be my priority, and at least for this evening, it was.

Thank you sweetie…I love you!