Intentional, Influential Mother

in·flu·ence

/ˈinflo͝oəns/

noun

1. the capacity to have an effect on the character, development, or behavior of someone or something, or the effect itself.

While the label of “influencer” these days is considered a feat, it can sometimes feel insurmountable when checking the stats. How many Instagram followers you got… Facebook friends you done copped? I only have like five Russian bots tweeting @ me. My LinkedIn ain’t too linked, and what in the sam-hill (as my Daddy says) is this ticky tocky?

This world cares about influence. We pay for it, fight for it, scroll endlessly for it, measure it, share it and crave it. But in this struggle to see who’s keeping up with the Joneses, we often miss out on the real truth: Each of us already has influence! I already have influence. You already have influence. Each of us in our right have the ability to influence others.

Look in the mirror right now and say, "You are an influencer!" Believe that. You don’t need those blue thumbs-up or virtual hearts to feel seen. I know for a fact I influence folks who can’t even muster up the respect to even let me know that I exist; but like Beyoncé said… “I know you care."

Let me stop.

It’s time to talk about the influencer of influencers. The innovator of all innovators. The beginning to all of our beginnings. Momma.

Today (hand clap) is (hand clap) Mother’s (hand clap) Day! She, we, I’ve been influencing us since the start of time.

I think like my momma. I walk like my momma. I'm petty like my momma. Some say, they can even see both my Grandmothers in me too. I feel them, the influence their souls had over mine.

Sometimes I’ll close my eyes and formulate pictures of the women within my DNA - mothers that can before me. I can feel them working, birthing and being everything to everybody but themselves. I can feel them holding down their men in the face of discrimination and hate. I can feel them feeding their families with recipes passed down. I can feel the strength in their backs from picking cotton. I can literally feel the mental restraint they must have had knowing and understanding to survive, silence was necessary even when they were brightest in the room. Their influence lives within me.

I have three sons, and God has empowered me to influence and shape three people in the next generation, and the one after that, and the one after that….

The influence of a mother is infinite, and once that power is realized, she knows she must influence with intention. Be intentional about healing from life’s hurts. Be intentional about taking care of yourself – inside and out. Be intentional about investing in your marriage. Be intentional about dancing when they're looking and when they're not. Be intentional about guiding your babies through God’s word. Be intentional about about being a person of your word. Be intentional about loving your neighbor more than yourself. Be intentional and teach your children about dignity, grace and humility. Intentionality increases influence, and influence is something God asks us to be intentional about. We can never underestimate the power of a mother's love, nor the value of her mere presence in the home.

Happy Mother’s Day to all of the women who have bore! Happy Mother’s Day to the women who raised children that were not their own! Happy Mother’s Day to all of the aunties! Happy Mother’s Day to all of the church mothers! Happy Mother’s Day to all of the women who have poured into others strength, faith and hope!

Today is for you, mothers of influence. Happy Mother’s Day!

Taneise

OUTFIT DEETS

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