Don’t Spit On the River You Once Drank From

I breaks my heart and sometimes brings tears to my eyes when I see people speak ill of their benefactors and/or mentors because of MIS-UNDERSTANDINGS (take note of the prefix – MIS. What that simply means is this, understanding that is ‘missing.’).

If you have outgrown the usefulness of your benefactors and/or mentors, don’t burn the bridges, instead, find out the root cause of the misunderstanding and look for ways to repair the damaged relationship even if you feel you don’t have anything to do with them for NOW.

As a life-long learner, I have many mentors that I draw from their well of experience. Most times, I don’t agree with some of their lifestyles or ideologies (sometimes I goofed. Sometimes, they step on my toes too); but then, you will never hear me publicly condemn them or speak ill of them or their brand. The reason for my stance is obvious: They make me who I am today. When others reject me, they willingly allow me to use their platforms to learn the rope, make mistakes, grow and gain competence from them and leap into greatness. They are like a mother eagle that forces her chicks to learn flying by taking them up to the mountain and letting them go of them so that they can develop the use of their wings.

Most times, when I falter, instead of nailing me to the cross, my benefactors and/or mentors provide a shoulder on which I can learn to spring back. That’s being a guide, teacher, brother/sister or friend. That’s what is expected of a benefactor or mentor.

Failure is imminent and the ladder of success will be slippery for any mentee that tarnish the image of their benefactors and/or mentors because of disagreement on unethical issues. It’s not a curse, it’s biblical. Read the story of David and Saul.

One of the greatest gift to the world is a benefactor or mentor. Hold them dearly to your heart. Don’t be like the five foolish virgin in Jesus’ parables or the unwise slave that didn’t use the talents given to him by his master in Matthew 25.