The Oxford Advanced Learners Dictionary defines influence as:
(1) power to produce an effect and (2) power to affect somebody’s actions, character or beliefs through example, fear, admiration, etc.
So an influencer would be someone who has the power to produce effect in somebody’s actions, character or beliefs through example, fear, admiration, etc.
A parable that demonstrates the power of an influencer
A young school teacher had a dream that an angel appeared to him and said, “You will be given a child who will grow up to become a world leader. How will you prepare her so that she will realize her intelligence, grow in confidence, develop both her assertiveness and sensitivity, be open-minded, yet strong in character? In short, what kind of education will you provide that she can become one of the world’s truly GREAT leaders?”
The young teacher awoke in a cold sweat. It had never occurred to him before — any ONE of his present or future students could be the person described in his dream. Was he preparing them to rise to ANY POSITION to which they may aspire? He thought, ‘How might my teaching change if I KNEW that one of my students were this person?’ He gradually began to formulate a plan in his mind and his teaching began to change
Now, every young person who walked through his classroom became, for him, a future world leader. He saw each one, not as they were, but as they could be. He expected the best from his students, yet tempered it with compassion. He taught each one as if the future of the world depended on his instruction.
After many years, a woman he knew rose to a position of world prominence. He realized that she must surely have been the girl described in his dream. Only she was not one of his students, but rather his daughter. For of all the various teachers in her life, her father was the best.
This isn’t simply a parable about an unnamed school teacher.
It is a parable about you and me.
It is a parable about the potential positive influence that we can have on another person’s life.
How would you change your life if you were given the revelation that there would be “X” amount of people who would be positively influenced by you?
Who are you influencing?
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Great post Kevin:) I can totally see Mallory growing up to be a dictator…a benevolent one of course! I'm so glad that I get to parent with you because if I was the only one influencing the Martineau girls it would be disastrous!
At this present phase of life, the ones I know I am influencing/helping are the Bhutanese and Burmese refugees… helping them settle into our culture as needed, helping them learn to read/speak American English, teaching Biblical pieces to both new and new-ish believers, especially OT, since that's not their main focus. Don't know how much "influence" that will be in the long run, but I know it's the core ministry in my life for now. And I love every second of it!!! That counts for a lot.
Kevin:
This was one of those "WOW!" posts that come along only once in awhile. I enjoyed it immensely and shared it with everyone I know. It makes you dig deep and see what your daily intentions are, what are you really made of, and how do you make a difference on a daily basis. THANK YOU for sharing this with the online world.
Much success to you and many blessings,
Deborah
My recent post “Is Your Blog Boring”
I am continually surprised who I influence. That’s why I am so careful about how I write online—you never know who you could influence or impact.
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I am glad that I get to parent with you too Lauren!
My recent post Questions about blogging and blog reading
You are having an influence Joanne! Everything we do influences others and what you are doing is definitely influencing others.
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Thanks Deb!
My recent post Questions about blogging and blog reading
That's a good point Nikole! Whether we recognize it or not, everything we do is having an influence on someone.
Thanks for sharing!
My recent post Questions about blogging and blog reading
I do believe my life is changing as I respond to the challenge of influence. I see it with my family and our church and other arenas. It's humbling and exciting and more than a little scary sometimes. I love this story because everyone, no matter what they do, can and should be an influencer and it starts right at home. Wonderful! Thank you, Kevin.
My recent post Thank God for God
Yes it does!
Thanks for sharing Jason!
My recent post Wherever you go- God is there!
Powerful parable! Thanks for sharing.
You’re question at the end reminds me of the question “What would you do if you knew you only had 30 days to live?”
Why don’t we live like that? Live to influence people, live to make a difference, live to make each day count?
We definitely need to living to make each day count!
Thanks for sharing TC!
The last part of the parable speaks the most to me. I am reminded that good or bad, I will influence who my daughter grows up to be. I pray that God changes me to be the best influence in her life.
Yep, we will have a huge influence on our children whether we recognize it or not.
Thanks for sharing Gerald!
Jesus seemed to be able to treat each person He encountered as if they would be great. And so they became. Each one of his disciples was full of flaws, yet each one changed the world. May we have eyes to see ourselves and others as He saw and sees us and others.
Great points Steve!
Thanks for sharing.
I agree for what steve said in here, and to be honest I learned something new with that…
Thanks for sharing Fatima!
Inspirational message Kevin, and I love the Stephen King quote (Repinned in on Pinterest!)It’s funny but I think blogging is actually a great example of how we influence people in so many unknown ways. Every once in awhile I’ll receive a heartfelt message from a reader about how something I wrote influenced them to make a meaningful change in their life and it never fails to humble me. I now save those messages so on days when I’m tired and maybe wondering why I’m going what I’m doing, I can pull those messages out and remind myself
I absolutely agree with you Marquita. We don’t always know how we are influencing others through our writing.
Thanks for sharing!
Hi Kevin,
What a great story! This goes to show that all of us have the power to influence others, in one way or the other, no matter how small or big the impact is for them. I may not have my own child yet, but I can tell that I put a lot of influence in my nephews and nieces that I babysit every after school hours. Most of the times my sisters say to me that their children tend to copy some of my gestures (such as saying “ahhh” loudly after drinking some Coke, which I do to show the children how I like the fizzy spirit in it, hehe) when they get to their home.
Yep, whether we are parents or not we can still have a huge influence on the children who are in our every day lives!
Thanks for sharing Felicia!