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WHERE ARE THE MENTORS? WHO HAS GONE BEFORE ME?
I desperately sought a mentor when I became a single mother, I looked for ‘one that had gone before me’ in this road into the valley of the shadow of death. Jesus directs us in the book Song of Solomon to search out or follow those that have gone before us. So what does it mean in Song of Solomon 1:8 to “…go forth on the trail of the flock…” Let me start by giving a little background in the Song of Solomon. This particular book is a love story, or poem. It is between a king, or someone of esteemed background and a Schulamite maiden. Many people shy away from this book because it is somewhat provocative. However, as much of the bible, it can interpreted different ways. It most assuredly is a story of a man and a woman and their love and attraction for one another. However, in this dialogue we can also understand it individually to be the love our Bridegroom King Jesus has for us, His bride. We are ‘dark but lovely’. And we can also understand it corporately to mean how Jesus the Bridegroom feels and what He is bringing about in His corporate Bride the church. For our purposes we are going to look at this book on an individual basis. Not a romantic love between Jesus and us, but a love most of us can’t comprehend. A pure undefiled love that calls forth our destiny; what HE sees in us. That being said, let’s look again at what He (Jesus) means when He gives the instruction “…go forth on the trail of the flock…” What is He responding to? Take time to read Song of Solomon 1:7-8. You will see that He is responding to the cry of the heart…”TELL ME, WHERE ARE YOU.” Much the same thing David cried in Psalm 63:1 and Psalm 42:1. This is the cry of a hungry and thirsty soul, one that has tried to live her life according to what others thought she should be doing but it has all been in vain. This is the cry of one who is at her end (but the beginning of her journey with the King). This is the one who has lived the veiled life of shame or reproach. This, my dear sister is you and me. I cannot fathom HIS kindness toward us in that place of desperation, when we have tried all the pleasures of the world and we come to Him broken and dark and burned by the world. He says “If you do not know MOST BEAUTIFUL AMONG WOMEN”. Do you need to pause here, look around and say “What? Who are you talking to!” We must let these words work their way into our heart. We must let the healing balm of Gilead be massaged into our hearts. Sit and let His truth unlock your heart then receive His instruction. Jesus invites us to find Him by following the trail of the flock and pasturing our young goats by the tents of the shepherds.
This is a HARD pill to swallow for many single mothers I know. After all, it has been the shepherds, or the older men and women who have often been the ones who have caused great pain. Oh but dear woman of God, it is necessary. I found myself at a time desperately seeking these ones that had gone before and could find non I wanted to emulate my life after. So, I was mentored by books and by a long distance mentor. But I sought them out and instead of becoming bitter, I cried out to God that I would become one of those that ‘had gone before’ and be able to help direct the steps of younger women. So my dear dear sisters, I want to say to you “seek them out”. Our ministry is about being this for the younger single moms, even though some may be older in years, many in our midst have been on this journey of raising children as a single parent for a number of years. Who are the mentors in your life? How can you seek one out? Comments are closed.
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September 2018
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