Hello! It's a beautiful, warm sunny spring evening here which is very welcome after an extended onslaught of heavy rain. This past weekend I made a quick trip by myself to spend a day with my brother who is a missionary serving literally on the other side of the world. He was only in the States for another couple of days, and I hadn't seen him in nearly 2 years, so after work last Friday evening off I went. It was a fast but good weekend with him and with my daughter and her family, but then that rain moved in on Sunday and made for a long, stress-filled trip back home. My husband is out of town for work, so it's been a LONG week here by myself!
If you fall into the category of one of my younger readers, you may not really understand or relate to the first part of this post. But as I have been reflecting over the past couple of weeks, I have felt keenly aware that I have entered into the realm of "older women." I'm not really sure why my age has become so apparent to me. It's not like it happened overnight! I do have 10 grandchildren, after all! Maybe it was going to the eye doctor recently and learning that my vision has gotten worse again and I need not only a new pair of glasses, but a second pair for when I am working on the computer. Maybe it's the five pounds I have recently put on which drive me crazy and I can't seem to get rid of. Maybe it's seeing other women with cute haircuts or stylish outfits and then realizing that they are probably my daughter's age. Maybe it is because I am not quite as fast to learn new things as I always have been. I've been talking to new friends and realizing I am quite a few years years older than they are. Regardless of what led to this realization, it's a new feeling to look around and realize I am one of the older women there. I still feel the same as I always have - well, most of the time anyway!
There are, however, certain advantages to being older - although I'm not yet old enough for some senior discounts or medicare. I have learned a lot, experienced a lot, and know how to do a lot of things. I have more confidence and am not as easily shaken. I know what I am good at and what I am not. I have been married for 41 years. I have acquired a fair amount of wisdom. Most importantly, because I became a Christian at a very young age I have had over 50 years to walk with the Lord. There is nothing more precious than that!
I'm what Titus 2:3-5 refers to in the KJV as an "aged" (or mature) woman. I love it that God gives direction in His Word to women and what He expects of them. And specifically, He has entrusted to us older women the responsibility of mentoring the younger women in our lives. Susan Hunt in her book Spiritual Mothering defines mentoring as "investing in the lives of others in a nurturing way that we share the gospel as well as our lives with them." It means showing them how it's done, and sharing our lives. It goes back to the Biblical mandate of one generation teaching the next the goodness of the Lord. It means taking a personal interest in the younger women around us and being willing to invest ourselves in them. As a younger woman, it is so helpful to have someone come alongside who has already walked the road we are walking and can give some insight as well as some practical help. As an older woman, it gives purpose to our lives to be able to share the benefit of what we have already experienced.
So what kind of things are we to mentor in? Titus 2:3 says we are to be "teachers of good things." The word that is translated "teacher" has the idea of both personal example and Godly wisdom. The "good things" are actually the characteristics that are listed in Titus 2:4-5. There are so many ways that we can come alongside and encourage the younger women in our lives in their marriages, their mothering, and their walk with the Lord. All it requires is a willingness to invest in others, and some time and creativity on our part.
So as for me, I'm going to change my perspective on getting older. I want to be able to be a blessing and invest in the younger women God brings into my life with the intention of helping them and glorifying God in the process. After all, that is His perfect plan.
Thoughtfully,
Kathi
No comments:
Post a Comment