Pressed Into Purpose

The Wounded Healer Speaks: Corene Gardner's Journey to Authenticity and Purpose - Part 2

• Valeria Wright • Season 1 • Episode 9

Share episode

Use Left/Right to seek, Home/End to jump to start or end. Hold shift to jump forward or backward.

0:00 | 47:04

Send us Fan Mail

We continue our conversation with Corene Gardner as she shares her powerful journey from hiding her true self to embracing authenticity in every area of her life, revealing how unexpected moments can trigger profound personal transformation and growth.

• Discovering hidden childhood trauma through an unexpected experience at the chiropractor
• Breaking through cultural barriers that discourage therapy and emotional healing
• Creating multiple successful businesses including Pampered Pretty Parfait hair and body products
• Growing an online presence with 8,000+ YouTube subscribers as a content creator
• Balancing marketplace success with ministry calling as a prophetess and co-pastor
• Building a marriage partnership that creates space for both spouses to flourish
• The importance of speaking life over your partner and seeing their potential
• Finding confidence in your gifts through obedience and practice
• Recognizing that authenticity requires being planted in the right environment

Be confident that He who has begun a good work in you is able to perform it. Everything you need is already on the inside of you - dig deep and trust what God says about you.


Thanks for listening! 

Until next time, continue to press into your purpose!

Speaker 1

Hello, my name is Valeria Wright and this is Pressed Into Purpose. I've been through some things myself, traumatic things myself, and you're right, it is super duper painful to relive or unearth something that you didn't even realize was triggering you or was causing you pain. Yeah, I, uh, I, I had a experience. It was so funny. So I went to the chiropractor one time and this is my first experience with a chiropractor and I went to the chiropractor because my knees were bothering me Okay, so he's doing the adjustment. And about my third visit, he said there is a new technique that I am practicing and I said, okay. He said it's homeopathic and I was like, okay, I don't know what that is, but no, okay. He said would you be okay with me trying, trying this new technique on you? And I said, I suppose, because I'm nervous now, right, right. So he took some drops listen, I don't know what these drops was, listen, okay. And he said he put them underneath my tongue, listen. And he said now take a deep. He stepped behind me. He said now take a deep breath. And he started counting and he started tapping. Listen, I don't, don't, I don't, I don't even understand. He got, he started counting from one and as he tapped, tap, tap, he, by the time he got to six, something happened. And he said what happened to you when you were six? I said say what now? He said what happened to you when you were six? I said I don't know. He said just take a moment and think about it. Karine, yeah, yeah, I had to think about it. Corrine, yeah yeah, I had to think about that thing. Yeah, and what happened to me when I was six was my sister almost died and I was standing there looking at her in the hospital bed in the ICU on life support. Wow, saying God, don't take away my best friend. Wow, wow, I was at the chiropractor. Wow, saying God, don't take away my best friend. Wow, wow, I was at the chiropractor. Wow, that's powerful. What that is powerful. I said I ran up out of that place, sir, I'm going to have to go. I got to go.

Speaker 1

Listen, I ran up out of that place, I called my sister. I said you ain't going to believe what just happened to me. Wow, and cause, my sisters were just one of my sisters as a counselor, and so she was going through the process. You know, because you know, if you're going to counsel others. Then you have to walk through that process, as you mentioned. And then one of my other sisters had just started going to therapy.

Speaker 1

Because, you know, in our community come on now let's talk about this is new this is new that we, we go to therapy and that we, you know, uh, deal with trauma. Yes, because in our community, for the longest time, because of so much trauma, yeah, nobody had. You just got to move on. You got to get over it. Because you know what I'm saying, what happens in this house stays in this house.

Speaker 1

And so when I got, I ran up out that chiropractor and I had to call my sister. I said he just made me remember something that I hadn't even I didn't even know it was there. And when I told them about it, they were like, wow, that's pretty deep, okay, so what you gonna do about that? And I was like, well, I don't know, but at least this is early. I said I don't know. But but yeah, dog, um, um, I'm gonna have to really think about this.

Speaker 1

Yeah, and that was my first experience with therapy. Wow, through the chiropractor. And I was like, if I can sit with the chiropractor, because, think about it, it makes sense when we're housing trauma. It affects our body, it does. It shows up in pain, aches. Come on and talk about it. My pastor says all the time some of this dis-ease is unforgiveness. Okay, listen, period. Yes, indeed, and so it's unhealed trauma. It's the things that we don't want to talk about. It's the things that we don't want to allow God to uproot. Right, ask me how I know. Okay, look, listen. God to uproot Right. Ask me how I know. Look, listen. So, if you so.

