Join the conversation with the remarkable Sandra May, known to many as Cookie, as she imparts her extensive wisdom gleaned from years in education, school counseling, and ministry. In an episode that promises to be as moving as it is insightful, Cookie unravels the delicate tapestry of human connection and self-control, sharing valuable lessons from the critical world of early childhood education and the profound influence of educators on young lives. Her unique perspective on the intersection of spirituality and counseling sheds light on the respect for client boundaries while embracing the organic emergence of faith in the counseling context, particularly within school systems and in addressing addiction.
Venture through the multifaceted landscape of counseling with a Christian lens as Cookie demystifies the counselor's role, not as directors, but as empathetic listeners guiding clients toward self-discovery. We grapple with the challenge of addressing sensitive subjects and the immense value of professional, unbiased counsel in times of unresolved grief or crisis. The episode further delves into the intrinsic comfort provided by culturally and religiously aligned counseling services, revealing the importance of confidentiality, the realities of homelessness, and the personalized support offered by IEPs and 504 plans to students with diverse needs.
As we wrap up this immersive journey, Cookie calls for unity and proactive measures against the pervasive issue of bullying, emphasizing the need for communities to lift each and every member. She passionately speaks on the fundamental right of choice across various spectrums of life, advocating for equality, diversity, and leadership in society. This episode goes beyond education and counseling, touching hearts and inspiring change—one conversation at a time. Don't miss the chance to be part of this transformative discussion with Cookie, where empathy meets empowerment in an unforgettable narrative.
Join the conversation with the remarkable Sandra May, known to many as Cookie, as she imparts her extensive wisdom gleaned from years in education, school counseling, and ministry. In an episode that promises to be as moving as it is insightful, Cookie unravels the delicate tapestry of human connection and self-control, sharing valuable lessons from the critical world of early childhood education and the profound influence of educators on young lives. Her unique perspective on the intersection of spirituality and counseling sheds light on the respect for client boundaries while embracing the organic emergence of faith in the counseling context, particularly within school systems and in addressing addiction.
Venture through the multifaceted landscape of counseling with a Christian lens as Cookie demystifies the counselor's role, not as directors, but as empathetic listeners guiding clients toward self-discovery. We grapple with the challenge of addressing sensitive subjects and the immense value of professional, unbiased counsel in times of unresolved grief or crisis. The episode further delves into the intrinsic comfort provided by culturally and religiously aligned counseling services, revealing the importance of confidentiality, the realities of homelessness, and the personalized support offered by IEPs and 504 plans to students with diverse needs.
As we wrap up this immersive journey, Cookie calls for unity and proactive measures against the pervasive issue of bullying, emphasizing the need for communities to lift each and every member. She passionately speaks on the fundamental right of choice across various spectrums of life, advocating for equality, diversity, and leadership in society. This episode goes beyond education and counseling, touching hearts and inspiring change—one conversation at a time. Don't miss the chance to be part of this transformative discussion with Cookie, where empathy meets empowerment in an unforgettable narrative.
Hello everyone. This is Carolyn Coleman. Welcome to Gentry's Journey, and our aren't-it-guess today is Sandra May. We call her Cookie. Open disclosure she is a relative, she's a cousin and we giggle from time to time, okay, but she's also a professional. She wears many hats. I'm going to let her give us an inspirational nugget and she can tell us about her background and then we'll have questions for her and some of her opinions not that they don't totally align, but I might not totally agree with them. So they are the opinions of Miss Sandra May. Okay, thank you so much for joining us again and because she's done research on this, so I'm going to turn it over to Miss Sandra.
Speaker 2:Hello, good day, good day, good day. I can tell you one thing that I thrive on, and that is togetherness of people. That is the inspiration of what I do in life, starting with education. That is the inspiration of what I do in life, as well as school counseling. That is the inspiration of what I do in life as ministry, as well as my program called Grace Card, and that is Grace and Card is an acronym for Citizens Against Racial Division, and so my drive for people to have overall togetherness is my desire for people to understand there's one race, and it's called the human race.
Speaker 2:In the word, one of my most favorite scriptures says how good it is when brethren dwell together in unity, and that is Psalms 133.
Speaker 2:And so that has taken upon a life on the inside of me of us dwelling together in unity. And when I see something that's holding strife or concision, things of that manner, I begin to hone in on those purposes that I have in life, because one thing I can say to you all is that none of us are immune to getting dragged into situations and issues, and if we don't monitor ourselves, if we don't have self-temperance, then eventually we will have problems, but self-temperance kind of keeps us in line and it kind of keeps us above the fray or below the fray, whichever is necessary at that time, and I'm pleased to be here on this program with Carolyn. As she said, we are relatives as well as friends, and I want to just reiterate her disclaimer that anything that I say in all of my opinions were born inside of me and they live inside of me, and those that agree, that is wonderful, that includes Ms Carolyn, and those that do not agree, that is fine, also because we all have a right to our own opinions and our own beliefs.
Speaker 1:Absolutely Okay now. Can you share your experience as working in the elementary school system with students, and how have you been supported when it comes to their emotional and social growth, because that's a pivotal age in my opinion.
Speaker 2:Absolutely, carolyn, I can do that.
Speaker 2:Yes, it is, it is, and I have mostly worked, that is, in the teaching area, in the education area, with early childhood, which, as you said, that is a pivotal time in their growth and development.
Speaker 2:Children learn more in their fifth year of life than they learn in their whole life, their fifth year Almost because there is a wealth of information as well as communication. Yeah, communication. They learn how to listen, how to hear, how to get along. Social interaction is built within them at that time and so many things. They just, they just flooded with information at that time in their life, which means that the educator or the person that is dealing with them is responsible to pulling them in a positive manner into society. Know this that any person that is working with a child is definitely going to affect them in one way or the other. Either it will be positive or it will be negative, and hopefully most educators so desire that young persons begin to learn in a positive way how to interact, how to learn even how to study, how to be a part of society and see that eventually they will be viable citizens in their state, their city, their country.
Speaker 1:Okay now how do you integrate your ministerial background into your counseling approach with your students? And I know you have to walk a fine line by you being absolutely, absolutely.
