Gentry's Journey

ABCs With Jesus

• Various • Season 6 • Episode 4

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What if faith could be the spark that makes reading click? We sit with Dr. Gladys Amerson—nurse, respiratory therapist, educator, poet, and lifelong Sunday school teacher—to explore how Learning ABCs with Jesus blends sight words, matching scriptures, and simple images to unlock memory and meaning for young readers. Gladys explains why kids learn best when they see, hear, and touch their lessons, and how a bit of vocal emphasis from a caring adult can turn a verse into a vivid moment a child remembers for years.

We trace her path from early mentors at McDonald’s and UAB to a doctorate in education, highlighting the service mindset and teaching habits that shape her work. Gladys shares why reading should start before birth, how flashcards create tactile anchors for language, and why sibling read‑alouds build confidence and healthy competition. We talk about small churches, strong foundations, and the simple joy of watching the light bulb turn on when a child connects a letter, a word, and a scripture. Along the way, she opens up about her poetry, leadership, and a vision for future books and a devotional journal grounded in the Bible.

The conversation widens into writing as therapy and legacy. Gladys challenges parents and grandparents to capture family stories—use your phone’s voice dictation, write a letter you might never send, record memories that help the next generation learn faster and live wiser. We close with practical tips for parents, teachers, and church leaders: emphasize key words, match visuals to verses, invite kids to retell the lesson, and celebrate small wins that build lifelong readers. Want to bring these tools home? Grab Learning ABCs with Jesus and the matching flashcards through Rocky Heights Publishing or via Gladys’s Facebook page.

If this conversation sparked an idea, share it with a friend, subscribe for more thoughtful stories, and leave a review with your favorite childhood verse—we’d love to feature it next time.

SPEAKER_02:

Hello everyone. Again, I'm Carolyn Coleman and this is Gentry's Journey. And we have uh a special guest today. She is going to tell us about her book. But I'm going to let Miss Amerson introduce herself. And I may go back and forth with Miss Amerson and Gladys, okay? Because I know her. So anyway, um, Miss Amerson. Excuse me. Tell us a little bit about your background. Because in your background, we want to get to know you.

SPEAKER_01:

Okay, great. Well, my name is Gladys Emerson, and I am an author, a poet, a write, and also I am a registered nurse, a registered respiratory therapist, and I teach Sunday school. And so that tells you a little bit about myself.

SPEAKER_02:

Now, Gladys, now I saw your bio and I saw respiratory therapy. I think we may have been at one of the same hospitals at the same time. Nurses move around people. I know y'all, you everybody knows about travel nurses, but this was way before travel nurses came into. Sometimes we seek out a different position to build different skills. So Gladys and I are gonna talk about that off off camera because we don't want we want her to get her information out about her book. Now, how long have you been teaching Sunday school?

SPEAKER_01:

I'm teaching Sunday school since I was at the age of 16 years old.

SPEAKER_02:

Okay, well, great. Okay, so um it's your class, your Sunday school class. You're not seven or anything, right?

SPEAKER_01:

I'm not what I'm sorry.

SPEAKER_02:

Are you substituting or is it your class?

SPEAKER_01:

Oh no, I am the the teacher. I do have an assistant teacher though, but I am the teacher.

SPEAKER_02:

Oh, that's great. That's great. Now we're gonna talk about your book. So tell us a little bit about your book.

SPEAKER_01:

Okay, the title of my book is Learning ABCs with Jesus. The book has Bible sight words with a magic scripture, and also it has graphics because as an educator, I realized that, and I also found it in the literature that people remember more what they see than what they hear. So my book combines both. It's the visual and it's the audible when the child is being read to, and it also uh involves emphasis. Children remember emphasis. So when you're reading to your child, it's very important to emphasize what you're reading about, and you'll have that child's undivided attention. And before you know it, the child will be able to mimic what you say. They'll be able to remember the sight words, the Bible verse that matches. And when they see the picture, it will automatically register in their mind what the alphabet is, what the sight word is, and what the scripture is.

