A Mentor Friend

By Kerry Weisser | August 1, 2013

A MENTOR FRIEND

IMG_3976The feeling you get when you are sitting on a beautiful beach watching a sunset is hard to recreate when you get back home to the reality of a busy life full of commitments and “have tos”. One thing for me that comes close to that feeling of pure joy and contentment is going on a walk or sitting with a cup of coffee or iced tea and having a deep conversation with a “sister friend”, one of those Anne of Green Gables “kindred spirit” kind of friends. A few years ago, I had a season that was graced with just that kind of friend. It was at a time in my life that I truly needed exactly that. She  was possibly the wisest person I have ever known. She was a prolific reader and a student of the Word of God. She was highly educated, yet humble and down to earth and could talk at any level to anybody who was interested in listening. She had been a missionary in the Philippines, a civil service doctor, a  mother to 5 adopted children, a renown speaker and a teacher- Sunday school, women’s bible study, women’s retreats and more. In her “Golden Years” she even homeschooled her own daughter. She did not believe in retirement and had a busy and FULL life until her last day on earth. What impressed me most about my friend was her depth of character, her authenticity and her genuine love for people. She was never in a hurry to get to her next commitment, and although her schedule was packed with people and places she counseled and served, when she was spending time with me,  I felt like I was her top priority at that moment. She was a friend full of compassion with a gift of discernment and insight. She was an excellent listener and she had many life lessons that she was always eager to share. She was humble and continually told me that I taught her more than she could ever teach me. (VERY HARD TO BELIEVE!) She was an encourager and a mentor to me but most of all she took the time to be my friend- a “kindred spirit” friend!

A few of the many great things she taught me were:
There is always ONE THING that is the most important thing and that is exactly what you are to do at the moment. She based this principle on her knowledge of the Bible and the passage where Jesus teaches about the ONE THING…….
Psalms 27:4 talks about the ONE THING that is important is seeking the Lord.
Luke 10:42 talks about Jesus encouraging Mary for choosing the ONE THING that matters most, sitting at the feet of Jesus and absorbing all He had to teach her.
Philippians 3:13 encourages us to press on and do the ONE THING of leaving the past behind and striving for all that God has prepared for us to do in our future.
She also talked about the triangle principle. She believed and practiced a concept of talking to God about her concerns for her children before addressing these concerns with them. She called it the triangle approach to child rearing. Rather than continually correcting or criticizing her children, she prayed for them and asked God to work in their lives to create opportunities for growth and change to help develop their character.
I could go on and on because she taught me so many wonderful things, but suffice it to say, she gave me the desire to be a better person, a stronger and more confident woman and a more devoted wife.
She walked me through some of the most difficult challenges of my life.
She was a faithful prayer warrior for my girls and prayed for each of them every day.
She gave me a passion for looking at every trial in my life as an opportunity to see God work!
She made me feel special and important.
She was a true mentor.
Pray for that special person that can become a “kindred spirit” kind of friend. Whether she is older or younger or you help her more than she helps you it will benefit both of you and be a blessing to all.
HAVE a mentor and BE a mentor is a life philosophy I believe in!

Have you ever had a mentor or have you ever mentored someone? It is a privilege and a joy!

 

Posted in Spiritual