your influence is wide.

Have you ever thought of the influence you have?

Whether you recognize it or not, you are influencing those around you every moment of each day. <—-tweet that here! Your influence can be positive or negative depending on how you live out that moment.

There were years in my life where I dreamed of leaving an influence, but yet I wasn’t brave enough to fly. It was easier to sit perched in my home worrying and fretting. Definitely not much influence there.

But the day came when I knew to have an impact, to leave an imprint, or to have influence I would have to take the risk and fly. I would have to venture out of my comfort zone.

Don’t get me wrong. I know leaving a great influence in our marriages and with our children are at the top of the list. But there also comes a time when you know that you know that it’s time to spread your wings and venture out into the wide sky.

You won’t know what will happen or where you’ll end up.

But you’ll know it’s time to fly. The wide-open spaces will beckon your name ever so softly.

If that’s you today, flap your wings and fly.

Friend, what’s holding your back? Your influence is wide!

About the Author

Alene Snodgrass

I love to tell the story whether it is from behind a camera lens, writing at a computer screen, or speaking into the lives of others. With a heart for the broken and down-and-out, I am the Director of Volunteers at Bay Area Fellowship Westside, a church on the inner city of Corpus Christi. I speak regularly around the country at conferences, retreats, and women’s groups sharing Christ truth as my heart sees it, through my real life experiences. Follow me on twitter @alenesnodgrass or facebook.

http://www.pruningprincesses.blogspot.com Laura @ Pruning Princesses

What fun. FMF says I have to comment on the link up right before me and this week that is you. I am in the phase of life where I pour myself into my family. But someday, too soon, I will spread my wings and remember the examples you set.
- http://www.positivelyalene.com/ Positively Alene
  
  Pouring yourself in to your family is your wide-open space to make a life-long influence for eternal good. You are influencing the most important – those closest in your sphere of influence. And BTW – I love how you are doing it. Enjoy the journey – each season of life with your girls is a new sphere of influence in which you can spread your wings and fly. Some are scary adventures and some are beautiful to the core. Blessings girl!
http://myfreshlybrewedlife.com Barbie

I LOVE that photo! Looking for the wide open spaces so that I can fly! Blessings!
- http://www.positivelyalene.com/ Positively Alene
  
  Girl – you are soaring!!! Love it.
http://www.eileenknowles.com Eileen

“The wide-open spaces will beckon your name ever so softly.” Yes they will!!
- http://www.positivelyalene.com/ Positively Alene
  
  Have you ever noticed how soft the whisper is? Maybe if the beckon screamed at us it would be easier to leave the perch and fly?
http://www.oneblessedlady.com Jamie

“..to have influence I would have to take the risk and fly.” Oh,yes! Scary and beautiful all at the same time! (Love that photo! Perfect for a fall day.)

Blessings!
- http://www.positivelyalene.com/ Positively Alene
  
  Scary for sure, but I see you soaring.
http://www.upliftingwordsonline.com/2012/09/20/five-minute-friday-4/ Stefanie Brown (@stefanieybrown)

Oh, I can relate to this: “There were years in my life where I dreamed of leaving an influence, but yet I wasn’t brave enough to fly. It was easier to sit perched in my home worrying and fretting. Definitely not much influence there.”
For years, fear kept me perched. Fear of rejection or looking/sounding stupid. Fear of not having anything worth anything to say. So thankful HE didn’t take my influence away, but empowered me to embrace it for HIS sake and cause.
Great post!!
- http://www.positivelyalene.com/ Positively Alene
  
  Oh how fear paralyzes us! All those “what if’s” that plague us keep us perched. All the comparison’s keep us perched. There seems to be so much that can keep us perched if we let it. And when we let it — oh my, how those “what if’s” begin to seem so real.
  
  So thankful you flew the nest!!! Your influences reaches wide.
  - http://www.upliftingwordsonline.com/2012/08/31/five-minute-friday-change/ Stefanie Brown
    
    Oh, how your words soothe a weary soul! Thank you, sweet friend.
http://newequus.wordpress.com Mindy @ New Equus – A New Creation

Fly…that is what I want to do. I am ready to take that first jump and flap my wings. Knowing that He’ll catch me if I fall.

I want to be an example and I want it to be a GOOD one.

It’s just a simple decision isn’t it…to stay or to jump. I think I’ll choose the jump! :)
- http://www.positivelyalene.com/ Positively Alene
  
  Girl – I think you fly and jump with horses!! That’s cool. But either way — with horses or with birds — hallelujah He catches us if we jump and then fall. And BTW – I’ve done that jumping horses — scary!!! Blessings friend.
http://hamershappenings.blogspot.com Lisa

I like what you said that your husband and children are at the top of your list, but you will know when it’s time to spread your wings. I’m at the point. Two of my boys are gone, my daughter is just left living at home, I work part time…It’s time to make a difference. I am presently working with the Young Women in our Church. I am hoping and praying to be an influence and make a difference. It starts somewhere…
- http://www.positivelyalene.com/ Positively Alene
  
  Thanks LIsa! Yes, gotta keep our famiies at the top of the list. That’s our first order of ministry and calling. If that’s out of whack then all will be out of sorts. I know you are making a difference to those young women. Keep it up! Can’t you see how your influence is expanding?
http://www.cherylplinder.blogspot.com Cheryl Linder

That is so encouraging! Sometimes I think about the empty nest. I wonder if I will miss them so much that I can’t stand it. But that won’t happen for another 20 years or so thanks to Miss Isabella, lol!
Nonetheless, my nest will be significantly emptier in the next 2 years. I already miss them just thinking about it. Wonder how God will fill my time?
http://soulstops.com Dolly@Soulstops

really like your take on the prompt, Alene…yes, to flying as He leads me…I think you hit a key point: out of our comfort zone…blessings to you :)
Dessie Coyle

I feel like I’m a bad influence
http://lindseyvanniekerk.blogspot.com Lindsey van Niekerk

What a beautiful way to approach this prompt and what a challenge to live free and wild and open and wide to the possibilities of what HE has for us and through us.

Spread your wings and fly like an eagle was one thing that I encouraged my teenage self to do…thanks for the reminder/confirmation here…….AND for all of your sweet words on my blog!
- http://lindseyvanniekerk.blogspot.com Lindsey van Niekerk
  
  P.S. The photo is awesome…love the editing too..how it pops off the page…
http://narrowpathstohigherplaces.com Alia Joy

I’ve never doubted that I’ve had influence even if it’s a small circle but the influence hasn’t always been positive. It makes such a huge difference if we’re being influenced for and by God. I’m definitely out of my comfort zone more often when I am lead by Him. I like your slant on this weeks prompt. Thanks.
Kate

I just saw a play last night on this same theme! They also spoke about facing our fears, spreading our wings and following our dreams. Something we should all strive to do :)
http://charinabrooks.wordpress.com Charina @ Pondered Thoughts

Love this post and the photo just fits! Thanks so much for this vey encouraging post Alene!
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