Sample Chapter from Make a Difference Mentoring, Woman to Woman

Sample Chapter from the book "Make a Difference Mentoring Woman to Woman" by Lindsey Clifford and Joy Barnett

Chapter 3 - Seeing God in Our Friendships

"Again I tell you, if two of you on earth agree
(harmonize together, make a symphony together) about whatever [anything and
everything] they may ask, it will come to pass and be done for them by My Father
in heaven. For wherever two or three are gathered
(drawn together as My followers) in(into) My name,
there I AM in the midst of them."

Matthew 18:19,20

Hold fast and follow the pattern of wholesome and sound teaching
which you have heard from me, in [all] the faith and love
which are [for us] in Christ Jesus.

2 Timothy 1:13

Rings and jewels are not gifts, but apologies for gifts.
The only gift is a portion of thyself.

Ralph Waldo Emerson

Joy mentored me through friendship. Who are your mentoring friends? Mentoring accompanied our relationship as naturally as flowers follow spring rain. We needed each other, filled a void for each other, and wanted our relationship. There is cohesiveness, a joining and feeling of mutual blessing and contribution that fuels our camaraderie, keeping it dynamic and alive.

In Greek mythology, Mentor was the loyal friend and advisor of Odysseus. Mentor went on to teach Telemachus, the son of Odysseus. He was a trusted friend before he taught. Mentoring is a principle when it is the cause of learning. It becomes a process when in the friendship it grows into the way of learning.

Joy and I enjoy a friendship that is so fulfilling that learning and receiving wisdom is just a natural consequence of the commitment we have to each other. Each one of us has an innate need to give and receive love and help that can only be filled by this process.

We are kindred spirits, cut from the same cloth. We intuitively know we can be safe with each other and share a candid and spontaneous bond that happened as simply and naturally as a blooming plant responding to the beckoning of spring.

This is nothing new. From the beginning of the Bible, God passed the blessing when He breathed His breath of Life into man. It is His nature to give life and He made our nature likewise. (Genesis 1:26, 31)

When Mary Poppins said 'Just a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down' she could have been referring to mentoring. I've learned so many basic life lessons in such a fun way, I wasn't even consciously aware of it.

Although life has its ups and downs, there is a clear path of peace and well-being you can stay on regardless of your circumstances. Joy passed this place of peace on to me through her life by opening the door to the innermost chambers of her heart and letting me in within the snug setting of our deep-seated friendship.

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