Speaker 2:When you say walk a fine line, you really you know that is really something that is very important in counseling and particularly school counseling. However, I have, I've done drug counseling, I've done counseling with teenagers, like emotional counseling and whatnot, and I just I've dabbled in a few types of counseling, but mainly school counseling, because at one point of Carolyn I did step out of the education arena and stepped into the agency arena, by which at that time I was doing a chemical addiction program. That was a program that was offered to teenagers. You know that got in trouble at school smoking weed or those type of things got caught vaping or smoking or whatever that issue was, as well as the methadone clinic. As to, yes, I counseled with those clients that had addictions to opioids and I asked my my group of my group of clients and we went in and I must say that their clients were lost. One of my clients that I had, he wasn't lost when I was there but not long after I had read in the paper that he had OD. So you know, when you're counseling you deal with death and other spiritual issues. So you were asking how would I integrate my spiritual background into counseling? And what I do is, you know, I try to hone into what's going on with that client, what they're having an issue with and generally, and eventually most clients, they broach on the spiritual aspect and they begin to ask questions about God, and I always let them know what the books say, basically, and also I let them know that I have belief in value as well and that I could share with them. But kind of I have a kind of a disclaimer. If you, you know, are willing or interested in hearing that aspect, I am willing to share that with you. So as, as you said, we're walking at the end line. It comes to that kind of like walking on thin ice and even as as carefully, as gingerly as you walk, you can steal a break ice on in some instances, because sometimes people are looking for something to to gripe about or to report about or whatever. Sometimes it's kind of like a setup. However, it's nothing you can do about. That is set for. Try your best to to walk the line and to stay appropriate and to follow the guidelines by which your agency has put out there for you to establish your line of questions, your lineup advice.
Speaker 2:The good thing about counseling is is that really a lot of people think that oh, you got to go in and counsel and tell somebody which way to go or which direction to use or what to do. But really counseling is about allowing the client to hear themselves, allowing the client to hear their own ideology and what they believe. And we don't go in doing all the talking. We go in more, less listening and then reflectively speaking to that that client, basically telling that client what you just heard, what they just said. And sometimes you may say this is what I heard. And you say that to them and they say no, no, that's not what I'm saying. And they'll break it down in another way and sometimes they'll say, wow, is that what I heard? Is that what I said? I didn't.
Speaker 1:I mean, I guess you're right, but I didn't realize that's what I was saying yeah, I think sometimes, when we are expressing ourselves or are allowed to express ourselves, is when we get the true meaning of what we're feeling or what we're saying, because nothing's a 10 from my understanding. It's not your ideology. You're speaking to the client and the client is voicing their concerns, or what is really going on with them. If they're going to be honest, because there are some people, they're still not going to be honest with themselves. So if you know, no, they're not honest with themselves. They're definitely not going to be honest with you.
Speaker 1:But whenever someone asks me and this is on a different level I apologize you think I need to see a counselor? And I ask immediately, immediately, say yes, why? Why do you think I need to see a counselor? I said because you asked. And I said you know what's going on with you and especially people who are dealing with grief. You know I'm resolved grief. I see you know your family. When you try to talk to them, they're just gonna hug you and say it's gonna be all right, but they're still not allowing you to express yourself. I said the counselor is gonna let you fall on the floor and cry, you know, and get it all out.
Speaker 1:So you're saying exactly what you need to say and I said, no, it's nothing bad that your family is doing. They're loving on you, but they're not allowing you to express yourself and you don't want to see them hurt because you're hurt, so you don't really get that opportunity. So I think it's best to speak with someone who's objective and who will allow you to speak, who doesn't really know you. You're free. You're free to say what you want to say and do what you want to do. You know express yourself in a very positive manner and you know be a negative positive. They've heard it all. They have heard it all. So what are your thoughts on that?
Speaker 2:yes, I really love what you were saying about what family will do. They'll embrace you, they'll hug you, they'll tell you it's gonna be all right. They'll tell you you got to stop all this crying or you got to stop all this grieving and all of that. But I want to impute also into what you were saying that not just families, but ministers, you know ministry as well. You know Sometimes people go in and they counsel with their pastors, but people listen I'm a minister myself, so please know that I'm not going against ministers that that counsel people.
Speaker 2:But sometimes ministers don't know the techniques, the true techniques of counseling, and what they're doing is they're counseling you with the scripture and sometimes that may beat you over the head with a scripture, but I can tell you that there have been many people that have been have experienced bodily harm and and even death according to listening to what their pastors say that you must do this and you must do that. And so if you're a minister that you're watching, be very careful about that. Don't ever be afraid or ashamed to give somebody your spiritual aspect, but it buys them to see a counselor, a real counselor, that educated for counselor, that has techniques and that will tell you keep yourself safe.
Speaker 1:True, very true, very true, very true. I had a group of clients, if you will, and they were faith based and sometimes they will call me because I had to pre cert their visits and ask me do you have a list Christian counselors out there? And so I was like I decided to go on, you know, dr Google, to see if anyone advertised that, because I didn't know of anyone and I had never had that request before. So I said can't find anybody, I can't find anybody. So but she gave me a couple of names and so I call and I said I asked the question is this a Christian counseling organization? And she said we don't advertise that. But yes, several of our counselors are.
Speaker 1:And I was like, well, that's great, that's going to help me, help my patient the more. And that's what you really want to do. You want to give them what they need and what they're comfortable with. So I was like that was eye opening for me. That's what. That's why I always say you can always learn. You can always learn something from someone. And I just sort of start writing their names down, because this organization was pretty large and they would come across a lot of situations they were not ready for when it comes to sharing the word of the love of Christ. They would run into situations they just weren't ready for and they needed someone to help them to navigate that.
Speaker 2:Right, makes sense yeah.
Speaker 1:And they got to the point where I asked them do you guys get some type of orientation before you go out to do this? And they were like, oh yeah, they do. And I'm like they might not be going deep enough in that orientation process because everybody's not ready to get out into the field and do for lack of a better term street ministry, because you're running into the individual that's fear is that you're not accustomed to dealing with. You know I get the ideal ideology and you know you want to save and you want to do this that any other you know in a positive light. But if you're not ready for some of the things that people have to bring you and you never know what people are going to bring Just like I say about patients you never know how they're going to undress you know, you never know how they're going to undress, so you kind of have to be ready, but not ready, or experience, but with an open mind.
Speaker 2:Correct and I like everything that you were saying because, because, like you said, sometimes people are not ready for, but particularly when it comes to Christian counseling, one of the issues is that a lot of Christian counselors, ie leaders they have different concepts of how they believe in and how they counsel. Some of them are extremists, you know. Hey, they extremely believe in this way. And then there are some that give a little bit more latitude, and myself I like to give the latitude because, for one thing, counseling in any form again, as I was saying, it's not to tell people what to do, it's to kind of like, guide them to what they're thinking anyway. And what I believe, as it relies or as it leans on Christianity, is that if a client asks questions and you're led to share your beliefs and you do your disclaimer this is what I believe and from there, if they are a serious candidate lack of a better term Christianity that they're going to be led and guided into it spiritually.
