An Influencer
Having all of our family home for the holidays was simply wonderful. We even had a few extra days to relax and enjoy one another’s company. One of those days was spent with the girls going shopping at our mall. We enjoyed browsing through the stores without all of the hustle and bustle of trying to find just the right gift.
When it was time for lunch, we decided to just eat in the food court and our guys joined us. While eating lunch I noticed that our youngest granddaughter (she’s 15 now) got a stunned look on her face. She was staring at someone with utter awe. I asked her who it was and she gave me the name of a young man I had never heard of before. Apparently he was surrounded by girls who were also awestruck. Now, he was a nice looking young man, but I was out of the loop as to why he was so popular. I asked if he was a singer or an actor I had never heard of. She told me he wasn’t, but he is an “influencer.” I had heard the expression before but didn’t really know what it was.
Apparently, influencers in social media are people who have built a reputation for their knowledge and expertise on a specific topic. They influence people for a certain brand or company. In our mall guy’s case, it didn’t hurt that he was very nice looking! I don’t think my granddaughter knew what product or company for which he was an influencer.
You know where I’m going with this. As I thought about being an influencer, I came to the conclusion that being an influencer is as old as time itself. After all, Satan influenced Eve and Eve influenced Adam. Every person we read about in the Bible had influence over others, either for good or for bad.
And so do we!
Whatever relationships we have with other people, we influence them in one way or another. When I taught all of those classrooms full of students as a public school teacher, I influenced them in one way or another. When I stand before ladies and speak at a ladies’ day or lectureship, I influence those ladies in one way or another. When I teach teen girls or ladies in a Bible class, I influence them one way or another. As a wife, a mother, an employee, a customer, or any other role in which I find myself, I influence those who are around me.
Now the question for me is, do I influence others for good or for bad? Do my facial expressions, body language, and words I use influence people in a positive way? Would Jesus be pleased with my influence on those around me?
I want to be an influencer for good. Don’t you?
“Do all things without grumbling or questioning, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world…” (Philippians 2:14-15, Emphasis added)
AUTHOR: Donna Faughn