Forgiveness

I’ve always had the mentality that a great leader is someone who can offer a certain skill to their team/audience, which will allow that group to flourish. I even believed if you’re a leader who can offer knowledge or a skill that nobody else had, then you automatically became more valuable (regardless if it was a leader working in front of a crowd or behind the scenes). I quickly realized my preconceived idea of a great leader was very skewed because “the depth and power of your leadership will stem from your ability to forgive.” 

As leaders, we will all inevitably fall into situations that can cause mistakes, frustration, pain, etc, with other staff, campers, and even ourselves. Choosing to forgive is a daily choice we need to make that will ease (if not completely eliminate) the barrier created from our faults which hinder us from completing our mission. It’s a choice that frees ourselves and others to move on. Above that, I think forgiveness is not solely the absence of hate and anger but rather the presence of our genuine love for Christ, which demonstrates powerful leadership. This shift in mentality of what it means to be a powerful leader has already started to transform my heart and for that I am grateful. I pray that this be true of each person at Sonshine as well!