SPEAKER_02:

That sounds wonderful. Now, what was the inspiration behind the book?

SPEAKER_01:

The inspiration is my love for children. I love to see children when the light bulb goes on, when they're learning and they're growing. And also my inspiration is, of course, the word of God. And so, with those two combinations, I was able to begin my first book. I wanted my first book to be dedicated to children as well as to be dedicated to the Lord.

SPEAKER_02:

Absolutely fantastic. Now, so you're saying your first book, how many books do you have?

SPEAKER_01:

I have one book, but I have so many poems that I have written. And I have one poem that had I had patent years ago when I was working at Baptist Montclair. It was Montclair at that time. Today it's called Grandview. And the title of that poem, I was really proud of it because I was in management, I was in leadership, and I enjoyed working at Baptist Montclair so much because at that time their mission matched my life because I wanted my life to be a reflection of the Lord Jesus Christ. And that's what the mission of Baptist Montclair was. So the title of that poem was A Manager's Prayer. And I incorporated the leadership skills, the traits that's required to be a good manager, a good leader, as well as uh reflecting the love of Jesus Christ when you're caring for the patients and their families.

SPEAKER_02:

And you say that is a poem? That's a point.

SPEAKER_01:

It's called a manager's prayer.

SPEAKER_02:

Can you give us just a little snippet of the poem?

SPEAKER_01:

I don't have the poem with me, but the mission statement is to start off by saying as a basic and a reflection of the love of the Lord Jesus Christ. So it began with the Lord and it incorporated caring for the patient with respect and dignity, and it just summarizes service, being an humble servant for the Lord and caring for the patient and their families.

SPEAKER_02:

Oh, that's beautiful. Now, when you say you are a poet, have you compiled your poetry in one book or you just freestyle have and you write your poetry and you have it? Have you published your poetry? I guess is what I'm trying to ask.

SPEAKER_01:

I have not published yet. That is my goal for the future.

SPEAKER_02:

Okay, great. Okay. Learn something new every day, don't we? That is great. Okay, now so poetry is on the table. And um your book is at next. Or have you published your book at this point in time?

SPEAKER_01:

Yes, the first book has been published, and I have a picture of the cover. I don't know if you can see it very well.

SPEAKER_02:

Right there, I can.

SPEAKER_01:

It has a picture of Jesus surrounded by children, and we're all familiar with this scene in the Bible and in the scripture in the Bible that says, suffer little children to come unto me and forbid them not. And it shows that we should, we should focus on the children because they are in fact our future. And my thinking is that a child will never forget the person who introduced them to the Lord Jesus Christ. In my life, it was my grandfather, Mr. Nelson Cox. He carried me to Sunday school, he introduced me to working and serving in the church, singing in the choir, making the announcements, being the announcer, singing in the choir. Wherever you find in the church where you see a need, get in it and work with it and fit that need. And especially teaching Sunday school. At that time, there there was there were no other young people of age, teenagers of age, that could teach the children. And so I was assigned that job at the age of 16, and I've been teaching ever since.

SPEAKER_02:

Well, that's wonderful. That is absolutely wonderful.

SPEAKER_01:

Yes. So we came from a very small church. So when I say there were not any other teenagers, they were members of the church, but not all members of the church come to Sunday school. And Sunday school is where we build our foundation.

SPEAKER_02:

Well, that is true. Um, I can say that myself. Uh, growing up in church, we did have quite a few kids, various ages. Um, but nine times out of ten, if your parent was um, let's say in leadership, such as a deacon or deaconess or something of that nature, then they would be at Sunday school. But a lot of parents didn't come until it was time for church. But they made sure we were there for Sunday school, okay? And a lot of my good friends I knew from church, from Sunday school, you know. Yes, you know, even though kids are going to be kids, um, the discipline was there. Um, just to you know how to act in church. It's not that you didn't know how to behave in church. You act you were appropriate nine times out of ten, but we you know, when kids get outside and you take that recess uh between Sunday school and church, you know, kids are gonna run, they're gonna build up that energy and just be kids, but you still have the background, you still had that background in you. So I get what you're saying. Um, some of the Sunday school classes were a little larger than others. I remember one Sunday, I was so frustrated. I was the only girl in Sunday school class. All the boys were there. I was like, I got nobody to talk to. You know, so but you know, that wasn't the purpose, but that's how I viewed it. I loved that particular instructor, though, that particular Sunday school teacher. Uh, I thought he taught well. He he broke it down so that we could understand it, you know. So, and that's really what it is all about, right?

