The Message of LeadershipSample

A PERFECT PICTURE OF LEADERSHIP "Excellence is doing ordinary things extraordinarily well." -John W. Gardner Leaders know excellence when they see it. And the writer of these verses saw it in the life of the woman described here. What is the value of excellence? Excellence inspires trust, loyalty, and respect and establishes a reputation that will follow you wherever you go and as long as you live. The woman in these verses led in a family context and did it with excellence. What “family” are you being called to lead? God desires excellence from you, no matter what your situation. I was raised in a suburb, part of a conservative Christian family and the son of a medical doctor. I was very large as a child and found it difficult to fit in. I scored low on social graces and felt the pain of my situation constantly. At times I was full of sorrow and angry with God for the burdens He had placed on me. Then I realized that this is who I was and where I was. Could the uniqueness of my life be seen as a gift and actually be vital for the adult and leader God intended me to become? I asked God to begin to show me how to live out my life in my situation, and this was a major turning point for me. The woman of Proverbs 31 excelled in whatever she was given to do each day. God gives her to us by way of Scripture to show us excellence, strength, and beauty. It is a perfect picture of what God wants from His leaders in all walks of life; be the person He created you to be and excel regardless of your situation. Essential Insight 31: Celebrate excellence and discover God’s world of opportunity.