During my last four work positions I have received a gift. In some ways it is hard to describe just how fortunate I have been and still am because the people who work for and me, with me really, are amazing, inspiring, and encouraging. The metaphor that comes to mind is sheep and the way they gift those who take care of them. The problem with the analogy is that, at least as I understand it, sheep are not the brightest animal on the farm. The people who have worked with me have driven me to stay alert, studying, and pushing ahead so that I can just stay up with them.
With care each kid gives up a harvest for the benefit of his caretaker. Simply put; “know your sheep by name; carefully attend to your flocks; (don’t take them for granted; possessions don’t last forever, you know) and then, when the crops are in and the harvest is stored in the barns, you can knit sweaters from lambs’ wool, and sell your goats for a profit; there will be plenty of milk and meat to last your family through the winter.” (Proverbs 27.23-27)
Managers and leaders, well everyone if we are honest, forgets just how important relationships are in the journey we call life. It is almost too easy to get caught up in the process of achieving goals, getting results, achieving an end. What if we approached each day and moment as if the only thing that mattered was the person who we are in immediate contact with? We would use history as a teacher, hope as a shaper, and holistic community as a framework to live and revel in the present. There is no doubt that this is difficult; the pattern was set but only achieved by God!
The number of kids in my family has grown to where I find it hard to count that high. I find with numbers that each one becomes more important because of who they are, not what they can do. Just think, we are God’s kids.
