I am excited to introduce my guest blogger and sister in Christ, Lori Anderson, mother of three grown sons and grandmother to three granddaughters. To Lori, serving Jesus is an adventure; full of challenges and unexpected turns in the road, but one which is always more fulfilling than anyone could imagine. Many people, once they are saved, may ask, “So, now what?” Lori wants to be that person in the “so, now what” – to be a faithful servant of the Lord Jesus Christ by being a spiritual mom to make a difference in younger women’s lives.
Recently, I lost one of my mentors, my spiritual mother, Luanne. She struggled with cancer for over a year. She stayed with us much longer than doctors expected. I was thankful God gave us the time to say things that needed to be said before she walked into His presence.
“Thank you.” “I love you.” “You made a difference in my life.” “I think of you as my other mother.” These were some of the things I needed to say. “I love you.” “I’m proud of you.” “I’ve always thought of you as another daughter.” “I’m so glad God put you in my life.” These were some the things I needed to hear.
I first met Luanne many years ago when we were co-leaders in BSF (Bible Study Fellowship). She was wise; she had a quick wit and a sassy tongue. She loved God; she loved the Word of God and she knew it well. She modeled a godly life and kept us smiling and laughing while she did so. Four of us met for lunch after BSF almost every week: Luanne and her friend Marilyn, my friend Judy and me. Two moms and two daughters – sharing life. Laughing. Loving. Learning. Supporting. Encouraging. Challenging.
Luanne was there for me during a particularly difficult time in my life. I cried with her on the phone. I cried at her kitchen table. She hugged me; prayed for me; loved me; assured me; and encouraged me to trust God in all things. She challenged me to take steps I might not have taken on my own: like forgiving the one who had hurt me. Marilyn and Judy were there for me, as well. Without them, I don’t think I would have made it through that period in my life – for certain I wouldn’t have come through it with the same perspective.
We all need spiritual moms.
Whether we have a good relationship with our natural mom or not, we need those other moms – those
spiritual/mentor moms who model faith for us, who share the wisdom they’ve gained from living more life than us, who teach us and make us feel significant, and who help us to grow in ways we thought to be impossible. Luanne was like that for me – one of my spiritual moms who shared the gospel through her words and her life.
In 1 Corinthians 4:15-16 (NLT), Paul says, “For I became your father in Christ Jesus when I preached the Good News to you. So, I urge you to imitate me.” In 1 Corinthians 11:1 (NIV), Paul says, “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.”
It is Christ – first and foremost – whom we follow. We learn what it is to follow Jesus as we watch those ahead of us follow Him. Who is it that you look to as a mentor and an example? If you don’t have people like this in your life, I encourage you to find them. Sometimes they come to us naturally – like Luanne and Marilyn came to Judy and me. Sometimes it needs to be more intentional in looking for those who model Christ well, so we can follow. The benefits are worth the efforts.
We all need to be spiritual moms.
If I truly follow Luanne’s example, I will do as she did: become a spiritual/mentor mother to the younger women in my life. I will share my life and my faith with them. I will love them. I will encourage them and challenge them. I will model Christ for them and teach them about faith and trust and long-sufffering.
I have several young women in my life whom I think of as daughters in Christ. They are my spiritual daughters. Who are yours? Maybe you’re worried about the flaws and deficiencies in your life. My friend Luanne wasn’t perfect, but she was authentic about her shortcomings and her mistakes. Paul did the same. He shared his struggles and confessed his weaknesses.
Don’t be afraid to be a spiritual mom because you aren’t perfect!
Allow women to watch Jesus change you as you confess and address those flaws and weaknesses. Be honest. Be authentic. Allow other women to watch you wrestle with the tough stuff. Watching HOW you suffer is often far more powerful than watching how you succeed. They will rise with you. They will grow as you grow.
Imitate me as I imitate Christ. This is what the Apostle Paul is to all of us as believers. This is what Luanne was to me.
This is what I hope to be for those who are younger than I am; those who are less experienced in the journey of life and faith. I can think of no better way to point others to Christ, and I can think of no better way to honor my own spiritual mother, my mentor, Luanne.
The link to Lori Anderson’s website, Extravagant Hope, is http://extravaganthope.com/
Thank you, Lori, for being my guest blogger, and for the encouragement to find a spiritual mom and also to be a spiritual mom.