Has a friend ever spoken words that reshaped your perspective of yourself, for good? Have you ever been blessed to meet someone who saw something in you that you couldn’t see in yourself?
When another woman speaks encouragement into our hearts, the course of our lives can be changed forever. And when we believe in someone else, God uses us to build confidence and security in a heart that may have otherwise been paralyzed by doubt and insecurity forever.
I’ll never forget my friend Janet thanking me for words I’d penned from my heart to hers in a note. To me it was only a thank you note, but it was more than that to her. God used her to encourage me to write more than notes. Her prayers and confidence in me inspired this insecure young mom to write a Bible study.
God used that tiny Bible study, written over 10 years ago to birth my writing ministry. Then I taught the Bible study at church. Months later, my WM director, Mary Ann Ruff, sent me to a writer’s training class and secretly signed me up for a speaking/writing development group because she believed in me. She encouraged and helped equip me to walk towards what I’d been running from for 10 years.
Then my friend Lysa asked me to speak in her place at a MOPs group. I’d never spoken outside the small Bible study at my church, and had no plans to do so. But God did, and He used a woman who believed in me more than I believed in myself to help me take the first step.
Each of these women did more than influence my ministry; they shared their lives and mentored me in every area of mine – as a woman, wife and mom.
The same thing happened between Jill and Leann. I learned about their story when I spoke at their Rise & Shine women’s conference in Iowa a year ago this weekend. Saturday they’re holding their 2nd annual conference. Today I’m praying for them and giving away a copy of a book they wrote together.
Jill Beren met Leanne Anderson when she was coaching Jr. High basketball team. Leanne’s 13-year-old daughter, Shelby, was on her team. When Shelby was in high school she got injured, and Jill reached out to her with encouragement, prayers and notes just when Shelby needed them.
One day Leanne sent a letter thanking Jill for the difference she was making in her daughter’s life. She described the qualities of a great coach she saw in Jill and called her “bright light” that shined in many lives, including theirs.
Leanne didn’t know that months later Jill would go home one night to an empty apartment plagued with doubt about her purpose in life. Battling clinical depression and living under the weight of feeling worthless, she contemplated suicide. As Jill pondered her fate, she opened her journal and a note fell to the floor. When Jill opened it, she read Leanne’s words again.
God used Leann’s words to show Jill she did have a purpose and that life was worth living. Now, that’s just the beginning of their story. You can read the rest in their book Letters from Leanne: The Beauty of a Spiritual Mother-Daughter Relationship. Today, I want to give them a chance to share more with us about the book.
Tell us a little about the book: Letters from Leanne helps women see what a Titus 2 relationship looks like today. The book is the story of our friendship over the last ten years and how God has worked through it in wonderful ways. We share the joys and trials we have encountered on our walk of faith, but ultimately how we saw God’s hand in every situation.
Jill, why did you write this book? My initial intent was to thank Leanne. I’d been blessed by her perspective as a mom, her acceptance as a friend, her guidance as an older woman and especially the love she poured out as a Christian. But it isn’t just a thank you to Leanne; it’s a thank you to God. Spiritual mentoring has been and still is a gift in my life. I pray by reading the story of our friendship, readers will be encouraged to build similar relationships in their lives.
What do you hope readers will gain? We pray women will be encouraged in their faith and inspired to find or be a mentor. We share how mentoring is not about having all the answers, but simply sharing your life with someone following in your steps. It’s about spiritual mentoring, but ultimately about our relationship with Christ. We want readers to see the power God offers when we surrender to His plans and follow His ways.
What unique elements are part of your book? Our book is unique in that we give you a look at a specific spiritual mother-daughter relationship and take you on the journey of how our friendship grew. The other unique factor is that for the most part, the story is told from the younger women’s viewpoint, which is beneficial for all women to understand.
We have also included questions at the end of each chapter to help women apply what we share to their personal lives. Rather than simply reading a story of two friends, you will be encouraged to slow down and take a look at your own life and find lessons in the letters.
But before you go, I’m giving a copy away, To enter to win, tell me about the role spiritual friendships and mentoring have or haven’t played in shaping your life. If you’ve never had one, I’d love to pray for you. Just leave a comment (by clicking the word “comments” below), and be entered to win your own copy of Letters from Leanne. Please include an email address so I can reach you if you win. Winner will be announced next Friday! ~ Happy weekend friends!
