What are some of your core childhood memories?

What was it like to grow up in our home? (And what did we get right?)

What will you do differently with your family because of your experiences?

What do you know at 23 that you wish you had known at 13?

These are just a few of the questions that I asked Rebecca, my daughter, on her 23rd birthday in a delightful, meandering podcast conversation.

Parents: the days are long, and the years are short. Enjoy every moment.

There are some things that you don't understand about leadership until you've dealt with challenges and faced problems. I found this list on LinkedIn, and it spoke to me.

The picture for this podcast is me at 18... There are a few things that I wish I would have known then.

9 Things Leaders Learn Too Late

By Fraol Mussa

Here are the lessons most people only understand once they’ve carried real responsibility:

1. Clarity matters more than speed

You stop rushing to look capable.

You slow down to make the right call.

2. Calm is something you practice

It’s not natural.

It’s learned in the moments that test your patience the most.

3. People remember how you made them feel

Your presence shapes the room more than your advice ever will.

4. You won’t always be understood

And that can sting.

But understanding comes later, long after the results speak.

5. Respect grows from consistency

Not charisma.

Not charm.

Just showing up the same way on the days that feel heavy.

6. Pressure reveals your habits

Good or bad.

You can’t hide the work you did on yourself.

7. Your character shows in private moments

Especially in how you treat people who have nothing to offer you.

8. Silence teaches more than reactions

Not every misunderstanding needs your energy.

Sometimes restraint is the real answer.

9. Strength grows when you stop proving yourself

You shift from trying to look like a leader

to becoming the kind of person people trust without convincing.

Thank you, Dan Murry, for the post that prompted this episode. (You can check it out here.)

While it may seem that people who get opportunities are just "lucky," when you look closer you can see a pattern of actions and skills. Those are skills that anyone can work towards developing.

My purpose in sharing this is to encourage you to move forward with the opportunities God is giving you.

During the season of Epiphany we are focusing on God's mission in the world. This is another message to The Gathering at Victory Acres shared live on Sunday, January 18 from Isaiah 44 and 45.

While it is not my normal Gleaning content focus, I wanted to share it with you.

I wanted to share the message that I am sharing with The Gathering, our congregation at Victory Acres. It is a message from Luke 11.

Have you ever noticed that some people seem to get all of the opportunities while other people are consistently passed over?

Here are some skills behind what may cause some people to attract those opportunities. Know the skill, and you can work on it.

I really enjoyed recording this episode with my daughters while they were home for Christmas vacation!

The biggest key? Do the hard thing first.

(There's more, but you should probably just start with that.)

In this conversation, we explore the significance of the daddy-daughter connection, the importance of creating lasting memories, and the investment required to maintain strong relationships. We reflect on personal experiences emphasizing the need for confidence and support as a daughter navigates life.

Takeaways:

• The daddy-daughter connection is vital for emotional health.
• Trust and safety in the relationship fosters confidence.
• Investing time is crucial for the relationship to grow.
• Creating traditions helps strengthen the bond.

• Daughters internalize how their fathers treat them.

• It's important to prepare daughters for independence.
• The relationship evolves but should remain strong through life changes.