My Paul, my mentor

This week in class, there has been a lot of talk about the value of mentoring. It has caused me to pause and reflect on my own life. My campus minister always encouraged us that we should have someone pouring into us, and that we should always be shepherding someone else. I’ve tried to take that to heart over the years. In seminary, I was required to find a mentor, and to give them permission to speak truth into my heart. The Lord led me to Judy Sanders — little did I know the vital role she would play in my spiritual walk.

Judy taught me so much about love — unconditional love. She challenged me to remain faithful to the truth even when it was difficult. She encouraged me to cling to what I knew was true, even when my feelings caused me to doubt. She has been a role model to me and has taught me to balance grace and truth, and to practice forgiveness.

Over the years, I’ve been privileged to mentor several young women, many of whom now teach me. There is so much value in following the Titus model of women investing in other women. I want to take this opportunity to thank Judy and other women who have invested in my life.  If you don’t have someone with whom you can be “brutally honest and unashamedly real,” then I encourage you to pray and ask the Lord to provide somebody.

If you have had a mentor that made a tremendous impact in your life, consider honoring them by commenting and sharing how you are a life that is changed due to their faithfulness.