Sometimes Trying to be Strong Can be Our Greatest Weakness

There was a time in high school, and into college, I felt that if I needed mentors in my life it made me a weaker leader. I thought I'd be a stronger leader if I could do things in my own strength without the reliance of others. If I could grow and learn on my own without needing so much feedback, that I would become a much more effective person. I was SO wrong! I had this delusion that to arrive at a point as soon as possible, and as young as possible, it would somehow be the best way to mature and grow. That was “The Idealistic World of Robyn”. Years later, I am still growing! We all are. Life and situations and people are always changing

When I look back, I see how this hurt my personal growth and weakened my character. The "strength" I thought I felt was nothing more than a stubborn drive and a hidden form of pride.

Mentors are an invaluable part of our lives! I just had a wonderful interview with Christine Watkins on Radio Maria – What Next, God? Though our conversation was about what I learned from my past, abusive relationship/marriage, and my outlook now on life and the world, I believe these key values go for anyone single, dating, married, divorced, widowed, etc. One of the many things I learned, goes beyond my specific story; it touches every area of our lives in any situation.

We live in a society that doesn't want accountability. I stated that even though I am in a wonderful marriage with an amazing man, surrounded by a great community, and involved in a fantastic church where people have become family, I value mentors and people I look to for advice more than ever! It hurts us to not want to receive valuable instruction, well-meaning correction, and wise insights. We want to only answer to ourselves, feel how we want to feel, etc. To tune out such valuable voices, is like passing up water from a refreshing stream after a long journey!

Oh how I wish before I started dating, that I had the outlook of how valuable it was to let myself be held accountable by mentors who loved me. Of course there were many people in my life in a similar way, and we talked about a lot of things, but I didn't allow myself to be completely transparent as I should have. Even now my mentors and spiritual grandparents are key people in my life, and not just as leaders, but as a family to me. Key people in my life help me to continue to grow in all the ways God wants to use me.

Listen here for my interview (dated Sept. 24, 2014) with Christine Watkins on Radio Maria - What Next, God?

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