When I die I want to be remembered for my virtuous character. I realize though, that I have a great deal of work to do. I was blessed however, to have a woman in my life whose character went beyond and left legacy of light. Read our story below and be blessed!
Teach older men to be temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled, and sound in faith, in love and in endurance.
Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. Then they can train the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God. Similarly, encourage the young men to be self-controlled. In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us(Titus 2:2-8).
As Christians, we all need a person who will help to keep us grounded and rooted in the Word. We all need a Naomi, Barnabus, or a Paul, or a Titus 2 woman. Nancy Estrada entered my life in 1992 and became a part of my journey.
I was 23 and a new mother with no idea about life. We started talking because of Vacation Bible School. I was a teacher and she was the Teacher’s Coordinator. Our relationship grew from there.
It was a rocky road at first. I did not like to hear what she had to say. I was hard- headed, independent, and out to the world and everything that got in the way of my terror. I was also very low on what I call “Christ-esteem” and I had no true knowledge of His ultimate love for me.
Nancy saw through it all. Her light shined on me and she never gave up trying to get me to see what God wanted me to see. She was determined and I had no idea why.
I would hang up on her when she said things I did not like. I could not stand the fact that she could see beyond my tough demeanor and the wall I had built around me. Yet a part of me loved her in ways I did not even understand.
That was the working of God. He knew I needed her light in my life.
I sat at her feet, most of the time kicking and screaming, and she just loved me without condition. She allowed herself to be open about her own life; showing me that my reality was not what I made it to be. Through Nancy I began to see that my reality rested in Christ and that His love for me would carry me over, under, and through all my storms.
Her willingness to love me with all of my rough edges made the reward even more valuable when I began to blossom from the love I had received. I
Even when she had cancer that was inoperable and was told that she only had a few months to live, she never stopped the work for which God created her. She lived 3 years longer than the doctors gave her. God was not ready for her yet.
Nancy went on with the work at hand.
She planned her own funeral, wrote her own obituary, and made sure that her children, grandchildren, and her “girls” as she called a select few of us, were all going to be alright. She told me that God had a plan for her and He was still not ready for her yet.
She did all she could until the cancer and all the treatments took its toll. That she knew it was time to rest. She understood that God was getting everything ready for her homecoming. Yet even in her weakness she still made time for us.
I can remember, when I was going through a very trying period and God was just about ready for her, I would not call her, because I did not want to bother her with my issues. The phone rang on evening and I heard this tiny, weak voice say, "You're being attacked, aren't you? I know because I too am being attacked." From there we shared how the devil was trying to tear us down. That's true love.
What a blessing it was for me to know that we were so connected, that she felt my anguish and shared in my triumph; even through her illness.
My last moment with Nancy was at her home with a few of her closet family members and friends. Along with my Pastor and his wife, we all shared in the Lord's Supper. What a poignant moment for a dynamic life.
Sadly yet joyfully Nancy died on December 2, 2002, leaving behind a legacy of light that reached to infinity and beyond.
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If you are unsure about mentoring or don’ t quite understand what it entails, I encourage you to read Titus 2. There are also some great links for sites and articles on the subject on the subject of mentoring. I pray that you educate yourself on the subject and begin to spread your legacy of light.
May you be forever blessed.
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