SPEAKER_01:

Yes, that's a great teacher that could put it. You meet the children where they are and you put it on their level and you spark their interest, and you capture captivate them and you bring them into the Bible's lesson that's being discussed at that time. And sometimes you have to talk about things that interest them, where they are in school, and you're able to relate what they have in their hearts and in their mind to what lesson that the Lord would like to convey to the children at that time. So it's so important to know your audience, and that's with teaching any class. You need to know your audience, and that's true.

SPEAKER_02:

I think the term they use nowadays is read the room, be able to read the room. Exactly. Um, and a lot of times, not a lot, but you know, most of the Sunday school teachers were mothers or fathers, so the parents, so to speak. So they know what uh raising children was all about. Okay. Um, and so they would ask us some questions from time to time about now, if this was to happen to you at school, how would you handle it? Yeah, I guess trying to give us um some real life scenarios about that. But um I did enjoy Sunday school, honestly. So um I got to know a lot of people, even though you know you grow, you move, you go off to college, and a lot of people make their home where they went to college and they don't come back, you know, they may come back and see it, but that is what I mean. That's just that circle of light. That's true.

SPEAKER_01:

Okay, so your you have another book before I move on to the next book that I have. I wanted to tell more about the learning ABCs with Jesus. Absolutely. This is this is my second edition, and with this edition, I have flashcards. So flashcards that matches the alphabet and the scripture and the picture. So that's important as well because I find that children like to touch and feel things, and they become like attached, they become one with it with whatever they're playing with or touching, and that's also a way to captivate them, help them to remember. And so you're working on so many skills there, you're working on visual, you're working on didactics where they're actually able to use their hand and touch and feel, and that's so important.

SPEAKER_02:

It is, I mean, it's a part of growth, and it makes, like you say, everyone learns differently. That's true, and touch is a big thing, being able to relate, let's say, a for more than just apple, but it does help because the apple will stay in their mind when you ask them to find another word that has an A in it.

SPEAKER_01:

So, yeah, that's true, and even with older kids, they're intrigued when they find out that the word apple is actually in the Bible. And the word B for Bible, they know Bible, a lot of them. Um, sometimes they'll call it Jesus' book or God's book, but just to introduce a new word, Bible, be is for Bible, and and put a scripture with that, and so it just drives it home. So you're taking what they already know and you're adding to what they know, and you're building on that knowledge base, and so that's that's what I love to see, even with adults. When I teach adults, you know, as an instructor, you know when the light bulb comes on. Oh, you definitely have such a connection there, so so important.

SPEAKER_02:

Absolutely.

SPEAKER_01:

So um you did mention my next book.

SPEAKER_02:

Did you um the flash cards? Uh-huh. Okay, are they front and back? Yes, okay.

SPEAKER_01:

So on the front, you have the alphabet and you have the picture. On the back of the card, you have a matching scripture. Oh, and so when the child looks at the alphabet and they look at the picture, and also they're relating how to pronounce words like A is I S for Apple. So they're learning, and the is for is repeated on all the cards. So if they're not, if they're just like uh two years old, three years old, they're associating words, and also with the scripture, as they grow and you flip it over, and it prompts them to remember the scripture as well. And so it's my desire that as more people get the book and get the flashcards, that I will be able to get clips from mom, dad, grandma, auntie, sister, brother reading to the child. And I can also do a little clip with the parents' permission to show other parents what can be done. And just to work with the child and let that child develop. And also it helps them in school when they get in K4, K5, first grade, second grade, they've already established a pattern on how to associate and how to remember and how to um explain and elaborate and use their vocabulary. So there's so many skills that build when you're reading to your child.

