At one of the breakout sessions of last Saturday’s powerful Empowering Mothers Conference 2018, founded by Detola Amure of Super Working Mums Group (check out the Facebook page), I learnt, at the Business and Career Masterclass deftly facilitated by Funmi Onamusi and Henrietta Funmi Dayo-Somefun, that we all need;
- A Mentor – someone who guides or advises
- A Coach – someone to train you on how to do what you need to do and
- A Sponsor- someone who will take your name or product everywhere and will champion your cause among people.
In Naomi, Ruth found all three of these qualities.
Ruth 3:1-5 NASB “Then Naomi her mother-in-law said to her, “My daughter, shall I not seek security for you, that it may be well with you? Now is not Boaz our kinsman, with whose maids you were? Behold, he winnows barley at the threshing floor tonight. Wash yourself therefore, and anoint yourself and put on your best clothes, and go down to the threshing floor; but do not make yourself known to the man until he has finished eating and drinking. It shall be when he lies down, that you shall notice the place where he lies, and you shall go and uncover his feet and lie down; then he will tell you what you shall do.” (Coaching)
In Ruth 2:11 Boaz responded to Ruth when she queries how she has found favour in his eyes after he tells her to keep on gleaning in his field and not to worry about going elsewhere “All that you have done for your mother-in-law after the death of your husband has been fully reported to me, and how you left your father and your mother and the land of your birth, and came to a people that you did not previously know.” Who do you think told people what Ruth had done for her? Such that, word of it gets around? Naomi! (Sponsorship)
In Chapter 3 verse 16 Naomi asks Ruth how her day at work went following the advice given Ruth in Chapters 3: 2-4. After Ruth gives her the wonderful feedback, Naomi tells her “Wait, my daughter, until you know how the matter turns out; for the man will not rest until he has settled it today.” (Mentoring)
There are several instances in the Book of Ruth where we see all these elements of leadership from a more experienced woman, I have only picked a few verses to highlight. But all the mentoring, coaching and sponsorship in the world by the most seasoned of leaders will be of no effect, if the mentee does nothing with what she has been taught, shown or received! And so, Ruth responds to her mother -in- law strategy sessions. “All that you say I will do. So, she went down to the threshing floor and did according to all that her mother-in-law had commanded her.” Ruth 3:5-6
Little wonder she is one of only two women in the Bible to have a book named after her!
Thus, it has become part of my prayers of late, like never before, Father, connect me with mentors, coaches and sponsors to propel me to where I need to be. And though I have benefited in the past from different types of mentoring, I look forward with excitement to see how God will answer in each of those areas.
However, primarily and more importantly we have the Holy Spirit, who is Mentor, Coach and Sponsor without compare. Jesus tells us in John 14:26 NASB “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you”
And Oh, a little side note – Naomi eventually didn’t let the fact that she had pain in her life or unanswered prayers cause her to stop being a channel of blessing or a person of godly influence!
Thanks for reading x
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