You are an influencer!

Influence. It’s a big word. What do you think of when you hear the word influence? I think of leader, impact, strong, change, powerful, and authority.  But this isn’t all this word means. Influence means “the capacity to have an effect on the character, development, or behavior of someone or something, or the effect itself” (dictionary.com). So in reality, we are all influencers.  Have you thought about the influence you are having lately?  Are you leaving a positive or negative impact? Is your influence who you want to be? Does your tone reflect your heart? Does your attitude overflow?

As a mom, I have been thinking about this alot lately. My little two year old is soaking up everything he sees, hears, feels, and even smells.  I find myself having so much fun with him, and then two seconds later I can be losing my cool about something else. What I need to realize in those little moments is the influence I am having on him.  My response, my tone, my attitude, my facial expression, all makes an impact on how he responds to the situation.  I want to be lighthearted, patient, loving, and easy going. But I find myself stressed, irritated, and negative. Everything I do is influencing his little character and development.  I am an influencer. How am I using that influence! I made a goal this week to pray for my little guy every time I found myself getting a little overwhelmed with his toddlerness.  Because the best thing I can do for him is point him to Jesus, pray for him, and love the snot out of him.  He’s just being 2! I can’t get mad at him for being exactly how he is supposed to be. But I can influence him to respond positively, feel loved, and desire to show love, kindness, and patience himself. I want to make positive impacts on my children.  That doesn’t mean I will be perfect, but I want to be willing.  Willing to try, willing to mess up, willing to love, willing to talk about real stuff, willing to cry, willing to laugh, and willing to GROW!  Influence is a noun, and its a verb.  It is always a moving lesson of how we can have an effect on someone or something else.  So let’s discover this together.  What influences are you having?  What are you doing well? How can you improve? You have the strength and the power to make a difference.  BE THE INFLUENCER YOU WANT TO BE! one day at a time!