SPEAKER_02:

And that's very true. Now and also go on. I'm sorry. Uh I'm I'm I apologize. What's the age group for your children regarding the book and the flashcards?

SPEAKER_01:

I encourage moms to read to their children, to their baby while she's carrying that baby in her stomach, in her womb. Read to that baby while you're carrying the baby in your womb. And lay your hands on your stomach, read to that child, and your voice resonates with that child, and you're creating a bond with that child before the child ever sees the light of day. When that child gets here, they're gonna know the mom's voice, anyways. But it's introduced just that rhythm that you created and the vibration of you read into that child while the child is in the womb, it creates a lasting bond that nothing could duplicate, not nothing could duplicate that connection with the mom and the child. And even I'm told that dad, when dad touches the the mom's uh Tommy or stomach, yeah, and talks to that child, that child recognized the father's voice. So it is so important. Not that they could hear, but they know the vibration, there's a rhythm there, and so um that's very important as well. So the age is from before birth, definitely when the baby is born, read to the child, and then from there on two, three, four, five, and then when the child gets to be six, seven, eight, nine, ten, let the child read to you. That way you can identify, you can identify where the deficits are with that child, and build on what that child needs in order to be successful in life. Books open so many doors, and it's so important for us as parents to make every effort that our children have a fair chance to be anything they want to be.

SPEAKER_02:

I agree with you. I used to read to my kids, then when they start uh were old enough or could read for the read themselves, I would say, now it's your turn to read to me. So I definitely agree with that. And they still have a love for reading. That's wonderful. Um my son is these uh the books or mangas, he calls them, but um he he still has a love for reading, and it is my daughter still loves to read, and so it it does, it does have an impact, positive impact on the kids.

SPEAKER_01:

That's exactly right. And I'll tell you another thing too. Let the the older child read to the younger child.

SPEAKER_02:

I've done that too.

SPEAKER_01:

Yes, because children learn from other children, they do, and they're inspired, yes, yes, exactly.

SPEAKER_02:

I'm sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt, but they want to mimic that other child, and even if they're the same age and one can read a little better than the other, the other wants to be competitive and try to catch up, so it's kind of it's a healthy absolutely, I see it all the time, all the time. Well, I have experienced it, so you are correct, madam teacher. You are correct now. If you want to, we can move on to your next book.

SPEAKER_01:

Yes, um, and also before I tell you about the next book, I want to tell you that I was inspired to continue my education. I have always had had a love for learning, and so some people may say that I'm a nerd, and that's okay because I enjoyed it. It wasn't an insult for people to call me a bookworm or nerd. So, yes, I have several degrees, and my most recent degree is a doctorate in education from the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa. Prior to that, I had a master's in health informatics, a master's in education, BSN nursing, BSN in Allied Health Administration, I have my ADN in nursing and my AS in respiratory therapy. So, yes, I have been in school a lifelong learner, a lifelong learner because I enjoy learning all the time. I don't ever want to stop growing. And so, with that being said, my next book, it won't be a children's book. However, it will be biblically based, based on the Bible. And I'm excited about starting the journey. I'm just working on the outline right now, and then I will begin to build on the book. And after that, I'll plan to compile my poems. I would like to do a devotional journal to provide for anyone that likes journaling, because that is like the the way the thing people like to do now. They like to write down their thoughts. It's a way to de stress and do a mind dump. Things that perhaps may be bothering you, and you can't tell anybody, but you can write it down. That is so that's so I I that's something that I have planned down the road.

