The Sun’s Secret: Leading with Warmth

When my kids were young, I was all about finding stories to tell them that might help shape their faith and values. Consider one of Aesop’s fables of the Sun and the Wind. Have you heard this one?

In this story, the Sun and the Wind have a contest to see who can remove a traveller’s cloak. The wind believes he can blow it off with force. The sun simply shines his warmth down on the traveller. With the wind, the traveller simply holds onto his coat more tightly. With the sun, he gets so hot that he willingly removes it. [Read an expanded version here].

This tale reminds us that warmth and kindness, reflected in our expressions and actions, are more effective than force. Just as the Sun’s gentle warmth succeeded where the Wind’s force failed, our expressions of love and kindness can open hearts and build connections, spreading the light of God’s blessing into the world.

I’ve come to really believe in the power of facial expression as we lead our children or seek to warm another person up to an idea. This is true in regular human interactions and a healthy way to help children mature. Moreover, there is great value for spiritual development.

The blessing in Numbers, says,
24 “‘“The LORD bless you
and keep you;
25 the LORD make his face shine on you
and be gracious to you;
26 the LORD turn his face toward you
and give you peace. ”’

“The LORD make his face shine on you…” emphasizes the power of God’s presence and blessing. It signifies divine favour and relational presence. If this is how God seeks to be toward us, we too can model this in our relationships. We can reflect God’s blessing through our own expressions and words, impacting those around us.

As believers, we have a mandate to express God’s love. This is how we bless others and pass on our faith. It comes first through receiving His blessing for ourselves and praying for it for others. Then, as this blessing fills our hearts, by using our faces to show genuine delight and warmth, we mirror God’s shining face, fostering deep connections in our families and communities. See what happens as you reflect authentic warmth toward your kids!