Who Do You Look Up To?

Everyone has role models; people you look up to and want to be like. It's often a singer, movie star, athlete, or some other famous person. Maybe a person from history even.

While there are a few people I look up to who have moderate degrees of fame (it'd be a stretch to really call them famous, but they are within certain circles), my main role models are several women who have been in my life.

As a Christian, I want to be like Jesus. In the Bible, Paul tells the Corinthians to imitate him as he imitates Christ. That's what I see in these women.

I see examples of graciousness and humility. I look up to them as mothers, wives, teachers, and women of God. They are kind and lovely and gentle. Their kids are a testament to them. They serve others without a thought for themselves. They share what they have and are always ready and willing to help out a friend.

These women would not see themselves as anything special. They don't even know how much I admire and look up to them. They aren't my mentors in any official capacity, but they have taught me in word and action. I love and admire them and I am so thankful for their example of Christ that they have lived out in their lives. Who I am and who I am trying to be is in part because of them. God has used them and their own walk with Him to touch me. I'm sure I'm not the only one who has been influenced by them!

I have a goal as to who I want to be as a wife, mother, teacher, friend, and woman because of the lives of these women. They walk out their lives in the Spirit's leading and it touches lives. Isn't that what we all wish for?

In the Bible, it talks about older women teaching younger women how to live and how to be women of God. This can touch every area - from being a wife to motherhood to hospitality and beyond.

I want to encourage you today. People are watching you. Younger women are observing your life. That might sound scary, not encouraging, and while it is a responsibility, it also makes it easier to be a good influence. You don't have to start a discipleship group, lead a Bible study, or write a blog to speak into another woman's life (although those are great things!). Even if you can't pour into someone one-on-one, you can pour out of your example.

Because I know what an influence older women had on me, I know that younger girls are looking up to me, whether they know it yet or not. Maybe I'm the only good Christian influence they have or maybe they have amazing women all around them. It doesn't matter. They will see my life and I hope it encourages them and points them to Christ's example like women have done for me. It's an honor and a responsibility and we all have it.

I hope you have people in your immediate life who you can learn from and look up to. Care to share? I'd love to hear about that special person or persons who have had an impact on your life. Maybe you have a neat story about being an example/influence/mentor to someone and how it blessed both you and them! Let's share our stories and encourage more women to train up younger women!