SPEAKER_02:

Well, well, take your time, but let those juices flow. Yes, I um I love the phrase, lifelong learner. I tell people all the time I'm I am a forever learner. I love to learn new things. Um, anything that's going to, I feel, you know, help me to grow, stay current, um, just things of that nature. So, yes, I'm trying, I don't have all the degrees that you have, but that's a beautiful thing. I love it, I absolutely love it. Um, talk about making it happen, okay. And a lot of people think it's um difficult, but once you get started, you don't want to stop until you finish. I don't want to leave anything uncooked, half baked, or whatever. I want to bring it to completion. That's true. So you start, tell me your first job.

SPEAKER_01:

My first job. My first job was working at McDonald's, and I was in high school when I started working at McDonald's, and McDonald's groomed you back in that time to be a professional, to be clean, and be courteous, and always push the brand. For example, when you present the customer their food, you had to fold the bag a certain way and present the bag as if you're giving a gift, always with the golden onches facing the customer. When you did have a customer, you were always supposed to be wiping down the counter, picking up around your register, cleaning up. Never stand idle, always smile. And at that time, they really pushed the customer, is always right. So if the customer ate half of their sandwich and came back and said, Oh, this sandwich is cold, we had to give them another one. And that one that was half eaten, it was counted as waste at the end of the day. And so it was so enriching to work at McDonald's because I learned a lot of leadership skills that carry me to this day. That was my first job. Now, my first hospital job was at UAB as a nursing assistant. I love that job. The nurses, the registered nurses and LPNs took me under their wings and they trained me. They let me do things with them side by side. They showed things to me about how to care for the patient, and they explained. And that just made me want to become a registered nurse even more than I wanted to become, just on my own. But I got the hands-on experience and I lived experience, and that's why I can say, Thank God, I am a registered nurse today. I had great mentors.

SPEAKER_02:

That's wonderful. That's wonderful. I um I smiled when you said your first job was McDonald's. Yes. Uh, it wasn't my first job, but it was one of my memories. I remember them all, but um, McDonald's did teach a lot of professionalism, um, hospitality. Yes, they built a lot of skills in people. And I tell people today, don't sleep on McDonald's. I said, now just because you're fit on the corner, you know, we're talking about a multi-million dollar business, and I hope I'm not selling them short, but I said, you know, if you work and maintain, they will help with your college tuition. Absolutely. And they're like, really? That's oh yeah. I where do you where do you think that those hamburgers go? They grow, you know. So you have but they will teach you some quality and some skills that you will learn for life, but you need to be you need to be open to do it and you need to stick around to get it done. Okay, absolutely. So that is that is good. And when you talk about your mentors as an LPN, I had some wonderful mentors as um as a LPN as well. I nursing was never on my radar, all right. But someone told me that they were accepting applications at the local um community college for LPNs, and they said, Why don't you apply? I was like, and do what? But anyway, I did. Went in there and saw so many of my friends and a cousin, and we took the test, and the rest is history, okay. Um, and my friends would ask me, What are you gonna do when you finish? I said, Well, if I love it, because I'd never been around sick people, uh, so I didn't know how sick people could be. As one doctor told me when uh she asked me about my growth story um professionally, and she said, You didn't know people could be this sick and not die. I said, I didn't know they could be sick. I had never been around them, so it was different. But without the leadership and mentorship of some of the nurses that were there, I don't think I would have grown as much as I have in nursing. They gave me a thirst for it, and helping people was just something I enjoyed doing. It just became a joy for me. Um, so um, you weren't from nursing. Did you go from nursing to respiratory?

SPEAKER_01:

Actually, from respiratory to nursing. Okay, yes, from respiratory to nursing, but nursing has always been my priority. That's where I wanted to land. I wanted to land in nursing, and um, I have been blessed to do just that. Okay, and every job that I had, even at McDonald's, I was an instructor. I trained the new employees, I trained when I was a nursing assistant, I was paired with the new nursing assistants. Even when I became a registered respiratory therapist, I received a position of education coordinator where I took in the students. And train the new employees. And then now, as an educator, I am also a certified educator. And so I took that exam. I took certification as a trainer. So I wanted to increase my skills and I wanted to build upon my skills because I already had the passion for teaching. Always had the passion for teaching. I just wanted to get the certification for it as well.

