A Humble Leader? (Leighton Ford)

Jeanie and I went to see her big brother Billy at his Montreat home last week. At ninety-eight years of age his hearing and speech are limited, but his vital signs are good.

I asked his oldest daughter Gigi over lunch whether she thought of her father as a great man, considering that he has for longer than I can remember been on the Most Admired list.

(And I was thinking of how often the word “great” has been used recently)

Gigi was pensive. Then she said that she didn’t think of him as great much in past years, just as her father.

“But,” she said, “I do think he is the humblest man I have ever known. When he got a compliment he would point up, shake his head, and say all credit goes to God.”

“I know,” she said, “that all leaders have some ego and some narcissism. But always I remember that my father wanted the glory to go only to God.”

Hmm. A great and humble leader. For him I am thankful.

Leighton Ford