Not Oprah

“Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.” I Cor. 11:1 (ESV) 

You can’t be what you can’t see. That’s why I always look for Godly mentors. My mentors have been a joy. I pattern my life after theirs because they are striving to follow Jesus and please Him. 

I’ve observed my mentors in every season of life. I’ve seen them do well in life. I’ve seen them grieve. They gave me access to their ups and downs. They also taught me how to properly live a life of gratitude. 

One time, when my family and I were going through a tough time, one of my mentors and I met for lunch. She heard about what I was going through. We didn’t have jobs and we had three mouths to feed. She carefully heard the things I said and the things I didn’t say. With wisdom and compassion, she shared about the time she went through something similar. She told me about the honesty of her prayer life. She told me about parenting during that season. Most of all, she told me to have confident hope because God is faithful.

I learned what real gratitude is because that dear woman gave me access to all of her life. We all need gratitude role models. Here’s my thing: it can’t be Oprah. While I love her, she is not a good one simply because she doesn’t live in my hometown. A great gratitude role mode does the following:

• Gives you access to their life - you have to be able to observe them and vice-versa. This is best done in person, over time.
• Gives you access to their “behind the scenes.” - When people give you access to the good, bad and ugly, you really learn who they are and Whose they are. 

• They will be an honest and transparent person with nothing to lose. - This is important. I have been able to see the flaws of my mentors. It had made me respect and love them so much more than when I only used to see their good parts. 

• They will tell you they are not perfect. - Nowadays, everything and everyone has a filter. We need to see and learn the gifts of imperfection.

• A good gratitude mentor is not given to gimmicks. - You and I know that some people will only mentor you if there’s some gimmick involved or if there’s something in it for them. Watch out for those individuals. You need to find a person who connects with your heart because God made that connection happen. 

Paul’s words are so weighty. Be imitators of me as I am of Christ. Christ was grateful. We need to find a role model who knows, believes, and walks in the gratitude that Christ displayed. 

Prayer: God, please send me a mentor who will model Christian values and characteristics. Send me someone who is the real deal. Someone Godly, whose heart will be submitted to You and Your ways. I pray that I can be a blessing and encouragement to them as well. I pray and I will look for You to answer this prayer. You are faithful and I am grateful. In Jesus’ name, Amen.