SPEAKER_02:

That's great.

SPEAKER_01:

I mean, just I was able to do that.

SPEAKER_02:

Absolutely. I mean, you you kind of want people to know, and really once you teach, you learn. But you want to say, I'm not just telling you this. I I really from my heart, I don't mind getting my hands dirty. And I went on to get certified in this. Yes. You know, so that, yeah, I get that. That's that that is great. That's absolutely great. So from respiratory to nursing, uh, to a doctorate, congratulations on that. That's a lot of hard work, but it is worth it. It is definitely worth it. Yes. Um you have to put in the work for sure. And put in the prayers for sure. For sure. For sure. Oh, yes, you know, um, I get it. And yes, so uh congratulations on that. Um, because um the work has paid off, and it is a lot of work, but you you've got to want it. Uh, even obtaining my bachelor's was work. Um, you just have to stay on top of what's going on. Clinicals to me was easy, I guess because of my background and uh as being an LPN. So clinicals was easy. I was I had a thirst to learn skills. I just wanted to know. Um, if a patient fainted, I eased in the room to see what uh what everybody else was going to do. You you learn, you have you can't shy away from it. You kind of have to put yourself there out of the way, of course, but you need to be there to see how things are going because you're going to learn, you're going to learn if you sit, if you watch, and and if you and if they see you, they'll give you something to do. So they'll have you participating, and that gives you more confidence that you can get it done. That's right. Absolutely. Now, so from nursing to doctorate to author, and I understand why you're an author, but the transition, I just want the audience to know how you transitioned from that to that. It's a great combination.

SPEAKER_01:

Yes. Um, writing, you can do that at any point in your life. Absolutely. At any point, you don't don't have to wait until you get a certain decree to start writing a book, a point, writing your life story, writing a letter to your mom, a love letter to your husband. So writing is is a way of life, it should be a way of life. And when I was younger, people would write letters and mail letters to their cousins, to their aunts, to their grandmothers. But now writing is more like texting. I'll send you a text, I'll send you an email, but just sitting down writing from beginning to end, that's almost getting to be a lost art. But it's up to us as individuals of how we want to develop our writing skills. Keep writing those letters. Write the letters, even if you're writing a letter to your mom, and perhaps your mom has gone on to be with the Lord, write that love letter. If your mom could read this letter, this is what you want to tell your mom. You have no idea what kind of therapy that that is to release the things that you're holding in your heart and in your mind. So the point I'm trying to make is never lose the art of writing, not just texting, because sometimes with texting we abbreviate. But when you write it down, write it out as a sentence, and you write it as a paragraph, and you write it as a full-page letter, that's art in itself. If you think about it, it's art in itself. Even if nobody reads it but you, you produce that. That's a part of you. So I just want to encourage the audience. You have a gift, you have a God-given gift. Use that gift that God has given you, and you'd be surprised of where the gift can take you.

SPEAKER_02:

I agree. I agree. Don't sit on your talents. That's right. Don't sit on them, utilize them. And writing can be therapeutic, it is therapeutic. So, um, no matter what form you're using it for, I've seen people write and then I mean a whole page, then they ball it up and throw it in the trash. And I was like, Yes, what was that about? Oh, I just put my feelings all on this piece of paper so that I wouldn't have to put my feelings all on her. And I was like, Okay, I got you, I got you. You know, but I heard that as well.

SPEAKER_01:

It is therapeutic. You're absolutely right. Yeah, and even the people that works with mental health, they could tell you the same thing. Write it down, even if it's it's hard to listen for others to listen to, they don't have to listen to it, but you express yourself in the words on paper. So if you throw it away, then that's okay. But at least you got it out of your mind, out of your heart. And and maybe you have to do it more than one one time, more than two times until you feel free. So that's also um, that's not my expertise, um, mental health, but I've I've heard that writing it down and throwing away is very therapeutic. So you're absolutely right.

