A friend of mine just recently said, in poetic fashion, a quote about mentoring friendships that I will keep close to my heart. One of the calls God has placed on my heart is to bring freedom and life to young women and draw them closer to God through the gifts of mentoring and discipleship.

One reason I'm starting this Apprenticeship with AIM for these few months has to do with mentoring and my heart for raising up young women into freedom. During the Apprenticeship there is time for us to be intentionally poured into in this way. I've had the opportunity to be a part of mentoring programs before and have mentored a handful of amazing young women on my journey thus far. However, there has always been a gap for me in understanding what it really means to mentor and what it more fully looks like. 

Sure, I have people in my life who I would consider to have mentored me, but never with this much intentionality as this program will provide for this extended time. I think this brings me to the story in the Bible about the plank in my eye. Maybe it's not a plank, but it's a space that needs to be filled in order to gain understanding. How can I lead in what I do not yet fully know. Not that I will ever attain a full understanding, but that I will deepen this space in my heart so that God can continue to fill it overflowing into others.

I may talk more about the mentoring relationship in future posts as it is part of the journey. I want to share my growing understanding of the concept. Here's what this relationship looks like from my friend's perspective. 

[What is a] Mentor/friend: 

To only ever offer God's truth to your life. Spoken through the filter and in the Spirit of God's love. It is the best I have to offer you because it is my heart and my breath. I will be an imperfect friend in many ways, but when you need my heart, this is where I go. I see your hair, your eyes, your smile, your dreams, your flaws, your strengths, your sadness, your hurt, your victories. I see you. I love you. Because He sees me, and He loves me. When you call me mentor or friend, this is who I am.

- Delanie Cook