“Streams of living water will flow from within him. . .” – John 7:38
Having worked as a leadership coach over the past twenty years I find myself almost unconsciously observing leadership qualities in other people, much like a golfer might observe others’ golf swings. So, when we attended a dinner recently honoring the high school cheerleading squad where our granddaughter Zoey, now a senior, has participated all four years of her high school career, the last two as captain of the cheer team, it was only natural for me to pay particular attention to her leadership qualities.
Two qualities I observed from across the room at that ceremony the other night, although admittedly from a very biased perspective. One was how engaging she was with everyone around, teachers, coaches, parents, fellow cheerleaders, and schoolmates. That type of outgoing personality is a gift from God. The other occurred when she sprang from her seat impromptu to offer an eloquent tribute to the cheer coach on behalf of the entire cheerleading squad, a reversal of roles in a way, cheering the cheer coach instead of the other way around. It was an extraordinary demonstration of leadership.
But then, that is what Zoey does. Cheerleading is sort of a metaphor for her life; for she’s not just a cheerleader for the football team on Friday night, she’s a cheerleader for people, even me, her grandpa. Like the time I confided that I had decided to invest in hearing aids so she didn’t have to repeat herself all the time. We were standing in line at a Starbucks and she spontaneously started cheering like I had just made a touchdown.
Everybody we meet in this world is either a fountain or a drain, someone once said. I suppose in reality most of us are a little of both, depending on the kind of day we’re having. But my granddaughter Zoey is a fountain – at least most days from what I have observed – a quality that comes from deep within her soul, a gift from God.
“If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink,” Jesus said, “[and] streams of living water will flow from within him.” So, I have to ask myself the question every day, am I going to be a fountain or a drain? How blessed I am to have a granddaughter who sets the example, and serves as my cheerleader!
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