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How to Tell if Your Influence Matters

As kids, my brothers, my cousins, and I received the gift of a silver dollar every Christmas from our grandfather. The lineup of youngsters to get a silver dollar was a long one. 

I remember standing expectantly, respectfully waiting for him to place the coin in my hand. I knew at eight years old that my grandfather was giving me something special—more than money. He was passing down a legacy.

If you succeed in garnering the respect of an eight-year-old, then probably your influence matters.

Weaving relationships matters

 The photo—including my Papa Joe, my three older brothers, and my parents—consisted of the six people who were the tapestry called my family. They were loving relationships of love and acceptance woven into my life. Those relationships mattered.

“Begin to weave and God will provide the thread.” That old German proverb is one of my favorite ways to sign my debut novel. Favorite because I’ve found it to be so true, whether God is using people or circumstances.

If you are weaving loving relationships into the lives of those around you, then probably your influence matters.  

Focusing on the good in everything matters

I promise this was not a song from my era, but my mother did sing it whenever one of her children needed an attitude change.

“Accentuate the positive, eliminate the negative, latch onto the affirmative. Don’t mess with mister in-between.”

Bing Crosby sang it infinitely better than my mother did, but what mattered was her ceaseless endeavor to find the good in most everything.

If you pass down a legacy that focuses on what is worthy, then probably your influence matters.

The apostle Paul said, “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things and the God of peace will be with you.” Philippians 4:8

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