My Bible study page stayed blank for a long time. I couldn\u2019t decide if I was going to pass the book along (write in a separate journal), keep the book (write in the margins), or pass the book and my thoughts along (write in the margins).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So I didn\u2019t write anything and I didn\u2019t finish the homework. I did spend a lot of time thinking, and wrote a whole post in my head.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Here\u2019s the short version:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Who was a mentor in your life and how did they impact you?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I am fortunate to say I had mentors in every season of my life\u2014 which is good and such a blessing because I need the help!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
My example, in case you never get to see the margins of my hand-me-down study, was my high school English teacher.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I managed to make it through most high school classes by doing my homework at the very last second, or in class right before turn in time. I don\u2019t know how that worked exactly\u2014 it probably shouldn\u2019t have.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One teacher was the exception. She (thankfully) wouldn\u2019t let me get away with shortcuts for my own good.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Instead, she held each of us to the standard of our potential. Demanding we stretch and grow, in a way that we all wanted to live up to.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Students who didn\u2019t care about school, cared about her class.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I know at least four- who decided to teach because of her class.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She gained great respect by treating us with respect, and teaching us to respect and represent ourselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She really went above and beyond for each of us\u2014 and it made all the difference.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When I got married at 18, I decided to do things as cheaply and efficiently as possible\u2014 my budget was tight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Again\u2014 she helped bridge the gap and she gave a gift that still shaped our wedding into something more than I had known I would want\u2014 and she raised the bar just enough to encourage me to value the moment\u2014and rise to my potential.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She gifted us a wedding cake. Locally done, and not huge\u2014 but absolutely beautiful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I put more thought into the rest of the service because she showed me that I was worth the effort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She kept me looking up- gracefully, without anyone knowing what she was doing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And I am grateful for her!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Years later, I had been making cakes on the side to help supplement our income. Because of her gift at our wedding\u2014 I decided to help other couples with their big day. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In a tradition of continuing gratitude, I would encourage couples to share about their dream cake in the planning. Then surprise them with as close as my abilities could get. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
What a difference these mentors make! <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
My Bible study page stayed blank for a long time. I couldn\u2019t decide if I was going to pass the book along (write in a separate journal), keep the book (write in the margins), or pass the book and my thoughts along (write in the margins). So I didn\u2019t write anything and I didn\u2019t finish… <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3188,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[15,170,171,172],"yoast_head":"\n