Daughters of Promise July/August 2014 | Page 42

I “ never knew mentoring was so POWERFUL until everything looked BLACK. Then she brought my head to her chest and HELD me as she brought me before ” God. Mentoring is a lifestyle, not a program. “Young women are full of life, energy, vision, ideals, etc. This is the way it should be. But they often don’t have the solid foundation to be able to maneuver the obstacles, challenges, and temptations adequately and successfully. Young people nowadays have so many choices, so many options that it is easy for them to lose their way. I think the older women are more anchored in their walk with Jesus and so have a lot to offer the young women.” say that you will make it through. A mentor can offer advice, comfort, accountability, a listening ear, and encouragement. I have had many mentors over the years. Some are long distance, some have been for a season, and some have been walking with me for years. Some days I find myself sitting on their couch shedding tears, and other days I’m talking about motherhood while painting or sharing a picnic lunch with their family. Mentoring is a lifestyle not a program. Connit Witt says of mentoring: “It’s developing a friendship with someone one step behind you in the journey of life, spending time with her, recognizing that God has put the two of you together for a purpose, and making a point to interject life lessons and point out God moments as you go through life together!” There are also seasons in life where God asks us to specifically partner with a person more intentionally. This is called formal mentoring. There are many methods but usually involves a one-on-one relationship where an older, spiritually more mature, woman invests in the life of a younger woman during a specific time in her life. Becan you get started on this journey of receiving input and intentional. How One of the first steps towards fulfilling the calling of