learning not to fall too hard

Today I celebrate life. Jogging with my loved one in the early morning sun, enjoying brunch and a good chat as always, a nice drive without jams, then witnessing my sister-in-Christ/childhood friend's simple sweet wedding. Thank you God, for my health and my friends.

Such a breather in the madness and sadness of the past few weeks. Yet this has been a season in which I believe God has put in me, truly, a real desire to learn to be a servant leader, both at work, in church and in ministry. It's SO HARD i tell you. So Hard.

But guess what? It's amazing how many people God has put in my life to give me insights into what leadership is all about. Whether through cell group discussions, through the sermon that memorable Sunday, through friends, through seminars at work even. Wow. God is indeed good and He equips and teaches delightfully.

For my own reminder:

"Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth."
"Sharpness with sensitivity."
"Love your team as you always have... they will see it one day."
"Perceptions >> Beliefs and values >> Behaviour >> Culture"

I can imagine God smiling down on this girl learning "how to cycle and not fall" in this new game. So yes, I will be brave, I will be tenacious and I will persevere!

please all and please none

this is a week where i kept offending people.

get attached, offend people.
ask for advice, offend people.

You Can't Please Everyone
From Aesop's Fables: The Man, The Boy, and The Donkey

A man and his son were once going with their Donkey to market. As they were walking along by its side a countryman passed them and said: “You fools, what is a Donkey for but to ride upon?”

So the Man put the Boy on the Donkey and they went on their way. But soon they passed a group of men, one of whom said: “See that lazy youngster, he lets his father walk while he rides.”

So the Man ordered his Boy to get off, and got on himself. But they hadn't gone far when they passed two women, one of whom said to the other: “Shame on that lazy lout to let his poor little son trudge along.”

Well the Man didn't know what to do, but at last he took his Boy up before him on the Donkey. By this time they had come to the town, and the passersby began to jeer and point at them. The Man stopped and asked what they were scoffing at. The men said: “Aren't you ashamed of yourself for overloading that poor Donkey of yours—you and your hulking son?”

The man and Boy got off and tried to think what to do. They thought and they thought, till at last they cut down a pole, tied the Donkey's feet to it, and raised the pole and the Donkey to their shoulders. They went along amid the laughter of all who met them till they came to Market Bridge, when the Donkey, getting one of his feet loose, kicked out and caused the Boy to drop his end of the pole. In the struggle the Donkey fell over the bridge, and his fore-feet being tied together, he was drowned.

“That will teach you,” said an old man who had followed them:

“Please all, and you will please none.”