Who are you influencing?? No, I'm not trying to encourage you to take some time out of your busy life and mentor someone.
Whether you are intentional about mentoring or not; you are doing it anyway.
You are being watched.
The younger girls and ladies in your life are watching you.
Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. 4Then they can train the younger women to love their husbands and children, 5to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God. Titus 2:3-5 (NIV)
Everything you do is being watched. The way you parent your children; the way you speak to your husband. The way you treat your friends. The way that you dress and style your hair. Everything!
Don't let this responsibility overwhelm you!
More often than not, they are not looking for you to fail. They want someone to emulate. Someone that will succeed!
Your successes are the promise of hope to the ladies younger than you. Your potential to influence for good is incredible. Everyday you get to make the choice of being a good example!
18 comments:
well said. Oh I so agree with you.
I have been blessed with some great mentors in my life. I was just thinking of this same passage of Scripture this past week.
Great reminder!
I agree it's a great reminder.
Thank you Rhonda
So true! Great post!
Thanks for your visit today.
Hugs!
Kat
Excellent post Rhonda!
Eyes are always watching...sometimes it is the simplest things we can do that have such a huge impact on others. Here is an example:
When I was a newly wed, I watched on as a parents had a child who was misbehaving. They called the child over and whispered into their ear. The child nodded and ran away to play and the behavior was great after that! I saw that disciplining didn't have to be loud and angry to be affective.
So true... painfully true often.
Now with an almost 21 year old, I see how she learned good and bad things from me, without me even necessarily saying a word.
Just last night, over dinner, people noticed something about my daughter, and I turned to her friend and said, "Its not her fault, its mine... she's just like me in that way, she obviously watched me and got this (bad) trait from me" Kinda scary, and oh so true... God help us!
WOW, so true! In my bible study today we discussed Romans 14. All about being careful of how we treat and behave with those who are of "weaker" faith. We need to be so careful to live in a way that won't cause someone else to stumble.
It is always good to see you pop up at my site!!
Love,
Kelley
Hi Rhonda,
I stopped by to say thanks for visiting my blog! :)
And this post is so true. Several years ago I lead a small group for our youth group. I remember thinking what would these teenage girls want from me...a mom, in her late thirties, two kids, why would they want to hang out with me?? I was so wrong!! I learned so much about the value of Titus 2:3-5. Our small group lasted for 5 years, and I am still in touch with many of those former teenagers who have grown into lovely women! :)
Thanks for the lovely reminder.
BTW, love the pics of your family!
Sandy @ Jesus and Dark Chocolate
What a fabulous reminder! Thanks for this gentle push to be more aware.
Thanks for the reminder! I try to remind my girls of that too.
Have a great night!
Jen
Great post Rhonda! I always think about "the way I talk" - on the phone. How do I sound to my kids?
For better or for worse, we are being watched and even imitated....I just pray, for myself, that I influence more often for the positive than for the negative.
It can get overwhelming though if we let it.
I was thinking about this very thing last night. What do people see when they look at me and the things that I do? Am I a vessel for Christ...does His light shine through me? Or do I sully His name by the things I do?
I guess it sort of depends on the situation, but knowing that people know that I am a Christian makes me think twice before I say something unkind or hurtful or act selfishly.
Xandra
When reminded that someone is watching and maybe using my life as a guideline - wow, it really makes you think about what you say and do.
Ahhhh...Rhonda,you have touched on something so near and dear to my heart...right now I am mentoring three college age girls, each at different stages of work and relationships and as much as it can be "work" sometimes I absolutely LOVE being able to be used by God to help prepare these girls for the next stages of their lives.
I am actually thinking about writing a little mini series on mentoring...maybe I can work with you on it?
What a wonderful post...and oh SO true!
Thanks for the gentle reminder...
Kim~
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