Discovering Healing Through Unexpected Sources

Speaker 1

So when you, when you first began to really make the shift, what were those beginning days like? I mean, what were the conversations that you were having with yourself? It started out a little uncomfortable because it was different. I was operating outside of myself like it's okay, you can do it. Yeah, I was like fly little bird, go.

Speaker 1

I don't know if you remember the scene in what's Love Got to Do With it. That's one of my favorite movies. Ask Gina, I've watched it. I can quote the movie without even watching it. There's a scene in that movie where Anna Mae is getting ready to go and perform on stage with Ike for the first time, but she's nervous. Yes, that's me. Okay, right, okay, okay. So her sister Eileen says go on, anna Mae, you've been practicing in the bathroom enough, yes, yes, yes. And then she took the mic and killed it. Listen, that's how that was for me. Wow, like I coached myself, like you got it. Yeah, you've been practicing in the bathroom. Enough, yes, you've been practicing behind the scenes. Enough, go on, you can really live this thing out. You can live, you can be you, yes, and be okay. You're still saved, still saved, you're still saved.

Speaker 1

So now we have to talk about all the many things that have been birthed out of you really discovering and walking into Kareem Gardner, the pampered pretty, the influencer, the content creator, the, the, just the multiple entrepreneur. Like you, you have your hand in a lot of things and you don't just have your hands in a lot of things just to be doing a lot of things. You are successful in these different things that you've done. Now, I got to listen. You didn't ask me for no commercial, but I got to tell y'all listen, this body butter from Pepper Pretty, if you don't have none, you better get some, because it'll keep you. It get you nice and soft, okay, you know, you know. And smelling good too. Okay, all right, amen, uh, that's, that's. That was the unsolicited uh, uh, uh, commercial. Okay, pampered, pretty parfait praise the lord, get yourself. Okay, um, praise the lord, so you've got parfait. You have shampoo and conditioner tell me about these things, tell the people about and conditioner. Tell me about these things. Tell the people about these things, because I know about these things. Tell the people about them.

Speaker 1

Yeah, so I launched a hair care line because I've been natural since 2010, I want to say, and so I wanted to create my own product line because of the strategies that I've created for myself that helped my hair grow and thrive. You know, I was natural for seven years and then I locked my hair. Yes, you did. You were my inspiration. One, thank you, one of one of two great inspirations. Uh-huh, thank you, listen.

Speaker 1

So I, I was locked for seven years and I just recently last year, in January, it's been a year I coned out my locks. My heart was broken, people, my heart was broken. I was like, no, I mean, her locks was down here. I was heartbroken. Anyway, carry on. No, you could. I probably broke a lot of people's heart, but my lock journey was purposely done.

Speaker 1

Okay, and once I felt as though I had reached my journey, um of discovery and loving myself. Because you know, when you go through that phase listen to me, man you got to really love yourself, you do. And because I used to be in the mirror like babe, I look okay, all right, babe, it's okay, that had to do what it wanted to do, okay, and you'll be like it, don't go down, like it used to go down, and it it's over here and I want it to be over here. Them early locks yeah, I call it the, the, the beautiful face. Everybody call it the ugly face.

Speaker 1

But looking back on it and where I was in life, I'm always evolving. I don't ever feel as though I have arrived. I always feel like I'm evolving into a deeper version of myself, and so my lock journey was a part of that elevation, evolution. And so when I cut my locks, I felt, when I combed them out, I felt like I had reached a place in my journey, that what the locks were designed to do, I did it, okay. Okay as far as self-love, self-discovery, getting my confidence back, all of the things that people think are cliche when it comes to the lock journey, it really is a journey. It really is a journey to self-love and appreciation, and I felt as though I met that journey, but along the way, I've picked up a lot of tips to help people and women take care of their natural hair, so I created a natural hair care line, and that was a that was a part of my journey as well. The Pampered Pretty Parfait is a shea butter based body butter and hair cream that is designed to, of course, moisturize the hair and skin, and so that was a part that was the beginning phases of me evolving.

