Mentoring Over The Miles

Mentoring young adults has been an incredibly amazing part of my life.  There is nothing quite as earthly important, to me, than investing in the next generation during such defining seasons of their lives.  We all are faced with many decisions and choices that will forever impact our lives in a season before we have any wisdom of our own to tap into yet.  Like much in life, it seems backwards..... or are we just backwards in trying to navigate it alone??

Mentees, you know my heart in this, and how it bleeds for those abandoned into early adulthood, regardless of what your home life or upbringing has been.  As many of you have moved on, several of you have been asking me to write for quite some time now.... well, I have finally found myself in a season of life where that is exactly what God is asking me to do.  Now with ALL of you at such a great distance... it is time.  I want you to know that YOU are the heartbeat behind all that this blog will come to be.  It is you I will think of, and pray for, as I type... What defining seasons you are in!  So many of you have (or are getting) married and are beginning to raise your own families, others of you are still in the thick of figuring what you really want to do with your life, and some of you aren't quite sure how you ended up where you are.... regardless, you are all in the season of establishing roots.  I can't wait to talk about it!  It is my hope and His desire that the words found here would help you dig your roots a little deeper, so when the storms of life come, you may weather them well.

I know that many peer mom friends will also be reading this, and thinking... "I remember that!"  I celebrate our friendship and the life lessons we have learned (and are learning) along the way.  I hope you are always looking for someone younger than you to do life with, and I know this will give us a chance to revisit some of the foundational truths we discovered together over the early stages of adulthood, marriage, and parenting.  It is my hope and His desire that revisiting topical truths here would fan into flame any areas of our own lives where we need to reapply the basics, or further develop them for this next season of parenting.... as our kiddos are entering a rapid season of change, let's all take some time out for a tune up so we may grow up, and branch out into full maturity!

Likewise, I am sure that some of my own mentors will read this.... and it is you ladies that I thank.  Thank you for investing in me, challenging me, stretching me, and believing in me.  We all need someone in our corner encouraging us forward when we'd like to just throw in the towel or don't know where to turn.  You have been this for me.  You have modeled a lifetime of learning, and I trust that somehow if the Lord got you here, He will even place a nugget for you to find.  I give Him credit for any of these that you may discover, because it certainly isn't on my own that this might happen.  It is my hope and His desire that you would be blessed in knowing this is part of the fruit you helped nurture to flourish and grow.

New friends, I welcome you.  One of my most treasured mentors I've never met, yet she has forever changed my life.  I trust if the Lord brought you here, that there is a good and glorious reason for it.  Please know that my words are far from perfect, and that I am no scholar or theologian.... I wish to not debate or argue, only to offer the perspective that God has given to simple little me.  Journey with me simply and graciously, and if the Spirit begins to stir up something deep within, I'm confident that He'd much rather you talk with Him about it anyway.  = )

Whatever season you find yourself in, I dedicate this next work to you all, and to my Lord, Jesus--asking Him to draw each of us to a deeper understanding of what it means to REALLY follow Jesus.

First topic.... coming soon.  = )