One person who was crucial to helping me develop a strong faith was my good friend, and practically an older sister to me, named Stacy. From the day I was four years old Stacy’s mom babysat my two siblings and me. Although Stacy was quite a bit older, she still let me hang out with her—we even created our own signature dance move that we practiced over and over until we were sick of it.
But our real bond didn’t take place until I was in high school. I had asked Stacy to be my mentor. A mentor is someone you spend time with, talk to, and also receive advice and guidance from. During the time I met with Stacy we did lots of fun things—get ice cream, visit coffee shops, go rollerblading—but we also talked about some deep faith stuff.
I was never ashamed, scared, or embarrassed to ask her questions about anything that was on my mind. And her faith was something I admired greatly. In everything, she always turned to God first. She prayed elegant prayers, knew just the right Bible verses to share with me, and was always there when I needed her. I loved the time I spent with Stacy not because she was good at praying or knew a lot about the Bible, but because I revered her relationship with God. She got it. She loved Him and knew that He loved her more than anything. Everything she did was rooted in God and what He wanted for her. And because of her, my faith was pushed—it grew, developed, and was encouraged because of our time together.
What about you? Is there anyone in your life you look up to? Is there someone’s faith you admire? If so, why?
Do you want a mentor? Talk to someone you trust—a grandparent, parent, older friend, or someone from your community. Ask if they would be willing to spend time with you and talk about all kinds of things. You might be surprised just how much you learn and how deep your relationship with Jesus but also your mentor can become!
