Established in 1879, today marks the 147th anniversary of Presidents’ Day. George Washington was orginally honored on the day of his birthday. In 1971 the holiday was moved to the 3rd wekeend of February in between the birthdays of both Washington and Abraham Lincoln. Why would I include love with leadership? First, because I have a late Valentine’s Day card for all of you. Secondly, why wouldn’t leadership include love? Love and leadership. What a great combination!
Let’s talk about love!❣️
The last two weeks included time with my parents, a beautiful celebration of my amazing grandfather, and a quick trip to LOVE MORE with my family. Although physically tired, my soul and heart are energized by the love of Christ IN ME. He loves US ALL so much that He submitted to death in His human body for our FREEDOM. But this love requires… SURRENDER.
Time moved quicker than me. I couldn’t wait to see them. Within the hour the party would begin. Seeing her with her friends, the teacher, and other parents filled my heart. More time with my granddaughter, son, and daughter-in-love! This is what love is all about!
My old nature would say that this cancer has the “best of me”. Physical challenges, bowel and dietary issues, bone aches, and at times, unexplained pain. Why would I even attempt going?
I’ve been asked, “How do you keep going?”
“Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually!” 1 Chronicles 16:11
It’s the power that LIVES inside of me. It’s the sacrificial love and strength supplied by my comforter and gift from Christ-the Holy Spirit. I’m EMPTY of ME. An empty vessel filled with His love and strength.
“It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.” John 6:63
Let’s chat about leadership!
Standing before the Lincoln Memorial, I couldn’t help but think about the qualities that make a leader truly great—qualities that echo both in history and in my own life. Visiting this powerful monument with my dear friend Kerry, right before my major cancer surgery, remains a vivid memory. The experience was both humbling and grounding. In that moment, the significance of leadership took on a new, personal meaning for me. My Dad, sons, and I all share a love for history, and it’s not uncommon for me to “geek out” (as a dear friend says) on historical documentaries. Learning about the past—and discovering current individuals who contribute positively to society—reminds me how much leadership, in all its forms, can inspire us to grow and persevere.
To lead with love can be cahllenging! To some it might appear weak, but I’ve come to realize that showing compassion and patience requires far more strength than simply issuing commands. Jesus, being the greatest leader I know, led with love—never shying away from being among the messy, the unclean, the “outcasts.” His example challenges me daily to extend grace, to include others, and to serve without reservation. So, what does love have to do with it? EVERYTHING!
Do you know how loved you are? ❣️
Have hope. Keep the faith! ❣️
Friends, my recovery from trips are taking longer than expected. THANK YOU for your grace & understanding. 💚
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always sending healing wishes to you from New Jersey! Be blessed! Mike
Thank you, Mike! It’s always great to “see” you. I appreciate you so much! Stay blessed and safe as well!
this is such an empowering post; strength to you, Karla for that cancer ; I’m glad you are ‘in’ the Lord and like me, leaning on his everlasting arms; I have bookmarked this one !
John, how precious and kind! Thank you, my friend. You are a thriver, survivor, and fellow Christ-indweller! Let’s keep leaning and living on Him together. Many blessings, my friend! ❤️
yes !!!!
I love every word you write. Love oozes! I loved your prayer on your last Podcast. It was so anointed and blessed my heart. It flowed from you into me and was beautiful. You should do more! 💕😗🥇🏆🌹🕊️❤️🎶😇🥰🤗😍Love you always!
Aww, thank you Mama Wenda! I’m so happy you were blessed! I’m recording more (I think I have about 8 written?). It was moving to record and use such spectacular music behind it. The work of the Spirit!
I love you always too! 🎶❣️🥰🤗🙏🏻🎶🎶🎶❣️❤️
That sounds wonderful. Looking forward to it! 🤗🥰😗🎶🙏
❤️❣️🎶🎶🙏🏻 Thank you!!!
Thanks for the postcard! 😊
I didn’t know those words were written on the Lincoln Memorial. And in red, too.
I wish all of our leaders would read this post and take it to heart. The power of love is much greater than the power of office or money. Only when that is understood by the political partisans that fight each other, will we have peace.
Traveling can take a lot out of a person. Get some rest.
Oh, Tippy! LOL! It’s SO good to “see” you. You always make me giggle. Crazy what you’ll find on Memorials!
On a serious note, what you wrote in your 3rd paragraph is exactly how I feel (and we’re not alone, I know).