Moving Beyond Cultural Barriers to Therapy

Speaker 1

That was like when 2015, that's Tennessee version of me Notice that that was not birthed in Texas. I want to share this because and this just fell in my spirit to share we, when we're trying to walk out our purpose and be who God called us to be and live out dreams, we have to be on the right soil. We have to be in the right place to do so. Yes, we have to be under the right leadership to be able to do that, because it makes the difference. Had I tried to birth that in Texas, it would not have happened. It would not have happened, so I had to be in the right place, in the right region, at the right time, doing the right thing, in order for it to hit the way that it.

Speaker 1

Yes, and then I went on from there to now. I'm content, creating. Yes, you know what I'm saying. Yes, I get, I have over 8,000 subscribers on my YouTube channel. I remember when you had under 100, listen, and I and you and you said, you said I'm going to get to a thousand subscribers. That's what you said. And I was like, okay, then, sis, this is all right, and you was creating, and you was creating and you was creating and it was like every hundred people, you was like, yeah, at 200. Yeah, and I ain't gonna lie to you, I was like I know she's gonna get there, but I don't know how long it's gonna take her. But, oh, my goodness, I got excited every time you got to the next hundred, thank you. And now you are eight thousand, wow. Well, some people may say that's not a, that's not a whole lot, but it is a lot. That's a whole big deal. Listen, that's a whole big deal to be at. 8,000 subscribers, listen, and almost almost 9,000 subscribers, 9,000 followers on Instagram, wow, wow.

Speaker 1

So God is expanding my reach and my influence, but the only way that he was able to do that is I had to be me, authentically. You and I have watched you blossom and spread your wings and it has really been beautiful to see. I didn't realize that all those beginning years you were still in the cocoon, I didn't realize that, oh yeah. But now that you said it, I can see it, and I can see Tennessee you coming out, breaking out the shell and then, by the time listen, by the time y'all left there, you was flying, yeah, yeah, and so you came here. It was just the Birmingham. It's just a part of another part of the journey, and I mean you, you've I feel like you've always walked strong in your ministry calling. I feel like you've always walked strong in your ministry calling, but now you're walking strong in who God has created you to be Totally, and I love it. Thank you, I love that for you and I love that for me and I love that for us. Yes, because the more of us that begin to walk in our authenticity, the more other people are free, yeah, the more other people can see that they can do it and that is okay.

Speaker 1

God told me that I didn't have to choose, mmm, that I didn't have to. It wasn't salvation or being who you are in the marketplace. God said you don't have to choose, you can do both. You can do both, and people will try to box you in yes, they will and say, no, you need to concentrate on the ministry, don't worry about all that. But if we don't bring them together, how are the marketplace going to be influenced by the God I serve? Exactly, exactly, so God said you don't have to choose, you can do both and do them well. And do them Well. You are, thank you, listen. So you have.

Speaker 1

So you, so you've got the pampered pretty and you are a YouTuber and an influencer and recently I have seen your video, your style videos, your style inspo videos, as well as these scents, honey, and listen, I ain't gonna lie to you, you're always smelling good. Okay, you're always smelling good and I'm like you just be mixing the things together and I just and I'll be like I ain't finna do all that, but oh my gosh, she be smelling so good. Look, y'all believe the hype, she really do be smelling that good. When she came home the other day from a full day of work, I hugged on her. I hugged the neck because I hadn't seen her in a while and I was like, oh my goodness, she smells amazing. She really does smell amazing.

Finding Success in Authentic Expression

Speaker 1

So listen when she tells you to do, when she tells you what you need to do to make sure that you layer in the scents and everything. Listen, listen to the woman of God. Listen, because she's trying to help you. She's trying to help you. We're saying you ain't doing all that, I ain't doing it. Listen, I got on one fragrance right now, okay, and I only wear fragrance every day because I don't have time for all that. For me, that's like, as I'm in the shower, I'm thinking about the night before. Really, I'm thinking about what fragrance am I going to wear tomorrow? Really, wow, see, I don't be. It ain't that deep for me, but I bless God that he is giving it to you.

Speaker 1

You see what I'm saying Because I love that you are, you're able to be authentically you. You see what I'm saying Because I love, I love that you are, you're able to be authentically you. You're able to be authentically you in in the uh, not only in ministry, but authentically you in your uh, in, in in your um appearance and authentically you in really every, every aspect of your life. So let me, let me, let's, let's switch over back to the ministry part of it. So you are a co-pastor, you are a um, you're a prophet, you're a preacher. Let's talk about that part and how, how you have been able to journey, to get to a place where you were confident enough to walk in, walk out all those pieces of your calling.

