Distinguishing between commentary and leadership.

Leadership is influence: Nothing More, Nothing Less.

- John Maxwell

As the sun rises this morning our nation is in shock again as senseless violence has shaken the foundation of our cities -- this time the location is Dallas. Last month, Orlando. We bear witness to lives destroyed throughout our nation, our embassies, our military bases, our naval ships ... our world.

I kneel before my nation and my LORD in a position in which few find themselves. As a wife of a law enforcement officer and a mother of 2 much-loved, multi-racial children, I have seen mistrust on one side and judgment on another. I live with threats to our family because my husband wears a badge and I witness assumptions about my daughter because she is 'brown." Therefore, this LEO spouse and adoption mother speaks, hoping to calm the commentary and inspire the leadership. Leadership is what will create change.

1 Chronicles 12:32, "And of the children of Issachar, which were men that had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do; the heads of them were two hundred; and all their brethren were at their commandment."

I urge you to consider these crucial courses of action:

• Understand the times

• Know what to do

• Prepare to lead others

The Hebrew word for understanding, "bee-nah", has a root which also means discernment, wisdom, perception, and knowledge. They had wisdom in knowing the times, what to do, and how to lead others. We need men and women of Issacher.

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It is often said that we live in an information-overload age: Talk shows, Facebook posts, legislator's narration--everyone seems to have something to say. However, commentary is not leadership. John Maxwell pinpointed it when he stated that leadership is not a position or a title. It is the influence that we have.

Therefore, we are all leaders. Or we should be.

While I sit reading, listening, and praying today, it is not a cry for healing that my spirit seeks. It is a cry for leadership. The end result may be healing, but the process requires leadership. Leadership is lacking in our homes, in our churches, and in our governments.

• Our homes need upright, involved leadership; not relinquishing what is our proper place to the church or the government, but being the ones to influence the environment in our homes. Psalm 11:3 states, "If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?” Boldly I answer this with the spirit of Nehemiah: Rebuild the foundation. This is the core place for leadership to manifest. Please rebuild your influence in your family.

• Our churches need humble servant leadership--not using the pulpit to condemn, but to inspire and model what is righteous. Pastors, your churches want to help affect change, but we know neither what to do nor how to do it. Please model to us what to do through servant leadership.

• Our communities need empowering governmental leadership--not legislative powers that entwine their charges. Empower us to use citizens' gifts and strengths to innovate and assist in implementing what "we the people" have within us. We are the government and the governed. Please empower us to affect change.

Notice that none of these areas require commentary. They do require leadership. It is not families we lack. It is not churches we lack. It is not government officials we lack. It is leadership. We can postulate on a vision for weeks, but to quote Maxwell again, "People buy into the leader before they buy into the vision." When we are the type of leader that walks worthy of being followed, healing will happen. Healing is the goal; leadership is the means to the goal. We are the vehicle of that leadership. Rise up, O Children of Issachar. Your nation needs you.