SPEAKER_02:

Yes, um, that's not my area of expertise, but I have seen it, experienced it. Yes, yes, you write it. It doesn't, it means nothing to anyone but you, but you are what matters at this point in time. Um, it just helps you, as you say, to stay alert, it creativity. So it's a lot of a lot of positives in it, yes, and I think we're getting away. Um I agree with you, we're getting away from the basics, and we're allowing technology to take over. So, where will our brain cells go if they're not being utilized?

SPEAKER_01:

That's true. I I think one one of these days I want to go and I want to do some research just for myself. I want to find out what parts of the brain we are actually using when we are writing our thoughts. And to me, like you said, if you don't lose, if you don't use it, perhaps you may lose it. So we need to use all the brain cells we have. I know that you're using some part of your brain when you're actually trying to bring things, some memory, things that happened when you were a child and you're wanting to express it in a story, you want to write a story or journal about your your childhood. That has to use some parts of your brain. And you it is a part of your brain that nobody knows but you, you and the Lord. But at the same time, you're using those brain cells, just like you said, and so I I would love to do more research on that to find out how we use our brain.

SPEAKER_02:

That makes sense. I I agree with you. Um, it just seems to me, I am truly no expert, I have not been in the lab, but it seems to me if you it's like your body, if you're not exercising and moving your body, you get stiff. So I don't see if you're not using your brain, I see that it's not going to be as functional as you would like it to be. That's just me. Like I said, I hadn't been in any labs, haven't done really any research on it, but I know it needs to be stimulated. Yes, and you're finding more people. Okay, let's just go back. When I was a kid, I thought when you were 60 years old, you were an antique. Okay, let's just be clear, let's just be real. You know, um, you know, I'm not trying to offend anyone because I would be offending myself, okay? So I'm just saying children run around and play, they they play, they run, you know. The guys were playing basketball, girls didn't play basketball when I was in school that I can remember. We did volleyball, okay? They did softball, but I'm just saying that to say people were active, okay. And when you see people who aren't as active, they get stiff. You're right, they can't stand, they can't walk as uh with um confidence, and they're always afraid they're going to fall. That's right. So as much as we can, we need to be moving. Yes, and we need to encourage other people to move. Uh, my mom outwalks me, let's just be very clear. But she's been walking for a long time because I would be I was at home in the bed, and uh, I don't know if I was working on my BS or whatever, but you know, when you're working on your degrees, you're on little sleep, okay. So I'm trying to get as much sleep as I can, and she would come in, you want to go walk with me? I was like, What is it? And who wants to do that? And so she would do it just to aggravate me. So I'd laugh and go back to sleep. When I woke up, she's back, she's refreshed. She, I'm like, oh, so after I finished, but no, while I was in college working on my bachelor's, I would go to the weight room. And I would go to the weight room at Sanford and I start doing weights because I needed to burn off some of that energy. Okay, some of the frustration, some of the test questions, some of the what's next things. And I just I did weights for a long time, and then I was like, oh, look at me. I wasn't doing it to build muscle, but I did. And um, that gave me when I left out of the gym, I'm I'm refreshed, I'm renewed, I'm ready to take it on again, you know. So we do need to stay as active as I mean, come on, you know, within your limits. Everybody has limits, and everybody has some people have more limitations than others. But what does therapy encourage? They encourage you to move, they encourage you to move as much as you can move, do as much as you can do. You have surgery on your knee or your hip. You can't sit on that. That's true, you have to move, you know. So that's why I it goes back to equate that with learning and utilizing your mind.

SPEAKER_01:

Yes, you said something that was intriguing to me about technology, and I want to encourage people that feel like they can't write. Maybe it prevents them from writing with a pen and pencil paper. Our cell phones has the technology where we can talk into a note on our cell phone, and it will dictate your story, your journal. And I'd like to encourage, especially the senior citizens, write your story, tell some of the things that you experienced as you grew up, and share these with your children, your grandchildren, great-grandchildren. It's your story, and it matters to them what you've experienced. And perhaps they can learn from some things that you went through, and they can learn not to do the same thing or do the same thing and perfect it. So I do, I do want to encourage the ones that would like to share their story with their family, do it, it's so valuable, and it's it's worth more than money or silver or gold. Your experience, share it with your loved ones, it matters.

