The Longest Key on the Ring
““At times, our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person. Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us.””
It was just a hamburger at local drug store lunch counter. Most small towns had the lunch counters with stools and our small town was no exception. On a hot summer day with school out I found some time to escape life and ride to town on my bicycle. In those days you could ride for miles and everyone you passed knew who you were. We would read the comic books and look at the car magazines and dream.
As I walked into the store I heard a voice say come sit at the counter. Mr. Joe Jackson, was a local businessman and family friend. That day he bought me a burger which may have been the first hamburger I ever ate in a restaurant. Mr. Jackson was always a kind man but what I learned from him over the years was a door that I saw him open over and over.
The first time I remember that door being opened was as a small boy around Christmas time. One day near Christmas a shiny new car drove up in our dirt driveway. Getting out of that car was Mr. Joe and his son Joe Scott. They had brought me a gift. I don’t remember much of the conversation I just remember that I was very thankful for the gift. I remember Mr. Joe talking with his son about being grateful. That was the first time I saw his door of gratefulness opened. Mr. Joe had been blessed in life and wanted his son to learn about gratefulness by giving to others. Many times, I saw him open that door.
Some years later as a young teenager one of my friends, Stacy Jones invited me to the country club to caddy for a local golf tournament. I knew nothing about golf or tournaments, but Stacy gave me a quick primer. While other young men were looking for golfers in the first flight (I did not have a clue what that meant) I was just standing around and heard that voice again, “Would you like to caddy for me today?” Mr. Joe was opening a door for me. At the end of the tournament -my friends gathered to see how much money each of us was tipped. Some of my friends were amazed at how much I made that day as I knew nothing about golf. Mr. Joe had blessed me financially, an act of gratefulness on his part for the blessed life he had.
As a young man, I decided I would build my first home. I applied for loans at several banks and got turned down as I had no credit history. My grandmother suggested I visit Mr. Jackson as he was on the board of the local savings and loan. We visited in his office and I shared my house plan and an estimate of the cost to build written out on a small spiral notebook sheet of paper. A couple of days later I received a phone call that my loan was approved. I never thought much about it until I went in to pay my first note on my mortgage. One of the ladies in the bank asked me to walk back to her office. She asked me if I knew how I got the loan. I told her my story and very politely she told me the rest of the story. The board of directors were reluctant to give me a loan but Mr. Jackson told them he knew me and that I would not default. He then said if I did not pay the loan he would.
The door of gratefulness was opened. I was grateful beyond words and walked out and straight to Mr. Joe’s office to express my gratitude. I never missed a payment and paid the loan in full.
There are a lot of keys to being a great leader but maybe the key that needs to be reached for the most is the key of gratefulness. It should be the longest key on your ring so it is easily found.
Gratefulness means thanking God and others for how they have benefited your life. A hamburger, a Christmas gift, a generous tip or standing up in the face of opposition for someone you believe in- you can teach gratefulness to those you lead by the way you live.
Our world today is full of an attitude of entitlement and unthankfulness. We need leaders to express and model gratefulness. I exhort you today to take time to thank those who have benefited you in life.
Has your light in life dimmed? I hope this blog has caused you to rekindle your gratefulness and think of those who created a flame in your life to spur your forward. Call them, write them- let them know how grateful you are.
Some years ago, while teaching about gratefulness I ended the session by giving homework: Write a thank you note to someone today. Express your gratefulness. It will bless their life and build character in yours.
My blogs are not only about leadership but about my gratefulness to those who benefited me in life. IF you desire to be a leader follow my blogs and share them with those you lead.
Next time we will discuss another key of leadership.
A cup of dark roast coffee is calling me aside for a time of reflection.