Speaker 2:I don't have to, you know, score the home run. You know, if they ask me about something, I share what I believe and according, just like the scripture, I either planted a seed or water, I don't have to baptize it. I don't have to be the person they take them into the church, but I had. What I could know is is that I share something with them that is going to be something that's very important to their transition, if they will, if they would into Christianity. So what counselors and ministers? What we've, what we've got to watch, is we've got to watch ourselves into about trying to make a person be something, because we don't have to do that. We don't have to do it, we can just introduce.
Speaker 1:Okay, well, that's. That's something to think about. You want them to be their authentic selves, right.
Speaker 2:You want them to be open enough to come, so the challenge is allowing them to be their authentic self, you know and be affected by what you said, without, without pushing and pressing and saying, oh, you got to do this or you need to do, are you ready to do this and are you ready to do that. You want to give them the autonomy to choose that way and go that way. You want to leave the door open for them to ask questions, without being dogmatic about what it is and what they have to do.
Speaker 1:Okay, let's move to another question. I mean, that was really good, really interesting. There's a lot that can be said for counseling of any sort, especially when you have the different addictions that are out here. We'll probably touch on that later, but I want to shift back to school. How do you establish a trusting relationship with your students and families as an educator and or as a school counselor?
Speaker 2:That's a great question. That really is a great question because with my student as well as family, I try to, first of all, I try to show them that I am for them and that they can trust me. I tell them the truth. When they walk in, I say you know, hey, you don't have to worry about. You know, our session is confidential.
Speaker 2:I say there is, you know, a reason that I have to break the confidence and that's bodily harm or death, and that means you know, if you share with me that you're suicidal or that you're homicidal, then those are some things that I would have to reach out concerning. Yeah, those are reportable.
Speaker 1:Those are reportable. Yeah, reportable incidences.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:And we can all understand why. We don't have to go any deeper with that. We can all understand what those are very serious faults and make sure that they are on steady ground.
Speaker 2:Exactly. It's something that, as a counselor, you don't want or need to hold in your own hands. You need to kind of pass that on.
Speaker 2:Parents need to know that, medical professionals need to know that, and a student should not leave your presence with you knowing that and it has not been carried on to the next level. You definitely need to let someone know that something is going on and you were saying I'm going to. I would just want to throw this in very quickly about even the parents. With parents, what I do to try to build a rapport with them is I try to keep resources for things that they might need If they're lacking in jobs, if they're lacking with getting food in their homes, if they're lacking clothing for the kids or whatever. I try to make sure that they know that my office is the same place and it is a place where you can fulfill some of the issues that you have. I will do everything that I can to help you or to refer you to someone who can help you. You'll never be just left alone, but your need and your issues and problems become something that I invested into as well.
Speaker 1:Do you have a list of agencies or resources where you can reach out if a family is in need of different various various items or situations? Do you have that readily available?
Speaker 2:We do. We have a readily available more than one aspect that we can do. As a matter of fact, if a student comes to school with a need, we have closets and different things like that that we can actually write at that time, minister to a child with clothing, clothing, donations, whatever. Also, we have different acts like the McKinney-Vento Act, which is an act that caters to homelessness. If we have the McKinney-Vento Act, we kind of back up off the parent and the student with different information that you got to have this and you got to have that, because the most important thing is that the child is able to attend school. It also has referrals for clothing and food and some types of shelter. What we can't do is we cannot make a family.
Speaker 1:You can't make a family. Do it now.
Speaker 2:Become not homeless if, for lack of a better way, we cannot make a family become not homeless. People live in a certain way, so we can't judge them and say, oh my goodness, you can't stay here and you can't do that. What we can't do is we refer them to different helps and allow them to reach out for the help. And homelessness has so many different definitions, because homelessness is not always that you're living under the bridge, but if you're living in a home that wasn't prepared, a home that was prepared for you, you came out of, say, for instance, some kids that came out of Katrina that ended up doubling up with a family member or something like that, that they really didn't have enough rooms nor enough beds or whatever. They were kind of squeezing in. That is an aspect of homelessness. So Okay okay.
Speaker 1:Okay, okay, so emergently having to move in with family or friends, okay, we define. You guys define that as homelessness as well.
Speaker 2:Okay, sounds good.
Speaker 1:It sounds good.
Speaker 2:Absolutely, absolutely. There are different. There are other different things that can identify a child as being homeless and what we do is we look at every aspect that's going on in their life and also themselves thinking that I'm homeless. You know kids sleeping in the kitchen and you know like that. You know we come across that had a child. It's like where's your bedroom and where does your bed? And he in draw picture of you and your bedroom, draw picture of them with a cot like a pad and it's a stove in there in the picture. What's that right there? That's the stove. That's so. So then they were literally sleeping in the kitchen. That is homelessness. It should be a prepared bed in the house or in the home for the student.
Speaker 1:Okay, okay, and I okay, and some of this is just gonna be a little bit is to take some processing, because now we're, you got me thinking out. You know, out of the box. Homelessness means you don't have anywhere to stay. Okay, so if you understand what Auntie Rita, but she doesn't have enough room, but she's gracious enough to let you come. You are still considered homeless.
Speaker 2:You are still considered homeless.
Speaker 1:Never would have thought it Never would have thought it.
Speaker 2:So see, that's the way most people think they know how to stay around it with their auntie. But you know, auntie already got five kids and mom brought you and two other kids to the. It ain't enough for her and her five kids, really. Sure, sure. Now you got three more and the mom and that's not that's for that is that's homeless, considered homeless. I live in a shelter. That's considered homeless.
Speaker 1:Oh, definitely, definitely.
Speaker 2:In a hotel that's considered homeless.
Speaker 1:Okay, now that was gonna be my next question is living in a hotel considered homeless, and you just said yes. So I'm like, wow, okay, it is the things I learned. The things I learned I didn't know because I felt it so okay. We had a couple several years ago. They had a house fire not far from us and we just heard somebody happen to hear I mean happen to hear someone screaming for help. So we get out the bed, we're peeping, trying to see what's going on and my husband goes.
Speaker 1:The house on the corner is on fire and I went whoa, so I saw it. He was like call 911. It was like I could not run fast enough to get to the phone because I saw the flames just coming out the window and it bothered me so bad. But first thing they asked is anyone in the house? And so we're screaming at each other so that everybody can hear. Because he's acting as a conduit and I said is anyone in the house? And so he's yelling at the people who are asking for help. And they go no, we all got out. So they were like good, great and I'm satisfied. But it was a cold, cold night, and so we found blankets and clothes and all of that, because they literally came out with just the pajamas they had on.
