It is said that one's life is not complete without a Timothy - someone into whom you can pour the wisdom, experience and hard knocks that make you who you are.  The phrase comes from the letters to Timothy.  He was rather a young man when appointed over the Ephesian church, and he had to deal with some older men who were dogmatically intent on creating their own dogma.  The letters are full of fatherly advice which has not lost its importance to us.