Discover more from Renee Swope
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
I have had a wonderful friend named Jill since 2nd grade and we are more like sisters than friends. Even when we sometimes go months without seeing each other because of the busyness of life, we can always pick right back up like we just spoke yesterday. 16 months ago my daddy passed away with cancer. I remember the night I was at the hospital,heartbroken because I knew what was coming in the next few hours. I called my friend, Jill to tell her to pray for us and I cried for several minutes while she just listened.She offered to come and stay with me, even though she would have had to drive for an hour to get there. I told her not to come because there was really nothing she could do. She said something I will never forget."Well, The one thing I can do is let you lie your head on my lap and cry all you want to and I will be there to comfort you."
Wow, those words changed my life because now I know you don't have to have the perfect words to say to a friend in pain, you only have to offer your presence and your ears to listen. Since then, I have helped many other friends through hard times just by being there for them. Before I thought I had to have some great insight to help, but I now know that I don't. Thank you Jill for teaching me how to be the best friend ever.
I have actually been searching for a mentor. I realize the influence that women have on each other with eoncouragement, prayer, etc. I find that I fall in an odd "class". I am only 33 years old but have three children that range from 4 to 14. I have had a difficult time finding another spiritual woman that is in the same category as myself. The women at my church are all older ladies whose children are already grown. I also struggle with a husband who would rather me stay home with him on Sunday morning.
With that said, my mom has been this best friend, supporter I could ask for. My mom understands were I am in my life. She understands the struggles with a husband who is not the spiritual leader. My mother is very strong in her faith, she is a prayer warrior, and very wise.
Stephanie
[email protected]
I still haven't found a spiritual friend / mentor…..would really appreciate your prayers
[email protected]
The Lord has blessed me with a friend who I can be totally myself with and she loves me anyway. And she can speak correction to me, and I to her. I never expected a "best" friend at this point in my life. I have been so hurt in the past that I built a good wall around my heart, but the Lord broke through that wall through this woman. And what is the coolest thing about this miracle is that this woman is my daughter. It's so crazy. We both are so surprised that God put this kind of friendship in our hearts. When we buy cards for each other it is rare that we get "mother" or "daughter" cards because our relationship is soo much more than that. I mentor her – she mentors me.
i indeed have a friend who played a vital role in leading me towards Jesus. It's clear that God used her to bring me home. However there're some problems in our current friendship which are hurting me badly, partly because of my own flaws which I'm still struggling to overcome.
I'm very thankful to her for being such an amazing friend so far, I cherish our friendship a lot, and I really hope that our friendship will survive whatever hardship we might be facing right now and in the future.
Thank you Lord for this amazing blessing!
This was a beautiful post and so timely as I was just on my knees last night asking God for a spiritual friend. As a pastor's kid growing up we moved alot so I never had time to grow close relationships with the girls around me. There are a few women in my church who seem friendly on Sunday, and I'm hoping God leads us to closer friendships…I could really use one right now. Please pray. Thanks.
Jennifer
[email protected]
Hi Renee, I have recently accepted a role of being a mentor to 7 young moms. I spent many-many years floundering and just 2 years ago became a true follower of our Savior! I cant get enough of Him and pray that I can be an encourager and mentor in this role, although admittedly, I believe we will all learn from each other 🙂 God is Great!!!
God has always blessed me with friends as I go through life, I used to wonder why this person, or why did our friendship end…the worst is the death of my besrt friend of 44 years, we have not been close in miles for many years, but we actually wrote letters, a lost art these days… as her health worsened this iwas out only way to communicate…as she did not have a phone any longer… But those last few months of letters we talked about GOD and how HE was in our lives and about our children and loosing those we love… I miss her in a way like no one else… but she is in a Beautiful Place and not struggling to breathe any more… I thank God for giving her to me at age 14, when I was in a difficult time if life…and together we helped each other grow, learn, grieve and come to know GOD…
Sonja Bailey
[email protected]
I've never really had that kind of friendship in my 32 years but recently I joined a life group in our church (only been attending this church for a year) and the pst 6 weeks have been the best in a very long time. I have begun to develop frienships that are fostered in a mutual longing to be closer to God and I am truly grateful to have found them. I am really not one to open up about things but I have done some sharing and my life is finding peace. Friends can make all the difference!