Speaker 1:Because, it was like, and so maybe in a case manager, I didn't have any of my resources with me and usually I keep something here and I was like, well, the fire department should be able to get in touch with the Red Cross. Hey, I'm telling her to ask the fire department, ask them about the Red Cross, because they can put you up in a hotel. And she was like, really, what's the number? I said I don't know, I don't have any of my information with me, but ask the fire department and they should be able to get that information to you, because that's the next line when will we stay, where will we live? And they were able to get her in touch with the Red Cross and they were able to find them adequate housing for however long it was there.
Speaker 1:But the main thing was the family was so grateful. The community just rallied around them to make sure they were okay. You make sure you call somebody. You need family. You know what can we do, so you know. But I never thought of that as being homeless. But I guess by definition it is homeless.
Speaker 2:Yes, it is.
Speaker 1:Okay, well, that's great information. I mean, you just schooled me today.
Speaker 2:Yes.
Speaker 1:Okay, that's what it all about, and it really is. That's what it's all about.
Speaker 2:We have to inform one another.
Speaker 1:And we do. And that's why I say each one reach one you know, and each one teach one you know. And when we get this information, don't hoard it, you know. Spread, give it to someone else, because someone else may need it. They just may need it. So how do you collaborate with your teachers, your fellow teachers and other school staff to support students with their academic and emotional needs? Do y'all have some type of teacher?
Speaker 2:approach as a school counselor. As well as a school counselor, I get teachers come to me, you know, and they let me know if a student is having some type of issue in the classroom. It may be learning, it may be behavior, and most of the time it's behavior. They're acting this way or that way, or they change, or they can hardly teach for the, they can hardly teach for the student and their behavior is disturbing the entire class. I've had teachers come to me about students that may have an odor or something like that, and so you know I will watch that student for a time and then eventually I will call the parent and speak to them and ask them is something going on? If someone home with them and they're getting dressed, you know, it may be as simple as that Maybe a student that a parent may not know they're bedwetting or something and they're getting up putting on dry underwear but didn't clean themselves up.
Speaker 2:So there are various issues that could be taking place and teachers are, you know, they're quick to let you know if something is going on in the classroom. Also, some students come with a background of one thing or the other in their records that they were having issues in this area or in that area and the teachers have you know. They may have read the file and say hey, miss May, did you know this? Also, when students come in, some of them have what's called a 504 and some have an IEP. Iep individual educational plan is when a student has some type of issue that is on record, that has been diagnosed by a doctor and they get special services, for that A 504 can be go ahead.
Speaker 2:I was saying a 504 is another type of program, but a 504 is basically if a student is dealing with something that impinges upon their education during the day. Say, for instance, if a student is having a problem or they're having a problem with their education or they're having a problem with their education they're having a problem with their education During the day. Say, for instance, if a student is a diabetic and they have monitors and whatnot that they wear now and their monitor goes off. You know, part of their 504 is to be able to leave the classroom and go straight to the nurse without really disturbing anybody because they need to go ahead and get the insulin or whatever. A 504 might be for a student that is asthmatic and may start feeling tight in their chest or whatever and need to go and get their asthma pump.
Speaker 2:Any type of medical situation mainly and mostly that is diagnosed that a student might have to get some extra help for, would be written in the 504 with a plan that says in this case this student should be allowed to. It could be a student that's having difficulties with eyesight. They can't see, they have glasses but they have a strain on their eyes for one reason or other some diagnosis or other, you know, and so the 504 may say that student gets preferential seating. That means that that student should always be able to sit at the front of the classroom so that they can see what's on the board or whatever. So there are different levels of the 504 plans. That just basically gives a student a level plan, as best that we can.
Speaker 1:Okay, Now what's the IAP?
Speaker 2:As the individualized education plan is for students that are special ed. They have been diagnosed with some type of Could be a learning disability. It could be a student has cerebral palsy and they have a plan by which they should be receiving an education as well as any other student, but they're not going to be able to receive an education in a regular classroom because of the intensity maybe of the cerebral palsy. There are some students that might have something like cerebral palsy that can sit in the classroom, but what you have to look at with the individual educational plan is that whatever that student is dealing with, in order for them to be in a regular classroom all day long, it has to not interfere with their learning and it also needs to not interfere with the learning of the classroom. If a student is special ed and has some type of tick that is very disturbing or something like that, then it will not be fair to the class or nor the teacher to insist that they sit in the classroom, because we do want inclusion to be a part of the plan as much as possible.
Speaker 2:Students should be taking place with their education in a normal environment or setting, but that's not Most of the time. A student with an IEP has time set aside in the day by which they kind of break out to be in a class where those that have issues like that. And the thing about IEP is you have students that are low all the way up to students that are high in special ed to the point where they're not functional. They're still exposed to education, but as far as sitting down, writing or reading or something like that, that's not feasible in their cases. So IEP is that plan that guides the educator as to what this student needs to thrive in one way or the other and it gives them an idea of how far that student can go. Now, the best educator is that one that says I know you're not supposed to be able to go this far, but let's try this.
Speaker 1:So some people have unique ways of instructing and getting the attention for lack of better term, the student. I have done adults or young adults. We call them adult learners basically because they are basically grown on the college level and different career educational needs and it's kind of heartbreaking how less they know about basic reading and you're wondering how did they get to this part this point in life. But I do know when you are an encourager and you are a decent instructor, you can get that information to them where they understand it and they flourish. They have the ability to flourish, but you have to want it. You have to want it. And there's some people I don't care what you do for them, they talk a good game and you're like I've been doing this for several years now and then you say it to yourself.
Speaker 1:I know when somebody is trying to play me, but you're trying to play me because I'll be here and you'll still be with these reindeer games. I don't have time for them. I do not have time for them and I really don't appreciate them wasting the time, my time, and I let that be known. And then you have students here that you're wasting their time. They're annoyed with you. I don't care. I know you don't.
Speaker 1:That's why I'm letting you know we're all wearing a robe on the same page that you don't care. So they do it as they want to let you know how tough they are. But, as they say, I get my leak bag. We're very much aware that you don't care, but it's so unfortunate. You are in a program that is really being subsidized. You don't have to pay a dime, and I've been in several, I have taught in several of these and you will come out with a great career if you just stay the course. And it's heartbreaking when they just don't want to do it.
Speaker 1:You have the opportunity of a lifetime, and what are we supposed to do now? So you have to just pick your poisons, teach, do the best you can. You're now a tutor. Do the best you can, and who wants you? They will accept you. Who wants it? They will accept it and they will do well. But you're not going to be this age. Forever is what I try to pour into them. You're not going to be young as forever You're going to need to be able to care for yourself.
