BEFORE WE DIVE INTO TODAY’S POST, WE WANT TO ANNOUNCE THE WINNER OF RENEWED BY LUCILLE ZIMMERMAN…. CONGRATULATIONS GOES TO LEANNE THORNTON!
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Dear Younger Women,I am so thankful that God has brought you into my life. I love our times together, and cherish each moment we have. As we walk this journey together, there are things you need to know. I’d like take a few minutes to share some things with you:
- Just because I am older, does not mean I have it all together. I am learning and growing too. Please don’t put me on a pedestal or expect me to be perfect. I will let you down. I don’t want to let you down…but I will. Much of mentoring is observing the lives of others. Watch me live, but please don’t expect to see perfection.
- Women in my season of life face challenges too. Our children may be older, but they still weigh heavy on our hearts. Not only are we facing the challenges of having older children, and the fact that those precious people we have raised are now leaving our home, but we are also in a season of watching our parents age and pass away. It is a huge transition season. We are facing menopause. We get tired. We get emotional. We grow weary. We are watching our bodies age. Just because we are older, doesn’t mean that our life is easy. Please keep that in mind.
- I am not your hope. Please don’t make me your focus or try to do everything my way. If I am a good mentor, I will constantly point you to God and challenge you to pray about how you should live your life. Just because I have done something a certain way, doesn’t mean it is the way you should be. God knows you better than I ever will. Seek my counsel, but always focus on God. He is your hope. I am not.
- I cannot revolve my schedule around you. I love our time together, but I have a home, family and other responsibilities that I am called to. I am trying to be faithful to live my calling well. There are other people in my life who need my time. If I am late for a scheduled time together, or have to cancel, please be patient with me. I am doing the best I can to serve you, and many others at the same time.
- Sometimes I have to say “No”. If there is a time that I cannot meet with you, or am not available for some reason, please don’t take it personally. My lack of time will never reflect my heart for you. I love you and desire to spend time with you, but there are going to be times it is just not possible. Sometimes my desire to serve others takes over, and I over commit myself. I don’t want to do that, but I do. Please pray for me that I would know how the Lord wants me to spend my time.
- Let’s try to communicate in person or over the phone. My generation is not the texting generation. I love the option of texting, and have alot of fun with it, but I don’t want that to become our way of communicating. So much can be lost in a text. Misunderstandings can happen. Sometimes I forget to carry my phone, or don’t respond right away. Please take it at face value, and don’t take it personally.
- I cannot read your mind. I don’t always know what you need. Please tell me. I will pray for you, be there as I am able, and do whatever I can to help you practically, and spiritually. But you have to let me know what you need. I will never purposefully neglect you, but I might miss something. I need you to be open with me.
- Again, I am not your hope. Only God will meet your deepest needs at every level. My goal is to come along side you and strengthen you in God, so that when the day comes that I am not there, you will be depending on Him, and not me.
As I keep in mind that you are still young and learning, I strive to see you through eyes of grace, knowing you are in a process of growth and maturity. Please try to see me through that lens as well. I may not be young anymore, but I am still learning and maturing. I need to be seen through eyes of grace.
Thank you so much for allowing me to be a small part of your life.
Love,
An Older Woman
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