Mentor. And Be Mentored.

Let’s jump right to the point–Every single one of you should be mentoring someone and should be getting mentored by someone else. EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU.

Now before you start, it’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking we don’t have anything to offer anyone. I’ve been there. However, the truth is that regardless of our age, the number of degrees we hold or don’t hold, our background, where we live or whatever, each of us has something unique to share. Oh, and, despite what we may like to think, we don’t know it all. We still have room to grow.

The Call to Mentoring

Besides, the fact of the matter is, whether you’re doing it intentionally or not, you’re already influencing (a.k.a. mentoring) someone. It could be your kids, family members, friends, coworkers, teens at church, etc. So, if we’re already mentoring, we might as well get intentional about it. Even the Bible calls for mentoring:

Older women likewise are to be reverent in their behavior, not malicious gossips nor enslaved to much wine, teaching what is good, so that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be dishonored. (Titus 2:3-5 NASB)

Kat* who writes at Inspired to Action put the mentoring bug in my head a few months back when she wrote about the benefits of a mentor and the concept of a motherhood mentor. So, with all of that stewing in my head for the last few months, when I came across someone at a blogger conference who enthralled me with her sweet spirit, love for God and motherhood experience (she’s a homeschooling mom with 11 kids), I couldn’t help but bum rush her to ask if she’d consider being my mentor. The moment she said yes was both exciting and scary. Scary because then I had to figure out how to make the most of the opportunity and not let it go to waste.

The Wisdom Wednesday Reboot

Along with praying about it, I took to Amazon searching for mentoring books with a Christian perspective. The pickings were limited, but I did stumble on the book, Impact My Life: Biblical Mentoring Simplified and the companion website, moretobe.com. I’m about halfway through the book, but it’s already shaking up how I view mentoring. So much so that I’ve also decided to reboot and recharge the Wisdom Wednesday series. I believe it’s the perfect opportunity for seasoned moms to share the wisdom and lessons they’ve picked up from years of becoming moms and wives, overcoming trials and finding peace with who they are as women. (If you were thinking, I can’t find a mentor, you’ll for sure want to check it out.)

Because I’d like to share the series more often, it’s also getting a fresh new name…

I’ve already tapped a few amazing ladies, including the author of Impact My Life to speak with you, but I could also use your help in finding wise ladies to interview. It could be your own mom, or grandmother, a friend, someone you’ve admired from afar, or maybe even you. Whoever she is, I want to know about her and encourage you to submit her name below.

I’d also like to know the topics, questions or concerns that concern or puzzle you the most. This is not the time to be shy or modest. You want answers, right? If it helps, you can even submit your responses anonymously.

*By the way, mentoring doesn’t have to be just older people mentoring younger people. The reverse can work just as well. For example, aside from God, Kat is the mastermind behind thousands of women around the world, waking up every morning to seek time with the Lord for the Hello Mornings challenge. If you listen to her talk for five minutes, you’ll no doubt feel her passion for God, her family and women is genuine. If I recall correctly, she’s in her early 30s; yet, she’s still at the top of my mentoring hit list, I mean wish list.

Talk to me…Are you mentoring anyone now or being mentored by someone? What benefits have you received from mentoring?

p.s. Today is the first of my guest posts for the Life Your Way 101 Days of Christmas series. Hop over to find out what you get when you cross your favorite Christmas carols with a favorite kids’ game.