Speaker 1:You know, they're grown, they're really grown, they're growner than I am. They're probably real, real adults, you know.
Speaker 1:But they can't be a handful, you know, but you have to be that force to say not to that. You know, because I'm that person, let's. I'm here, my time is valuable, let's get it done. I am here, I will come in extra, I will stay late, I'll come in early. Whatever you need, let me know and I'll be here for you. And because you want to see people grow, you want to see people achieve some things. Sometimes I think you want it more than they do.
Speaker 1:Yeah because you know the world is out here can be good, but sometimes it cannot be kind. So um yeah, so you have to be flexible and what we're doing Now we have really had a great conversation. How do you deal with bullying Well, and other disciplinary needs?
Speaker 2:That's another area, that's. That's very sketchy and and the reason it is is because when we start counseling and working with bullying, everybody will start seeing that they're being bullied and students don't many times understand what being bullied means. They don't understand the dynamics. You know, somebody can say something to them mean, and they'll come run up and say hey, did you hear my question? How do you deal with bullying? And that's what I heard. I see me, but I don't see you. You're idling. Hey, sandra, hello.
Speaker 1:Okay, did you get my question about the bullying?
Speaker 2:I did. I did hear it, I was attempting to answer it and then you, you idle out. You said how do I handle it? I was saying I was answering that by saying that people have different definitions of what they think bullying are. But when a case of real bullying happens, what I do is I pull the student, the perpetrator, I pull him in and I speak with them and most students they've gotten to the place where they don't mind being in the session with the perpetrator and saying what's going on. And that's a lot about dealing with younger students.
Speaker 2:And you know we talk about it, talk about what the problem is. What is it that you're having a problem with? Why do you want to be aggressive with this student and whatnot? And I let everybody speak their piece. And I said I asked the question how does your parent feel about bullying? How does your parent feel about students being picked on or you being picked on? And most of the time you know they let me know like no, my parent doesn't go for that or whatever.
Speaker 2:And my mama said if somebody do something to me, do blah, blah, blah. So you know about that thing. And so what I say is I say here's the deal, we've talked about it and we've gotten face to face. Now, if you just really feel like you can't tolerate a person, you stay away from that person Because if it comes up again, the aggression has come toward that student from you. Then the next meeting is going to be with your parent and myself and we're going to sit together and we're going to find out what is it that's causing you to feel this aggression and why do you feel it toward this person or whatever, and the parent is going to be advised the same as you were. If you can't get along with that person, you need to stay clear of that person. But then my class, that's fine. You don't have to sit in the same area.
Speaker 1:Of course, so may come on.
Speaker 2:In a different area and I'm going to stand on that. If yeah, no, no. But you'll be surprised of all of the excuses and reasons that they tell you they can't. You know, they let you know that, well, I can't, because such as like you will. You will because we actually have computers, chromebooks and whatnot, and you'll be at home doing your schoolwork instead of coming to this School where you cannot rest. You're going to have to figure out how to do better in that area, because we will Go ahead.
Speaker 1:No, I wanted you to finish that. But I also want to know how does the parent receive the suggestions from you?
Speaker 2:Parents, parents are defensive Many times and you know, the first thing they say is they tell you something like what the child is, it happened and it didn't think about it. And but now they want to complain because something is going on. And then my next question is who did you, who did you speak to when your child came home and said whatever was going on was going on. Who did you speak to? Who did you report that to? And well, I just told him you know, don't bother nobody, but if somebody bother, you do what you got to do and all it.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I understand it, but let's start from the dynamic of reporting it to the correct people that are in charge administrators or whatever and go from there and get some of that kind of advice and protect. Because once you come to me and told me that there's something going on, then I can, you know, be perceptive, I can look and I can see what's going on. But if I don't know anything, and then when the student that's being bullied or is claimed that being bullied come to my office and they're harmed in any kind of way, and when I call you, the next thing that you say is well, somebody put them. I don't have. I don't have any record of that. I never know why. I ever told that.
Speaker 2:And generally, teachers, counselors, we know the students, we know the students, so if you're someone who is an aggressive player in the classroom, we know who it is. So once it comes to the forefront is kind of like, and they're trying to deny it and explain it and all of that. We know they are. And even though you can't really say you know, no, you're not telling the truth. That's what happened, you know you did this and so you can't really say that. But you can just make them recount everything. Well, count it. Tell me exactly what happened. And when they do, and when they do, that's when you can kind of like unwind what was really going on. And you know what, do you let the parents know that it's a serious situation and that steps concerning that generally end up with the student leaving, leaving school altogether.
Speaker 1:And I hear that's where the hard part comes in. The parent is like well, what are they going to do? Once they you know what am I to do? Well, it's not that you weren't born then. They couldn't continue their educational journey here. You knew this was coming. I think they just don't believe that it's going to happen.
Speaker 2:They don't, they don't, they think it's out of this, and because so many things have been going on lately within schools and stuff and I mean and we got, we got gun violence everywhere you look, is is very concerning within the educational arena about students being bullied and bullying. Because here's the deal People talk about the student as being bullied and hurt and everything, but Many of times it's not the bully that you, the child that's being bullied, that you have to have great concern about, but the bully himself is oftentimes in more trouble than he can because it's the child that's being bullied and feeling like nothing is being done about it Is that child who might go to an extreme situation and get a weapon or something like that to hurt somebody else. So bullying is definitely something that we cannot tolerate because of the danger involved in it on both ends.
Speaker 1:Yeah, what it can lead to, absolutely what it can lead to yes what it can lead to, and it's unfortunate. It's very, very unfortunate. I wish we could put that back in the bottle and put the top on it. But, what I have a problem with is when it makes the news or when it makes headlines, the principal or their superintendent say oh, we weren't aware of an issue with bullying.
Speaker 2:And I'm like BS.
Speaker 1:I'm calling BS on that because even when I was in the first grade, you knew who the school bully was. Even though they didn't bother the smaller children, you knew who the bully was. So how are you going to sit in that chair, swing around in front of that camera and say that when you really should be saying we attempted to address this? So I guess it's easier to say we didn't know, we had a bullying problem. You're gonna always have a bullying problem, whether it's in school, in the workplace or where there's going to be that aggressive individual. So I just I have to call BS on that. I'll be like please, you're just trying to keep your job, but that's not the way to do it. You can't ignore it. You can't put that bandaid on a gaping wound. You can't do that. That's right.
