Saying Yes To Mentoring

 I’ve been participating in a women’s mentoring ministry through my church for the last nine months. My mentoring partner, Katy, and I have five lovely ladies we meet with as a group. Our goal is to meet once per month, but with seven schedules to coordinate, it’s nearly impossible, but we’ve still managed to get together. We also meet one on one, sharing life’s ups and downs and everything in between.

 

As we’re nearing the completion of our time together, I’ve been reflecting on my role as a mentor, a friend, an older lady. Just writing those words feels weird. I don’t see myself as older, yet the calendar tells me otherwise. The mirror does too, but I like soft lighting, and long narrow mirrors from a distance. In all seriousness though, it’s a privilege and gift to grow older. Not everyone has the opportunity to pour themselves into another person because of age, experience, and spiritual depth. 

 

The devotional I’m reading through this year centered on Moses’ beginning and ending of his ministry. When God called him to lead the Israelites out of Egypt, he challenged God’s request. His response was, “Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?”

 

God responded with, “I will be with you.” 

 

Moses continued to question God by saying, “What if they do not believe me or listen to me…?”

 

You know the rest of the story. Hollywood even recognized the importance of Moses’ eventual obedience. He led God’s people to freedom, with his brother Aaron, and sister Miriam by his side. 

 

Moses’ testimony at the end of his life is very different from the one he began with: 

 

Then Moses summons Joshua and said to him in the presence of all Israel, “Be strong and courageous, for you must go with this people into he land that the Lord swore to their forefathers to give them, and you must divide it among them as their inheritance. The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” 

                                                           
                                                               Deuteronomy 31:7-8

 

I’d never identified with Moses, until now. 

 

The role of mentor involves many things, but the one I love the most is reminding these precious ones that God goes before them, and will never leave them. I love encouraging them, listening to the details of their lives, and sharing how God has shown himself faithful to me. 

 

Moses’ life was coming to an end and he wanted to impart the wisdom he’d gained after following and obeying God for forty years. I can’t think of a better way to end one’s life than sharing the goodness of God to the next generation. 

 

Sharing the joy and heartache of your life might be the very thing someone needs to hear to know they’re not alone. You could be a Moses to someone when you remind him or her to not be afraid or discouraged. I’m glad someone did that for me.

The Package

I went to my mailbox one day this week and there was a package stuffed inside. I pried it out, excited to see who the sender might be. I immediately recognized the return name and address and tore it open.

Inside the package was a note from a dear friend and a lovely gift of tea. She simply said she'd been reading my blog, saw the tea and thought of me.

It goes much deeper than that. She is a person who has spent her life investing in people. I began to reminisce, and as I often do, took a walk down memory lane.

I'm going to use her first name, I don't think she'd mind. Kit began a Bible study for women in her home when my children were very young. Andy had just started preschool and Bailey was still at home. There were several young mothers like me but some older women came as well. What a wonderful mixture of women to come together once a week to study the scriptures. Kit opened her home showing hospitality through the serving of tea and baking of homemade breads and cakes. She poured her life into ours, loving us as Christ loves His Church. She mentored that little group of women until God called her and her husband to a larger ministry in another country.

That package triggered thoughts of my own spiritual journey and Kit's investment in my life. Just as she poured tea and the Bread of Life into me each week, it made me think, am I pouring myself into others? Am I investing myself in people instead of wasting it in things that are temporal?

We all tend to be selfish at times but real joy comes from investing in others. John 15:16-17 says: You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit...fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. This is my command: Love each other.

I think Kit has loved well. I am one of her fruit and I know many others who would say the same. She continues to bear fruit long after she has moved away. My children come behind me and they are the fruit of her as well. Who will you invest yourself in today?


Cindy