Expect crap!

My son Malachi is totally trying to take over my castle!  I mean he is running things at the Gagnon house.  I thought when I got married it would be my castle.  Well, I was wrong because it went from Jennifer’s to Malachi’s and I’m pretty sure no matter how macho I act, I’m out of luck.

So Malachi started this new thing, he YELLS at the top of his lungs when he’s hungry.  It drives me nuts, but how do you communicate that to an 8 month old kid who thinks everything daddy does is funny.  I’ll even spank his hand and he laughs, the kid has a pain tolerance you read about. (In a tolerance magazine, I guess?) Anyways, He yells because he expects to be fed.  I think this pattern follows us through life.  Life can get really frustrating when our expectations begin to control our emotions.  Many of us fight with the people we love most because we expect them to understand our desires, rather than communicating our desires to them.  Try looking at life as a journey rather than a destination.  For example, instead of getting mad at your wife or husband for not meeting one of your expectations, take them on a journey that describes to them why that certain thing means so much to you.

I’ve been facing this reality in leadership.  I see the vision of NLC very clear, but I can’t expect everyone else too.  So, as a leader, it is important to always give those serving along side of you, a road map rather than a final address.  A road map will help the leader arrive at the final destination with a lot less pain, frustrations, and failures.

People, stop expecting and begin communicating!

Comments

[Mike Ash]

so, do you think that Malachi gets yelling when he's hungry from some random unknown source, or does he get it from one of his parents meybe (I'm guessing he didn't get it from his mom)

[Mike Ash]

so, do you think that Malachi gets yelling when he's hungry from some random unknown source, or does he get it from one of his parents meybe (I'm guessing he didn't get it from his mom)

[ann]

Dear Pastor,
It's funny, the first part of your March 14th blog reminded me of the papable of the persistent widow:) Just keep crying out to God.
Thank you as I begin to learn how to communicate.
Thank you for letting us know "What happen to Onesimus?" Who knew we all were wondering.
Awesome new website

[Ben Airey]

I think expectations can be a dangerous thing, they can go from a point of driving our decisions to controlling our every move. I've been in this spot before and worked through and out of it. It's not a path worth taking, rather a decision worth making.

[Mike Ash]

great seeing you guys at the ARC!