Speaker 1:And then the next thing, that person resigned about a month later. They don't leave because they knew about it. They knew about it. You're gonna get out there. I was not aware. Yes, you were aware. You just chose not to do anything about it. Yes, I know, and that's unfortunate. That's very, very unfortunate. Well, I don't wanna rush you, but I do want you to speak on Grace Card unless you have something else to say regarding your counseling, your education, your ministry. You wanna speak about your ministry and then Grace Card or both.
Speaker 2:That'll be good in that one I will do. I'll kind of convince them both and go out there and say a little bit. In the ministry I am a minister, an ordained minister of the gospel of Jesus Christ. I've been ordained since 2006 or 2007. 2006 or 2007,. I got licensed to preach in 2006 and somewhere between 2006 and 2008,. I was ordained in order to go and work in a church. Generally, when you are in ministry, they ordained you when someone is reaching out for your services in a pastoral or pastoral-like position. So at that time I was assisting another pastor and that's when I became ordained. I enjoy ministry. I thank God for allowing me to be a vessel.
Speaker 2:On yesterday, as late as yesterday, I brought the eulogy for my brother. He's my brother on my dad's side and he had passed. He was only 49 years old. So I brought his eulogy on yesterday.
Speaker 2:But in ministry I just wanna say this make sure that people know that ministry is not about getting up and preaching or serving, but ministry is about serving period. You're serving as many ways, so your phone may ring at 3 or 3.30 in the morning and you need to get up and find out what's going on with God's children and be of assistance when you can. Ministry means that if you have it to give and it is a need, then that's what you should be doing. Ministry means that you're guiding people and teaching people of the appropriate ways to live a Christian life. So ministry has many facets. Grace Card is part of the ministry. That's why I started with ministry, but Grace Card is part of the ministry. Grace Card was born on the back of George Floyd. I was out in the streets when George Floyd was killed on national TV while everybody watched, and I was out on the street and I was like no peace, what is it?
Speaker 1:No justice, no peace.
Speaker 2:Anyway, no justice, no peace. I was chanting that with those that were out there and the Spirit just clearly spoke to me and, like this is not your place right now. Look around, let these young people do this, and they are here to do it, and it's gonna be enough of them to get that done. You have another turf to be on. You have another aspect to dig into, because it's a lot of people just like you who don't know what to do, how to do, how to get out there, where's my place? And that's how Grace Card was born.
Speaker 2:I don't even know I was thinking Grace Card, but I was like, well, what the? You know? It kept coming to me. That Card was acronym and I just it just came to me Citizens Against Racial Division. And so I began to do videos, live Facebook videos, concerning different types of prejudices that go beyond the color of the skin, but gender prejudice, ageism, anything that divides humans from one another. I delving to that. I just recently have started a club. You know had a little private club where you said join. So I'm reaching out to people to join Grace Card, and it will be a platform as to where people can come on and speak and talk about different things that has caught their attention concerning prejudices, racism or anything of that nature. That can ask questions, that can make comment, so, or whatever the case, and the things that I see on that page will be things that I will discuss on the Grace Card platform.
Speaker 1:Okay, okay, okay. So basically, topics for discussion yes, okay. Now, how do you now? I know I've listened to you a couple of times, but it's been a while, because what I have on my plate is spiraling and I got to get those peas back back in the plate. Okay, but I'm just running over, I did not so I haven't been on to listen, but you're very passionate about just equity. I mean, just be fair. You know, let's just be fair.
Speaker 2:Yes.
Speaker 1:And. I think the last thing that I heard you speak on was a woman's right to choose, if I'm not mistaken, and that's been a while ago. It has been a while ago.
Speaker 2:Yes, and I was saying, you know, I truly in the ministry with that, saying that you know people don't like to hear me say this, but God is pro-choice. He's pro-choice. He didn't stop, came from killing Abel, but he could have because he's God. He needs us to choose to do what is right according to what he has given us. And, like I said, me being a minister, and somebody might say, well, I don't need to be a minister, saying what I say, but if I had a child or a grandchild that was very young and that had been molested, raped, whatever, by an older person and had become pregnant or anything of that nature, I would definitely not have anything as far as talking about forcing or saying that that child needed to have that child, because my mind would be that my 12, 13 year old child is a baby and they are here and I have to protect their health.
Speaker 2:To begin with, and in case people who are talking about it being a health issue don't understand, health goes beyond your physical health. Health goes into your emotional health, your spiritual health, things that will cause you to spin out of the box and spin out of control. In other words, they're harmful to your health and no one can make those decisions but you and your family, by God. God does not force anything on anyone. He says choose life, chooses the first word. And I didn't mean to get, I didn't mean to you know you got. You made me get into one of my pet peeves, one of my, my venting sessions when it comes to certain things.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I get that, and I know that there are soldiers, you know there are. There are foot soldiers that are going to be out there in various aspects of diversity. You know it's a big push for diversity and inclusion. And what is it DEI? Diversity, equity and inclusion, and that is in the workplace as well. So you know it is a push to include that. Acceptance module is what I'm saying. That it is, and I get it, I understand it.
Speaker 1:I don't think we, as intelligent as we are as a people and I'm talking about we as Americans as intelligent as we are as people, should have that going on here there is, we are melting pot. We have always been a melting pot. As a friend of mine says, we're more alike than we are different, and that's just people and that is so very, very true. But when things have been rooted and grounded into people, just like with learning, just like with education, the homes that people come out of everybody's not teaching the same, they're not teaching the same thing. You know it is get it for yourself, it's get it for yourself mentality. It's no, no sense of let me help you get there.
Speaker 1:One lady stopped me at the service station many years ago and she said you look so nice today. Thank you, I appreciate it. And she said why can't we just get along? Why do we have to beat on one another? And she was talking about her boyfriend and he had, I guess, just abuse. And she said I just had to get away. Why can't we just get along? And I was like you know, it's really starts with the heart of man.
Speaker 1:Some people don't know how to treat other. They don't have to treat themselves, let alone other people. So the first person that 90s and 10 that you retaliate with is the one who's closest to you or the one that you love the most. But no one ever has probably shown this other individual love and support. You know. So we have to think about that as well. But you can't, you know you can't turn that switch off, because there's no telling how long they've been together, it's no telling how long they have been in this relationship doing what they do. And you know it's just when I got in the car I just was kind of numb, not because of her situation.
Speaker 1:But how do we get in that situation and why do we stay in that situation? And it's across the board. You know, it doesn't happen in a particular race and because she was not, she was not black, our partner was not black or her husband was not black. So we have to understand. It is across the board, just like drug use, you know, alcohol is. It is across the board. It doesn't have a code scheme. No, it doesn't. Absolutely not, absolutely not. So we need to. You know, just as God will have us to show love. Show love. But sometimes when you show love, people look at you as your weaker vessel.
