I’ve got a bunch of people coming to my house tonight.

The annual office Holiday Party (did you see me being politically correct there?) is here in our home, so since Emmie and family left on Sunday, I’ve been in serious party mode. All the kid stuff had to be swiftly removed and replaced by decorative wares that also improve party flow. Dedicated thought had to be given to the best layout for the food so the area doesn’t bottle neck.

Seriously, it’s a science.

Yesterday was my cooking day. After writing my post first thing, I put on my fanciest (or not) sweats and headed to the kitchen, where I stayed all. day. long. I worked on presenting all of the food in ways that are easy to eat while you’re walking around, and with a fork, only. The food layout will work well, I think, and the table looks lovely. The drinks station is easy to navigate and self-serve. Music will play throughout the house to enhance conversation, and give the whole thing a fun, festive vibe.

The day of a party like this, already bone-tired, I usually think to myself, “Self? Why do you go to such great lengths for this? Why don’t you just throw some wings and cold cuts out on the table and call it a day?” But then I jump right back in with, “Because, self, we’re leaders…which means we’re servants.”

Oh, yeah.

Certainly, there are several ways to lead, but we tend to subscribe to the one that serves the ones being led, letting them know they’re valued, and making sure they understand their importance to the team. Granted, it’s a lot of work and they don’t always get it. There will be those who don’t show, or just come because there’s free food, and that’s okay. In the end, they’ll see a pattern beginning to form and maybe value themselves a little bit more when they continue to see us do it. And that benefits every one of us.

To be a leader, you only have to have people to lead. But the show of a true leader (not perfect – never perfect) is that same group of people choosing to follow, and in our experience, that only happens when you lower yourself and make much of them.

That only happens when you serve.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a few thousand details to attend to…

“So Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them. But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, ⁴⁴ and whoever wants to be first among you must be the slave of everyone else. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Mark 10:42-45 NLT

“Don’t lord it over the people assigned to your care, but lead them by your own good example.” 1 Peter 5:3 NLT