When Leadership Meets Restoration – An Intergenerational Call

Greetings friends! Here’s Big Mama’s Playbook with NEW grants for education, youth programs and MORE! Don’t forget my SPECIAL OFFER for my readers – find out more at the end of this post… and please support #GivingTuesday on December 2^nd. 

This week’s thoughts: Every now and then, I come across a story that reminds me of what servant leadership looks like - the kind that heals, connects, and restores. One such story is about the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration who recently returned a small piece of land to the Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians in Wisconsin. It wasn’t a grand gesture in size – just two acres, but in meaning, it was indeed a monumental healing moment.

This story isn’t just about property. It’s about change, courage, history, and choosing to do what’s right, even when no one asks or mandates you to. It’s a reminder that servant leadership can be an act of healing. That act spoke to something deeply moving about servant leadership. The kind that doesn’t seek credit, but connection. Leadership that isn’t about ownership, but stewardship - about knowing when to hold on and when to hand something back; to help others heal, grow, and thrive.

For generations, Indigenous communities have carried the weight of broken promises, lost land, and silenced stories. The Sisters chose to do something somewhat rare, with little fanfare - to face that truth, that history, and take a step toward healing. They didn’t make a public show of righteousness; they made a private choice for justice. They didn’t make excuses or look for recognition. They simply did what was right. That’s what I’d call ‘quiet power’. It’s the kind that doesn’t need a stage, that doesn’t shout but still changes things to make a difference.

The Sisters made this small but powerful gesture toward repair by returning those two acres of land. They didn’t try to erase this history. They faced it and responded with action. This wasn’t a one-time transaction. The Sisters spent time building relationships with the Tribe, listening & sharing histories, stories, and seeking ways to move forward together. Listening builds trust. And trust takes time. Forgiveness is healing. Their story reminds me of these insightful words of wisdom from Rita Dove – the Pulitzer Prize winning poet: “If we really want to be full and generous in spirit, we have no choice but to trust at some level...”

Whether you lead a team, a classroom, or a community, remember that strong relationships are the foundation of meaningful work. Leaders in every setting should learn that healing begins with honesty. The lesson is simple: leadership is not about holding on; it’s about letting go. It’s about making things right, building bridges; leaving the world better than you found it.

Forgiveness and justice belong together. Forgiveness doesn’t mean forgetting. It means making space for new possibilities. Justice means returning what was lost or at least acknowledging it. Together, they allow people and communities to move forward with dignity.In leadership, we often have to do both - make amends and make room for growth. That’s why we need more emotionally mature leaders. Good leadership, whether in faith communities, nonprofits, or families, is the same. It asks: Who was here before us? Who will come after us? It’s not about being the protagonist of the story. It’s about restoring balance.

As servant leaders, we all hold some kind of power - whether it’s a title, a voice, or as some social media ‘influencer’. What matters most is how we use that platform. Do we protect it? Or do we share it so others can rise too? Those of us wise elders who’ve been leading for decades, we must keep modeling what repair and healing look like. And those who are coming behind us - the next generation of leaders, organizers, advocates, and dreamers, must carry that work further. This isn’t just a story about the past. It’s a mirror for present times. How are we modeling leadership today? Leadership at its best is about repair. It’s about leaving something behind that tells future generations, “We did what we could to make things right.”

That’s what it means to lead like Big Mama - with grace, with truth, with healing generational traumas, and with an open hand ready to pass the baton/torch. These times demand creativity, courage, and connection for the common good. This work belongs to all of us. It is calling on us.

A Special Offer from this Big Mama:

Through the end of 2025, I’m offering coaching and consultation services on a sliding scale basis ($50–$100/hr.) to support nonprofit leaders and organizations who are ready to grow, reflect, and sustain their purpose with heart and hope. Whether you need a thought partner, a staff/board coaching, or a fresh set of eyes on your grant application…I’ve got you. And thanks to those who have already reached out to me!

Please share this post and the TIME SENSITIVE grant information in Big Mama’s Playbook! Contact me for a free 1-hour consult! Are you a former student/client of mine or referred by one?  There’s a special deeper discounted rate! In closing my friends, we are in the final weeks of 2025 and for me, that means sharing my final posts for the year…stay tuned. More to come.

Weekly wisdom, in their own words:

“When you rise in the morning, give thanks for the light, for your life, for your strength. Give thanks for your food and for the joy of living. If you see no reason to give thanks, the fault lies in yourself....”

— Tecumseh (1768 - October 5, 1813)