Speaker 1:Oh, I can get her. She's a sucker. Well, no, no, that's not it. You know, if you can't receive my love, then you know, let's just move on down the road. You're absolutely right, I'm so it's. It is um. It's a daunting task but it shouldn't have to be. It's a daunting time and to have people at each other's throats just for your game.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:Just for your game. I've seen one of the owners of a company I used to work for. She enjoyed having her employees separated and you had a great group of employees, very intelligent people, but she wanted to keep them against one another. I guess she felt is they came together, it would be mutiny on the ship. Well, when you encourage that type of pulling away and you know you're my favorite, and what adult person needs to hear You're my favorite? I'm grown, I don't need to hear that, you know. Come on, there is no such thing as teachers. You know, and I was like this could really be a very good company.
Speaker 2:But you're right, that's what they want to push you into.
Speaker 1:Yeah, but you know, but it doesn't work for me. But I saw a lot of people who fail for it. I was like, oh, you look older than I am and you falling for that? Okay though, that's what teachers pack. You know that's just silly. You're an adult. I mean a full bar. I'm not 21 adult. You know you're 30, 40, 50 year old adult.
Speaker 2:Yes.
Speaker 1:You know, and really when you come to work you want to work in peace, but there are just two sessions with somebody.
Speaker 1:Really, you know, and I've had to um, I had a manager and a CEO and two different companies who just love to find somebody. The dish of the day is what I called it. And so when it came um, she called me in the office one day. Well, caroline, um, you haven't been speaking to anyone. I said that's a good thing, because if I say something it's going to be some hurt feelings, because I am not for the nonsense and you should know that. You know me.
Speaker 1:But she said that's why I have you in here, because I do know you better and you should hear what your coworkers are saying about you. I said you ought to hear what they're saying about you. I said do you think I can? Do you think I can? Yeah, but you know, but my point law, anyone and I told her everyone who was out is the dish of the day. So you think, because I'm out, that they're not gonna talk about me. Baby, please, I would rather they talk about me than the way they do each other, because I am my own individual. I'm my own person. I don't have to walk with you, I don't have to eat lunch with you, I don't have to do any of that stuff. That's why I stopped speaking, because I don't want to get involved in the in the, in the, in the, in the, in the I don't want to be involved.
Speaker 1:And so when she found out that they talked about her, she was like I was like what makes you think you're special? You have encouraged this type of behavior and I could talk to her this way, and I would have talked to her this way whether we had a background together or not. But because, come on, you started this. They are feeding off your frenzy and that's not a good thing. That is absolutely not a good thing. Leaders should lead and you need to lead by example. You need to get out front. But because you want to dog someone out today and then you're going to pick somebody out tomorrow, that is just that. That is nutsy to me. I mean, that is just so nutsy, so immature when you have a great group of women out here.
Speaker 2:It's so juvenile. It's nice to meet you.
Speaker 1:Yeah, Very intelligent women. And you want to play Patsy today? Get out of here. You know I don't have time for this drama. You know? If there's anything else, no, I'm good, Let me get back to my desk. I'm going to find you somebody to play with.
Speaker 2:That is so great and we should get there more often, to that place where you know, you know, like, what do you need from me? What do you need from me, because what you're talking, about is common.
Speaker 1:If it's not business, I don't want to hear it. I don't want to hear it. I want to hear it Right. And I have told people if it's not business, don't come over here. If it's not about this case, don't come over here. And they be like huh. I said no, baby, we're strictly professional now. Can't trust you, Can't deal with you, that's right. Wow, no, you're not used to hearing the truth. Is that your wow?
Speaker 2:I don't have time. That's so right. That's how people are, and the thing about it is it has no boundaries. It can be any gender, it could be any ethnicity I like to use that Absolutely, absolutely. It's to all race, because, as I said, we are all part of the human race we are. It could be any. It could be somebody older, it could be somebody younger, you know. You just don't know who, and so it's best to have to work as well.
Speaker 1:And I agree, because that's what it is. I had to turn my fan on. I'm getting a little warm over here. I drunk probably a little bit too much sugar, but I'm good. But it's just. It can happen so easily where everyone can work together and it can happen so easily where everyone is not working together. Which one would you choose? I'd rather have a smooth sailing ship and we'd be late to the party.
Speaker 1:Yes, then, to be the first ones there, and we had to fight our way to get there Every supper away. No, no, that's just not how it should be.
Speaker 1:And that should be a part of diversity, equity and inclusion. Because when you have those naysayers, that is where the riffraff comes in, that is where the dissension comes in. And when people allow that, especially the higher ups, when they allow that, oh, they'll get it done by enemies necessary, but your hands are going to be clean and this person is probably going to have a trip to human resources or some other entity that will bring down the route and they won't have anyone to stand by and support them. And not seeing that happen, what do you think I said it was about to happen? When you're striking that iron like that and you're pulling people apart and you're keeping people divisive and you want to exclude people and it doesn't even have to be on the basis of gender or race, you just want to just exclude them, to make them feel like an outsider You're never going to win. You will not win.
Speaker 1:So those are my issues that I have, and I guess that's why I can safely say yep, I'm a loner, call me what you want, but I'm not going to be with you in that mug. I'm not going to be with you in it, I'm just not. And I don't have a problem with saying no, thank you, no, thank you, I'm good, I'm good. So before we can fix someone else's home, we really need to start at home.
Speaker 1:We need to start at home.
Speaker 2:Mm-hmm.
Speaker 1:What do you have in your closing remarks? Absolutely.
Speaker 2:My closing remarks. I most certainly appreciate being invited to this program and being allowed to be heard concerning my interests, because these are truly my interests, and anytime you need me to come in and speak, I would be done.
Speaker 1:And I would be good.
Speaker 2:I know maybe sometimes you might have other women as well. I would love to be there.
Speaker 1:Oh, absolutely Absolutely. You know the platform. I started it. I put it off. I started it a year ago and I think I may have mentioned this to you several months ago. I started it basically a year or so ago May have been a little longer but I'm just beginning to open the platform up or utilize the platform. Utilize the platform.
Speaker 2:And.
Speaker 1:I just wanted to really just my steps to be ordered by the Lord. It's not who's the first one out, what horse is the first one out the gate, but the vision and the purpose is for even though you have your YouTube channel I mean, you go live on Facebook. There are a lot of people out here who have some good things to offer and some great things to say. They just don't know what, they don't have a platform for it, and I wanted to be that platform that they could have and I've written some books of fiction and I have done some nonfiction.
