Page 30 - Senior Link Magazine Spring 2019- Online Magazine

HONORING SENIORS

Me...

a Mentor?

by Marilyn Garrett

When I retired, I suppose my greatest Who should we mentor or
fear was that I might be bored or encourage?
useless. But then, a few young people
I had crippled through my last year (ages 17-49) asked if I would mentor You may think that you have no one
of teaching and had finally arrived them. And before I knew it, I was to mentor, but there are so many
at the summer – and retirement and busy teaching yet again – just in comfy possibilities: neighbors, children and
then the new knee! I was deeply clothes, on my own time, one-on-one, grandchildren, people at church or
enmeshed in radical change – and in in my own home. In addition to the through other organizations, former
quite a bit of pain. I had only been “regulars”, young people call, text or co-workers, maybe even people who
at home a few hours, when a text come by off and on. work where you live. I heard of
from an alum arrived. It read, “Need one church that paired up teens and
to run something by you. Are you This is the very place many of us seniors for this very purpose. What a
home?” I responded, “Yes, but I just find ourselves as we get older: still great idea!
got home from the hospital, getting a connected to people we have known
knee replacement.” Clearly, he didn’t in our recent past (family and Sometimes, a person may approach
read past the Yes, so his response otherwise) and armed with quite a bit you – such as a neighbor. Recognize
was, “Good. See you in 10.” In panic of hard-earned wisdom. the divine appointment. So often, it is
mode, I tried to get dressed to meet just easier to turn inward, to our own
with him. He had come by to ask narrow set of friends and family, but
me what I thought the definition of ministry is being
about his taking off Why should we willing to be interrupted. It reminds
a college semester be mentors and me of Jesus, when the woman with the
to go to the United encouragers? issue of blood touched the hem of His
Arab Emirates to The WHY to this issue garment – interruption.
lead worship in is found in Titus 2
a church there. I where Paul advises Sometimes, the Lord may give you
recognized what an pure lives for older a name, a specific assignment. And
education this could men and older women you may be very surprised at who it
be and knew it and then adds for is! I have been.
would fit his calling. them to admonish the
next generation that How should you mentor?
I am a mentor. “in all things showing Ideally, this relationship or even
That is what I do. I yourself to be a pattern encounter should be approached
taught school for of good works; in prayerfully, and the truths we share
30 years – mostly doctrine showing integrity, reverence, should be Bible/truth-based. For the
senior English. My alums – over 1000 incorruptibility, sound speech that few who come weekly, I enter their
of them – have my phone number, cannot be condemned, that one who is lives through sharing and Bible study.
my email, my address and are on my an opponent may be ashamed, having But I’m also modeling: how to show
Facebook. And my door is a revolving nothing evil to say of you” (2:7-8). It hospitality; how to handle problems
door. is a high calling – and it is a calling for and problem people; how I cope
us all. with loss. They see most of all how I
“acknowledge Him in all my ways.”

30 Lubbock Senior Link