Laurie KennedyEffective leaders celebrate, not to recognize themselves, but to praise God and encourage others.

Moses celebrated. “We will go with our young and our old, with our sons and our daughters, and with our flocks and herds, because we are to celebrate a festival to the Lord” (Exodus 10:9 NIV).

Nehemiah and his people celebrated. “At the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem, the Levites were sought out from where they lived and were brought to Jerusalem to celebrate joyfully the dedication with songs of thanksgiving and with the music of cymbals, harps and lyres”. “The sound of rejoicing in Jerusalem could be heard far away” (Nehemiah 12:27 & 43 NIV).

I toured Wycliffe Bible Translators, Canadian headquarters, with my first and favorite missionary friend, Jack Popjes. Jack is a 24-year-veteran Bible translator in Brazil and former Executive Director of Wycliffe. He pointed to a large bell in the corner of their coffee break room. Wycliffe celebrates when a New Testament or full Bible translation has been published by ringing the bell. Headquarters staff gather to see the Book waved triumphantly, to sing praise songs and thank our Lord for the accomplishment.

Every day, 43 Albertans hear the words, “you have cancer”. These are not just statistics. These are our neighbors, our friends, our loved ones.

The Cross Cancer Institute is the comprehensive cancer centre for Northern Alberta. The Cross Cancer Institute is a leading centre for the province-wide prevention, research and treatment program. The centre provides inpatient and outpatient services for cancer patients, advanced medical and supportive cancer care, and patient and professional education. The Cross Cancer Institute conducts research through the Alberta Cancer Research Institute to be a world leader in cancer research. (Cross Cancer Website)

Today was a very personal and emotional celebration for me. I stood in the waiting room of the Cross Cancer Institute ringing the bell indicating I had finished my radiation treatments. Yes! Praise our Heavenly Father who has a plan for my life. My personal thanks to my Oncologist, Radiologist, the Regional Cancer specialist, the fantastic staff in Treatment Unit 7 and the receptionist. You see, I’m surviving cancer.

Ringing out

Ring this bell
Three times well
Its toll to clearly say,

My treatment’s done
This course is run
And I am on my way!

— Irve Le Moyne

Leadership is recognizing and celebrating achievements.

Yours in Service,

Laurie D. Kennedy
Leadership Coach
Jethro Group
ldkjethrogroup@gmail.com