I’ll rest! I hope you’re doing well! I appreciate you, my friend! 😀
And so beautifully written kind lady. And thank you for this delightful Valentines Card and the love that it shares with me. I feel what you have found, that empathy and compassion from a journey, though painful, from a love given freely because of it. And I open my heart to it 🤗❤️
I was blessed so profoundly in touching loves beauty, given a courage and faith in each step I take. Many do not have that, but are more powerful in their faith because of that harder journey. It is those things that test us that releases our protection over our hearts and allows His Grace in. I pray your heart is open and receiving for that surgery and beyond Karla, may it heal as only His love can 🤗❤️
Big, big hugs from across the blue, lots of love from down under to you and Finn, and may many blessings surround you 🥰🤣🐾🦓🎶🕊️🐬🐳❤️🙏
Oh…P.S. Don’t know what happened to the ‘chat’, it disappeared. Take care kind lady 🤣🐾🦓🎶🐬❤️🙏
Thank you dear Mark! Your words always OOZE WITH LOVE and light!
Once you receive it there’s nothing that can compare!
A dear friend and I were discussing what it takes for the “veil” to be lifted? Does everyone have to suffer like Christ to realize that there is MORE to life than just crossing things off a list, getting in a car and going to work to pay for the car and everything on the list? I understand we have responsibiliites. Work is good. Yet, what’s the purpose? Why are we here? Surely EVERYONE questions that? But alas, there will be some that never will. It saddens my heart.
Christ in me isn’t about a “deal” to get into heaven. It’s using the power NOW and living life abundantly. It’s not about perfection–in health or any other facet of life. It was way before the diagnosis that I knew this “isn’t the way it’s supposed to be”. Like you, my heart is wide open. But it took REPLACING the old heart.
The old nature. Giving in. Trying and pleasing. None of that works–it’s a set-up for failure.
The tests are the most powerful testimonies. But I truly have to DIE To SELF to fully utilize the great power! In our western world and other places we have it easy and comfortable. It’s best for me that I’m not TOO comfortable. Or I’d just do my own plans, Mark. I wouldn’t WALK in the love of the WAY. I would just give up and go lay on the couch.
I see the handscarred nails of Jesus and I think of what HE endured–so that I could gain the Holy Spirit as a protector, keeper, and friend. I’ll never be able to utilize it if I just stay distracted with the world. I’m a work in progress and it won’t ever be “over” until I see Him face to face.
On the chat…hmmm. Technology has been a hard teacher the last 24 hours. From uninstalling programs, to installations, learning curves and a fried brain (and body!). BUT FOR GOD!
Big big hugs and love across the great blue to you too!!! MAY YOU stay blessed and safe! THANK YOU always for your love and prayers my friend!🐾🙏🏻❤️🎶🦓🐬🦭🐋🤗❣️😀🥰
Love is indeed a very powerful energy Karla, a Christ energy. Always with us, always guiding, always ‘nudging’ a hesitant step 🤣❤️
And I will never, ever forget the ‘nudge’ I got to ‘see’ what love truly is. I was falling in love with a very beautiful woman and Spirit asked me…do I want to know what love is? To which I replied yes. A month or so later Spirit again asked me…did I want to know what love is? And at this point I was really falling for this incredible woman…so with a big smile I said oh yes. And another month later Spirit asked me again…did I want to know what love is? Now at this point I was really falling for this lady but I knew something was happening here as Spirit had now asked me three times. So with the appropriate solemnity I said yes. And Spirit then straight away said to me…I want you to go through, not over, not around, not under…your fear. I was stunned, thinking I was going to be given this grand secret of the universe…so I said…speak to the hand! I was gobsmacked. And any question was given a silence. So off I went and fell in love. Little did I know the path of eventually losing that love…and in doing so face the one thing I feared the most. Rejection. Don’t get me wrong, we are all rejected in our fears, but it can take a million ways to arrive there. And in there was something I hoped to never touch…and did not realise just how I held that fear. So Spirit guided me to look, to see and understand how we hold our fear and why…but first I had to take each step and fall and stumble so that I could understand it…and see that this very act is the making of us. To have courage, to dare to find the one thing we ever look for, that love and happiness from day one. You see, those fears are the many conditions we put on life. Unsure to go rock climbing, water ski, fall in love, make an apple pie. We are always ‘fearful’ if we can do this and that, but those very experiences give us understanding, and in that the wisdom to ‘know’ everything. Each time sloughing away another layer of unsure, hesitancy, doubts etc. And in each of those windows an empathy and compassion of ourselves because we did do them, did have the courage to dare another step, polishing something within as it dropped those doubtful conditions on them all…to finally face ourselves, that one key to them all that lives back in our childhoods and drives them all. On the day we do face ourselves in that place we have experienced so much in facing us, understanding and finding that wisdom, so that we will have the courage to face, understand, and drop that last condition, the wall we had placed on our hearts…and finally, a step into that unconditional love we ever sought. Jesus just wants us to love ourselves, and only then in that understanding, finally, truly, love Him. God gave us an unconditional love. We just have to find it ❤️🙏
Haha, sorry, that love subject ‘opens’ me Karla. It’s like falling in love each time I speak of it. Well, I suppose I really am. Once touched, never forgotten. You become it 🤗🥰🤣🐾🦓🎶🕊️🐬🐳❤️🙏
I love the quotes you shared today, especially the one by Abraham Lincoln. How true it is! God bless you today, sweet friend! Thank you for encouraging so many people! Henry and I send our love and prayers to you (and Finn, of course)! 💕🙏🐾
Thank you, precious CIndy! You’re a light in this world, my friend! I’m so happy you enjoyed the quotes!