God has blessed me with a group of ladies who keep me accountable, lift me up when I need them, can call on them at any moment for prayer!! We meet every Tuesday evening at our local Starbucks for 2-3 hours if not more sometimes. I thank God for them daily!
Thanks, Charlotte
[email protected]
God dropped a friend right into my lap, and I didn't even know it for several months into our relationship. I even thought to myself, I don't see the connection between us that my friend, Sara, does. I just don't "get it." I thought God was just bringing us together because of our common interest in helping kids with special needs and their families find relationship with Jesus. Little by little I "got it." She is such a sweet sister – looking back, I don't know how I was so blind, but I'm SO GLAD that my Heavenly Father knew enough to drop her into my life. Since then, she has been an encourager, prayer warrior, friend, confidant, and sister. I know when it comes to struggles in my life, be they spiritual, or otherwise, she's got my back. I love her to pieces!
Sounds like a wonderful book! Even though I have not had this type of relationship with anyone as of yet, I pray that maybe the Lord may one day use me in someone else's life!
~ Kim
lakefamily(at)eastlink(dot)ca
Renee,
I am now praying for a Spiritual Mother/Mentor in my life. Please pray that God will place someone in my life. Thanks Darlene
My mother has been the biggest mentor in my life. She has shown me the love of Christ and always built into me that I am made special because I am a child of God. I have had many friends over the years who have not had a mentor in their lives to teach them as my mother did me. I have seen many women try to fill their voids with all kinds of other things and I have always wanted to be used as a mentor, but not had the confidence in myself to do so. I have been afraid of saying the wrong thing or appearing like I know it all because that is very far from the truth. I have recently had a revival in my life in my relationship with God and I want to help others do the same. I desire greatly to be a biblical mentor to others.
i do have a great friend who is a great encouragement to me and i love to encourage her. it's wonderful to have someone you can pray with, laugh with and cry with.
[email protected]
My friend Cara is that life-changing friend. We have known eachother for about 4 1/2 years, and in the past 2 years have become close: in Christ!
We have been doing Bible studies together for the past 6-8 months alternating whose house it is held at each week-it's just the two of us, so we open up more and I believe we have both grown tremendously because of it.
She started attending the church that I go to around 6 months ago and her family joined about 5 months ago. Since then, our daughters attend a Christian preschool together and we are working on a Fruit of the Spirit scrapbook/Bible study.
She is my best friend aside from the Lord and my husband. I love to just be in the Word with her. And to hear her different perspective…we learn and grow from one another.
That is my life-changing friendship!
I defintely had a spiritual mother! Her name was "Miss Nancy" to me and I wrote about her here:
http://theinterruptedlifeblog.blogspot.com/2009/03/i-remember-her-name.html
I still love her dearly and anything that is good and decent about me I learned from her!
Blessings,
Dori
I can honestly say that up until the last 6 or 7 months I didn't really have any strong Christian girlfriends that I could come to for advice and just get to know. About six months ago my life was turned upside down and I reached out to my pastor's wife and over the last few months we have become really close. I prayed for this friendship to develop and for God to bring other Godly women into my life. I can totally see this happening now. My friend has great Godly advice and phrases things in such a way that I totally understand even when I am totally wrong. She is so special to me I thank God for her often.
[email protected]
I would love to receive your book. thank you.
Monica Gwin
[email protected]
I have had the priviledge of having many wonderful women in my life. Some never knew their influence but whenever possible I try to let them know. From speakers to authors to every day women to the most special woman in my life…my mom. You see, she's not perfect but a wonderful mentor and friend. God has placed others in my life…some for a season and others for the journey but all have left their footprints on my heart that I will cherish forever.
I must say that I have come to a place in my life that I have an almost desparate need for a mentor and friend that can relate to my life. I am a mother of 3 girls and the wife to a wonderful man who is disabled with MS for the past 24 years. I need for God to send someone to my life that can relate and share some wisdom with me. God knows my needs and I trust that He will supply my need in His time and when I least expect it.
Silvia Arvelo at [email protected]