As a young lady I was always drawn to gleaning wisdom from older women. That part of me has never changed. I would venture to say that deep down inside of every woman is a desire to have an older woman speaking encouragement and trustworthy wisdom into our lives. Someone who has been there… down that old familiar road. For me, I know I need encouragement from older moms who are nearing the end of their home schooling days.. who can speak encouragement to what our Vision is for our family. Everyone needs this. There is a need for generations to stand up and proactively teach the younger generations, because the reality is that much has been lost. Everything from how to cook, can, sew, and garden, to natural health, faith, how to have a strong marriage and a humble heart towards our relationships and much more.
The reality is this… the older generations are not necessarily going to stand up and offer to mentor you. You must seek them out. Recognize that one woman is not going to be able to feed you everything, either. Some of us have more needs than others, some need to find a spiritual mentor (I personally believe all women should), while others need a segregate mother, some just want to learn how to garden & preserve, while others don’t know the first thing about cooking or being a home maker. Then you have the more delicate issues, like how to be a good wife and mother.
So two things I would like to challenge you on today?
Do you have a mentor?
Are you purposeful with your time with her? Do you come prepared to learn and ask questions when you are together?
So where do you start from here?
Pray for God to bring a woman into your life that you feel you could learn from.
Then go ASK her if she would mentor you.
Here is some Encouragement: Don’t get discouraged while you are seeking a mentor. I have had MANY mentors over the years, none of them happened on accident. They were all purposeful relationships that required ME going out on a limb and asking them if they would mentor me. Also, realize they are human just like you and No Mentor can teach you everything… you may need to have different mentors for different seasons in life. Also, don’t underestimate the power of books. There are many amazing women out there that are fantastic mentors through their writings. They have been blessed to be a blessing in that way, so take advantage of there sacrifices in writing their books.
Now for advice: Be careful who you choose as a mentor. I Look for the “Proof in the Puddin.” I Look for the “fruit” in their lives. For example, you want to ask parenting advice, ask from people whose children, you know and respect the way they were raised… their children are their fruit. If you are looking for marriage advice, go to someone who has been married for a while, but who also are enjoying their husbands and married life. If they have been married longer than I and have a strong marriage and I can honestly say, “I hope my marriage is like their’s someday!” Then they are a wise choice as a mentor. Most divorces statistically happen between the 7-9th year of marriage… I personally wouldn’t choose a mentor under that (but that’s just me) :).
The Lord thought this idea of mentoring was pretty important so he gave a calling to all older women to be “Titus 2 Women.”
3 “Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, 4and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, 5to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled.” Titus 2:3-6
My prayer is that us women would start proactively seeking out wise counsel and giving it. We are all older than someone… let’s live out our callings as women together.
Blessings,
Angie
