servanthood

servant
-noun
1. a person employed by another, especially to perform domestic duties.
2. a person in the service of another.

Without a doubt I'd say the best leaders are the best servants. There's really nothing that compares to servant leadership. It seems as though nothing speaks louder to followers, then seeing a leader place value on the simplest and smallest of jobs by being willing to do it themselves. That doesn't mean that a leader necessarily DOES those jobs, but you can tell when there's a willingness of heart to do whatever it takes - even if it's emptying garbage's, cleaning toilets, or sharpening pencils.

I think it's easy to look at leadership positions and see them as glamorous. Often times there comes fame with being a leader (maybe not always fame for doing good mind you!), and in some cases fortune as well...who doesn't want that? However, we often overlook the attitude behind it all, as well as journey that it took to get there.

As I think about leading/following, I can't help but compare it to employer/employee's as well. How many of us are currently employee's but really can't think about anything but the day when we will be employer's? We think if we were to be in the corner office that suddenly things would be SO different, however if we're REALLY honest, could we even handle the corner office? We sit back waiting to catch a big break, thinking that someday someone higher up the ladder will take notice of us...what are they supposed to notice? For the most part we are being extremely lazy, WAITING, rather then DOING the work required of us.

Christmas is coming, & as the birth of Christ is celebrated I can't help but remember, "He came to serve, not to be served..." (Mark 10:45)

And so, yet again, my attitude needs to be checked. If Jesus, the Savior of the world, the King of Kings, Mighty God, could serve, then certainly I can...and I'm pretty sure a smile wouldn't hurt either.