There are presently many discussions and a plethora of books about what women’s ministry ought to look like, and how to form mentoring relationships. It’s not a novel concept that instruction in a mentoring relationship can go both ways. But have we fleshed out the notion in specifics? 

Some years ago, I received an email from my much younger female boss, announcing with great enthusiasm she would be meeting with each of us individually to “mentor us in our roles at work as well as disciple us in the Lord.”

Humph. I was a Christian nurse before she was born. Did she not understand that Titus 2 instructs older women to do the teaching? Her title clearly had gone to her head. If there was one thing that annoyed me, it was arrogance. I sent her a snarky reply which she rightly ignored.

I didn’t like the way she managed, and I raised my concerns often. Instead of taking my counsel, she would send me a reply defending her actions. She clearly wasn’t teachable, and I grew more annoyed, so much so I changed jobs, which by the way didn’t eliminate the problem.

A funny thing happens as you grow older—unless you live under a rock—the number of younger people you live, work and care for increases. Since leaving that job, I’ve served under 8 other younger women. It didn’t take me long to recognize a hard reality: Just as surely as we older women can teach younger women what is good, they, in turn, will be educating us.

There are presently many discussions and a plethora of books about what women’s ministry ought to look like, and how to form mentoring relationships. It’s not a novel concept that instruction in a mentoring relationship can go both ways. But have we fleshed out the notion in specifics? The following in this article are some of my thoughts on this topic.

The Benefit of Two-Way Teaching

My own daughter, Anna, at the tender age of twenty was the first person to break it to me that her generation had insights that my generation might find helpful.  In an article addressed to mothers of adult women, she writes:

“While you are busy sharing your wisdom, remember there is much we can teach you too. That dress you paid too much for? It looks just like the outdated one you already have in your closet. You may know a lot about dressing modestly, but we know something about fashion. If we pool our knowledge, we both might end up looking better. Seriously, though, asking our opinion on what may seem incidental shows us you value our thoughts and think we’re smart. As we grow into adult shoes, asking our opinion helps us call you friend as well as mother.”

Her words helped me recall a passage in Ecclesiastes 4:9-12:

“Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil.  For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken.”

Read More