God bless you and Henry. It’s my blessing to be of encouragement! You are to me, too! What a precious sisterhood in Christ! Finley and I love you both, too! Give Henry tiny belly rubs!
PS****Finn lost a tooth this past weekend and is starting to act like a senior dog. It’s quite precious and interesting to witness again. She’s on heart medicine. Boy, the two of us are a pair! I’m so thankful to God for the love of dogs–aren’t they precious? ❤️🙏🏻🐾🦮🦮
Henry is 13, and he acts like a grumpy old man! But I love him anyway! I hope Finn recovers from losing a tooth. Yes, dogs are wonderful animals! God bless you, Karla! 🙏
🐾 🐶 ❤️
This made me giggle, Cindy! Grumpy old man! Henry–you are precious! Finley seems to be doing very well! She came into the world fighting for her life and she’s quite a survivor and overcomer!
Many blessings, hugs, and love to you 2!! ❤️🥰🐾🤗🙏🏻🙏🏻
I’m glad to hear that Finn is doing well. ❤️
FROM: Murphy’s Law
Thank you for the Valentines postcard. You are so thoughtful. I agree with you Karla that love and leadership should go together. A good leader recognizes there are different viewpoints to each issue….leads with compassion….is not biased…. is user friendly….uses common sense and is open to suggestions/criticism. Otherwise the leader is nothing more than a dictator.
I hope you are allowing yourself plenty of time to recuperate from your travels and the effort it takes to stay ahead of cancer. So glad you got some much needed family time into your busy schedule.
Love and prayers to you and sweet Miss Finley. ❤️🙏🏻❤️
ginger🦋
Ginger, I’m so happy to “see” you here! I always enjoy your thoughtful messages and wisdom!
AMEN to all the traits you listed in a good leader! Hooray!
I’m listening to my body, Ginger. I’ve surrendered. It’s amazing how the power of Christ IN ME allows me to go just when I need to go. Making memories, Ginger. My heart is with you and I pray for you daily. All the precious memories you have and ALL you’ve been through these last many months. HOPE. I’ll hold on to it.
But I’m using common sense too, Ginger. Just like Eleanor said. And Jesus expects me to use my brain, too.
I’ve been through many changes through this disease, as i’m speaking to the choir on changes! I embrace them and don’t “fight” what I know I CAN’T do anymore. Ultimately, the only POWER I have is from my heart and what I can use of my head.
I’ll have my BIG DADDY scan next month and we’ll see how everything “looks”. This cancer won’t ever be in remission or go away. Most of us live with disease. It’s the impeding timelines, growth of tumors, treatments, scans, the roller coaster….the ride.
I’ve found peace and at times, that means I’m not on WP for many days due to what the Lord might have in store or just resting. My silly eyes (4 prescriptions in 4 years), my wrists, back, digestion, diet…well, again, ALL OF US have these things!
Your compassion and empathy are precious.
Finley and I love you dear Ginger! 🙏🏻❤️🐾🐾
Trip recovery requires patience too but you have been graced with that over the years, Karla, every post of yours breathing hope more and more. And this one especially reminds me of what St.Paul wrote in Romans 5:3,4 — “Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.” Amazing grace! And how it shines through your words too, Karla. Praying for you this morning, dear friend, that His love and peace may fill us both to overflowing so that we may always find our rest in Him. Thank you for sharing from your heart. Take care. 🙏💖🤗
Dora, I feel your prayers and precious message this noon. The verse you shared is one of my favorites. I was just telling another “iron sharpening” soul friend how I count my life a “loss”. It’s truly through suffering that we are the closest to Jesus IN US. Amazing surrender and what a gift!