Speaker 1:Christian, I've been a part of the anthologies and never would I have thought that this would be where I was going with this. Ok, Wasn't on my mind, knew it existed but didn't know it existed. Does that make sense? Well, you're not a part of that world.
Speaker 1:But, I just wanted to Look out yeah, but not Absolutely. But for people like me starting out not knowing where to go, who to go, what to say, when to do. That is why I would like that's my vision for this platform for that beginning author, that beginning LLC, that beginning ministry, so that other people can hear your voice.
Speaker 2:Beautiful.
Speaker 1:And it doesn't have to be all women, because there are some men who have some good works out there as well, but they don't, and they have believe not people come. How did you get started? I was like I have no idea. All I know is I said but God, I said they were like what do you mean? I said well, you know, I ran for public office. Some people know it.
Speaker 2:That's when you get there to start.
Speaker 1:To get started, I said, but I was at that long.
Speaker 2:I remember when you were writing you came to our cousins, to Sheila's I want to say, Savannah was there.
Speaker 1:She was, she was.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and you and your mom came. Yeah, I had already seen the signs and whatnot, but I was like I don't know if I really realized that was our cousin. Yeah, and that's the thing. I've been typically every since, and I don't.
Speaker 1:People didn't listen. And what was funny? What was funny but not funny? Some of my classmates I didn't know it was you I said well, who faced it? You think it was? Come on, that girl. Come on, don't come in with that. Just say you didn't vote for it, but don't tell me.
Speaker 2:You didn't know who I was.
Speaker 1:I got my picture everywhere, but I didn't take it to heart.
Speaker 2:What was that? No, I was down that long.
Speaker 1:But I didn't take it to heart, I didn't take it to hurt. Honestly we laughed at all. But the thing about it God called me to run and I have heard people say God ain't called. It was not a conference call, you were not invited to the conference.
Speaker 1:And anyone who knows me, I was so far out my conference zone and I don't really like being out my conference zone, my conference zone is nursing and teaching. Those are my conference zones. You can put me in a box and I can teach. Give me the book I can teach. But that was so far out of my conference zone, was nowhere near my radar. So I heard him very distinctly and so after I ran the second time and that's when I think we were together and so after I lost the second time, I was like, ok, lord, now I was obedient, I ran a clean race and I said so, what's up? And he told me I have a larger platform. And I'm like, really, really. And I kept saying I sure hope there ain't politics. I don't want to do politics, but anyway, where he puts me is where I will be, because who got or does, he will sustain.
Speaker 1:And politics is not easy. It's not easy work, knock and door, shake and hands and still being your authentic self and you see a lot of people who are not authentic you can still walk away with your head up high, your credibility intact, and that was my goal. I was not losing any of that over that, because to me that's temporary and your name means something, so allow that to be that. But so here we are today with Jenchi's journey, and that name came from one of my books, one of my books of fiction. So I am just, step by step, offering the platform to people who are, like I said, first time writers or who want to be on a larger platform. And sure, people want to, but they really don't want to. People are going to come to you and, like I told one young lady, they're not going to come knocking at your door asking for that book. You have to let people know you have that book available. Well, I don't want to be on social media.
Speaker 1:And I don't want to do that. I don't know how you're going to do that In this day and age. I don't know how you're going to do that. I really don't. So you got to do some research, and she even asked the director of the library so what. You got to put the work in.
Speaker 1:You got to put the work in. And she asked the director of the library what were his thoughts. He said I got to write with Ms Coleman. You got to get a whole social media. The library is on social media, people on social media. It's far reaching. So I am here, I am available, still working out some kinks. I am booked through February and that's a blessing. I'm thankful.
Speaker 1:I don't want to be overly done. If I do an interview a week, I am fine Because it is in God's time. It reminds me of the tortoise and the hare. Just let me mosey on and do my thing my way, or God's way.
Speaker 2:Just let me stay steady, I'll stay steady.
Speaker 1:Yes, just be consistent with what you do. Just be consistent. And I did join the group, grace Carr. I did select the invitation to come onto the private group, thank you, and, like I said, I'm not able to catch you each and every time, but the times that I can, I did.
Speaker 2:So this is just kind of Go ahead, cookie, and that's what, and that's I mean, that's of course what we all have to do. You know you get in when you can get in, but as you get in and you either talk about it or share it or whatever, then it is spreading. I never did think in my mind for Grace Carr to just blow up and catch on fire and everything like that. I've never done a whole lot of advertisement for it. I just go on and I do my programs and people tell me more. People tell me that they watch and shock me about it than I know. I don't even know people. You know co-workers and different people like that, both black and white and Hispanic and Asian. They have listened to it and they're like oh, you know, my male people are the Asians and they'll say they'll make comments or whatnot. And I appreciate that. I see, I believe that it will expand, but I'm in no hurry, I'm on God's journey and it's his time, you know.
Speaker 1:And I agree with you totally. There is no carrot out before me where I am chasing the carrot, but I do want a quality program.
Speaker 2:Like.
Speaker 1:I said, there's still some kinks to be worked out. That's fine. Technology will not always agree with me, as we see.
Speaker 2:Yeah, it changes all the time.
Speaker 1:Oh yeah, you know, but that is truly beyond my control. But not making excuses, but it is what it is I mean. So we just take it one day at a time and I am thankful for each and every person who has signed up who has been scheduled in the past. We really have a good time. We have a great conversation. I've seen people come on very tight and nervous and leave very relaxed and laid back, and I would rather have that. And if I can help them in any way, they know that I am here for it as I am here for you. I love it. So if you would love to close us out in a word of prayer, that would be much appreciated Absolutely.
Speaker 2:First and foremost, I want to thank you again.
Speaker 1:You're more than welcome.
Speaker 2:Carolyn Ford, inviting me. Let us all bow for a moment. Lord God, we thank you, we bless your holy and your righteous. Today, lord God, today and always, we thank you, lord God, for shining down on us. We thank you, lord God, for touching these programs. Lord God, that we are involved in knowing. Lord God, that, in the end, we believe them to be a conduit, lord God, to invite people to who you are and to invite people to become what you would have us to be, which is loving one another as we love ourselves. Lord God, we just thank you right now for giving us these ideas, for soaring them into us, and we ask you, lord God, to touch them, lord God, and allow them to spread, lord God, at the pace that you would have to. Thank you, lord, for all things. Thank you for this sister, lord God, carolyn, that is launching out into her program, and we just want to thank you and say these prayers we ask and we bring before you in and amen.
Speaker 1:Amen In. Jesus' name amen Amen.