It's been an incredibly long journey, but yesterday, I was shown that my mother is my spiritual mentor. Mom and I have always been close, but it's been a really rocky relationship. However, as I've gotten older, delved more into His Words, He has shown me the blessings of a godly mother . Mom is not perfect. She is not a picture of perfection. For the longest times she's lived the life that said, "do what I say, don't do what I do," and for the longest time I didn't listen. I thought, what right has she got to say what she says to me when she's acting a way opposite to that advice (in my mind). But as I come closer into my Jesus' embrace, He has opened up my eyes to this godly minded woman, despite her imperfections. My mother is looking out for my spiritual well being. She has her own battles she must struggle with, and I cannot let those battles interfere with her advice to me. It is at those times, that I must see her as a sister in Jesus and not my mother when she speaks to me. She speaks to me from years of experience, of regret, and though her walk with Christ is different from my own, she does not want me to repeat her mistakes or walk the way of the world.

As I have come to learn to respect my mother and my father, I realize that in spite of their struggles, mistakes and follies, they are godly people because they strive towards Jesus. They desire to have Him as an integral part of their life's journey. I desire a man who will respect and love his parents, as well as my own. Amen.