I’m so happy you hear the HOPE in my “voice”. I will ALWAYS have it and no matter what, it is all well in my soul. I love you, Dora. YOU know suffering. YOU live it. Thank you for being an inspiration to me, dear sister. Blessings and love. ❤️🙏🏻❤️
You’ve been on my heart. So glad to hear of your time with that sweet granddaughter. 🩷 Praying peace and strength for you. Much love.
Thank you, Kelley. Likewise, sweet friend. You understand those times. Your prayers are helpful. How can I specifically pray for you? You’re in my thoughts and heart. Much love to you!❤️🙏🏻
You’re so kind. Struggling with anxiety lately, but trusting it will get better. ❤️🙏
I understand, sweet friend. I will pray specifically for that! I love you, Kelley. ❤️❤️❤️
Thank you. Love you. ❤️
It’s my blessing, Kelley ❣️❣️❣️
A great post, Karla. A good reminder of the importance of great leaders. I am glad you are able to get out and connect in meaningful ways with your family! You are a busy woman! (Did my book ever get to you?)
Thank you, dear Dwight! I appreciate you so much. My “busyness” might be catching up with me. But I allow God to lead each day and “listen”. Pause & rest. I’m so happy to be a part of life! I just sent you an email. Your poetry book is magnificent. The work you did to put it together is impressive! But your writing is even moreso, “Uncle” Dwight! Sending prayers and blessings, dear friend. Thank YOU!!!
You are very welcome, my friend. So glad you enjoyed my book. I appreciate you your kind words of affirmation!! Take care!!
Love your ideas! So true & faith filled!!! Love you! Hope you & Finley are getting some rest!🥰Sent from my iPhone
I love you too, Sue! I appreciate you so much sweet friend. Finn and I send our love. I’m doing my best to rest. My body is NOT cooperating–I’m living on love but even better–Christ’s power! We are ALL suffering from something, Sue! God help us ALL! I LOVE YOU! ❤️❤️🙏🏻🙏🏻
Another great post filled with wisdom. <3 You are amazing.
You’re SO thoughtful and kind, M.B. THANK YOU! Do you know that I think of you everytime I see something historical? You’re my historical fiction hero. You’re amazing yourself! ❣️❣️
I’m not sure if I did the stars right; I mean to give the most. Love and leadership, what a blessing to leadership and constituency when we should go that way. The quotations by Eleanor and Elisabeth are so apt on this theme and, for that matter, the choice. As I was reading, I thought about how what you say applies both to the individual and the community. Recently, I watched the Burns film on the Revolution and a local program about Washington’s time in the western part of the state (Pennsylvania). Another geek–and we should know our stories, shouldn’t we?
It’s pretty straight-forward… ❤️
YES! ❣️❣️❣️❣️
Love and leadership might seem an odd combination, but not if we are believers. Love the photo of you in front of the Lincoln Memorial. I remember seeing it for the first time.
I am so happy you had a great time with family. Your posts are always encouraging. I love you my friend and you are always in my prayers ❤️🙏🏻❤️
Oh, Pam, it’s so true isn’t it? When we’re believers the love will be natural! Or should be our nature? But in the end we know!
Thank you for always encouraging me, praying, and loving me through this journey. It’s such a blessing to have you in my life! I love you dearly and am praying for you too!❣️🙏🏻❣️
This reads like a love letter to authority itself—Presidents’ Day as a father figure, JC as the ultimate leader, surrender as both devotion and the secret fantasy of control dissolving. It’s tender, raw, and slightly feral in the way it collapses leadership, love, and the body into one honest confession. Compliments to the courage of being emptied and still speaking. 🏄♂️
Thank you, Chuckster! I always enjoy your words of support and encourgement! “Tender and Raw–slightly feral” ( I see a t-shirt?). But truly, you nailed it. Thank you, again.
Love, compassion and serving the greater good should be the top priorities for all those acting as leaders. Sadly, these qualities often become near the bottom.
Sending you love, energy and strength.
Love, katelon
Thank you, Katelon, for adding your compassionate, kind, and love-filled voice! It’s so thoughtful and encouraging!
Sending you love and strength as well, my friend.
I love your love and leadership connection, and your valentine. Your words of wisdom and quotations are so inspiring, Karla. This post is filled with so very many. Thank you! You are such a blessing to many. Really!
Jennie, you’re so precious. THANK YOU, dear friend. I’m so happy that you find this inspiring! It’s my blessing to empty my heart and soul in words–they’re not always polished, but they’re real. You’re an inspiration to me, Jennie.