SPEAKER_02:

You are so correct. Um, I have put off, I have my questions for my mom. My cousin recorded his mom. He would ask her questions. He would um, and she, I mean, from back in the day, as far back as she could remember, and he would always record um her voice and her answers, and um so he did it way before she passed, and so I was just so and he was like, We have to keep, we have to save these memories, and he was so right, you know, and she would answer, uh, and it would be appropriate. And some of the stories I remember my aunts and my mom talking about, and I'd be like, Wow, you know, that is the best thing to do. So, yes, Miss Amerson, we need to do that. I mean, how else are we going to preserve that legacy?

SPEAKER_01:

That's right, absolutely.

SPEAKER_02:

So I have enjoyed you. Is there anything else you want out before you tell us where and the names where we can get your books? The names of your books, remind everyone. Is there anything else you want um the audience of Gentry's journey to know?

SPEAKER_01:

Yes, I just want to reiterate that everyone has a story to tell. Tell it, share it, and by your passion, and whatever that is, if you make the best pound cake in Alabama or in the United States or in the world, brag on yourself, write that recipe down, share it with the world. That's a part of you, and so whatever it is, what whatever your passion is, love for children, love for plants, love for cleaning. Maybe you know how to do the cleaning around the house, and your house is spick and span. Help someone else, so always, always think of helping others, and you can't help but to reflect the love of God because that's what his will is. His will is for us to love one another, and so that's that's what I want to leave with the audience. And my book can be found.

SPEAKER_02:

Oh, one second. Okay, I do apologize. It is Dr. Amerson. Okay. I said I know, I know, I know, but hey, you worked hard on that degree.

SPEAKER_01:

But you know, it is it's a degree, and we are encouraged to just make sure that doctor is used when we are presenting publicly. Absolutely and just talking one-on-one. I'm fine with Gladys. That's fine with me.

SPEAKER_02:

Absolutely.

SPEAKER_01:

So yes, thank you so much though for acknowledging that.

SPEAKER_02:

Yes, you're more than welcome. I try, um, I definitely try. Um now tell us where we can find your books and your cards.

SPEAKER_01:

Okay, there's a printing company in Birmingham, Alabama, and it's on Valley, West Valley Avenue, and in Homewood, it's right next to the Homewood Police Department. It's called Rocky Heights Publishing. Rocky Heights Publishing. And I shared with you a QR code. Um, Miss Coleman, if you feel like you can display that QR code where your listeners can scan the code and they can order the book along with the cards, the flash cards. Or you can go to my Facebook page, Gladys CoxAmerson, and you will find a flyer. I will post it on my profile picture where you can also scan the QR code and place an order for the book there as well.

SPEAKER_02:

Well, that's wonderful. Thank you so much for sharing yourself.

SPEAKER_01:

I forgot to mention, excuse me, I forgot to mention that they can order it directly from me by inboxing me. But yes, you can inbox me on Facebook. And so, yes. So three ways you can get the book.

SPEAKER_02:

Okay. The three ways again, go ahead.

SPEAKER_01:

Rocky Heights Publishing.

SPEAKER_02:

Uh-huh.

SPEAKER_01:

You can um scan QR code on Facebook or you can um direct message me on Facebook at Gladys Cox Amerson.

SPEAKER_02:

That's wonderful. That is beautiful. Thank you again so much for being a guest on Gentry's Journey. Thanks for having me. I enjoyed having you.

SPEAKER_01:

It's been a pleasure.

SPEAKER_02:

It has been a pleasure. You never know about people until you sit down and have a conversation with them.

SPEAKER_00:

That's right.

SPEAKER_02:

Absolutely. Well, uh, audience, um, this is Carolyn Coleman. Welcome. Thank you for tuning in to Gentry's Journey. I really do appreciate it. Thank you so much.