Speaker 1

So my husband and I have always been in ministry together Since we got married. We've always been in ministry, but the beginning of it I was always referred to as Sister Gino Say, who now, oh wow, I guess I did call you Gino's wife. Listen, sister Gino, sister Gino. And for a while I was okay with that. I was good, standing beside my husband, who was a preacher, a powerful preacher, come on, still is a powerful preacher, powerful teacher. Yes, I was OK with that. And to the Lord nudged me and said what about you? You got something. You ain't just a pretty face, you're not just arm candy, come on, you got something in your head too, like the old people used to say. The list said you ain't in your belly, ok, people. You said, listen, you ain't in your belly, okay, okay. And so I started tapping into that thing.

Speaker 1

And then, of course, you know, I went to Iraq, preach, did my thing, came back led praise and worship. I was a minister of music for about 12 years, did that passionately. I love that, that is my passion, I remember. And then my pastor started allowing me to minister because she knew I had did it over in Iraq, yeah, so when I came back to the state, she started allowing me to minister. So that was Evolution as well going through learning how to preach the gospel, learning how to do it the way God gave it to me and not try to sound like Valeria, come on, not using learned behavior in the pulpit, but using authentic Holy Spirit, led word and power that God has given me, and not trying to sound like or mimic Cheryl Brady or Juanita Bynum and you know all the grace that we hear being okay with being me, yes, and being okay with it not sounding like everybody else.

Speaker 1

And then when he refined the prophet in me, that was a whole nother level, I'm sure. But see, the prophet was not birthed in Texas, it was really actually birthed in Alabama, really, I mean. But you were walking in the prophetic, you, you, you. Well, okay, I guess you was dabbling in it in Tennessee, in Tennessee, yeah, but so you're saying that you were, you were really I was trying to come to grips with that.

Speaker 1

Okay, like I hear, I see, I dream, I have open visions, yeah, but I'm scared. I'm scared of what I see. I'm not to the point where I can say, but the Lord is saying well, the Lord wanted me to tell you. I wasn't there yet. I had to have a coach Shout out to my mentor Come on, the prophetess Kathy Robinson, all right, all right, come on, coached me, mentored me into who you see today.

Speaker 1

Wow, and through Holy Spirit, giving me boldness every time I declare the word and somebody come back and say you were spot on. How did you know that? Yeah, yeah, and I give God the glory, absolutely, absolutely. And so now I would say, today I am the most confident in my gifts that I've ever been. Hallelujah, most confident, yes, and it almost brings tears to my eyes.

Speaker 1

We had prayer this morning, intercessory prayer this morning, with our team, and I just wept because God was just speaking to me so clearly. Yeah, and I just begin to reflect on God. I thank you that I'm confident in who I am and I'm not second guessing anymore. Now do I have moments where I'm like Lord, was that you, my Lord, was that me or you. Let me know now before I say it.

Speaker 1

Okay, I'm always walking with caution with God Because I love Him and I fear God. And I don't want with caution. Yes With God. Yes, because I love him and I feel we should, and I fear God and I don't want to get it wrong. You know what I'm saying. I'm not saying perfect, right, right. I just don't want to, because I understand that people's lives are on the line. I was just about to say people's lives are at stake. They are at stake. See, I'm not, I'm not doing this with you. I'm not doing this with you today.

Speaker 1

Jesus, today's episode is brought to you by destiny film and media. Go to destinyfam1.com for all your media needs destiny film and media, your destiny through film and media. Okay, I guess I'm asking you are we talking about your life on the podcast? I got to talk about that too, father. So, literally as you're talking, right? So it has made me reflect on a very recent conversation.

Speaker 1

A couple of recent conversations that I've had, wow, one with my girlfriend that I've known for years, and one with my sister. So I was cleaning out my office about two months ago and I was going through. I'm not the person that cleans and, just you know, throws stuff out, I'm the one that, well, let's look through this, let's look through that. So I came across some of my old journals from probably 15 years ago. Wow, I was just reading through some of those. I was like, okay, god, oh, wow, I've come a long way, jesus, father, listen.

Balancing Ministry and Marketplace Callings

Speaker 1

And I came across a passage that I wrote God has called you as a prophet, kareem. I was like say, who now? Because I don't remember that, you don't. But I wrote it down. Wow, I don't remember that, but I wrote it down Fast forward. I don't remember that, but I wrote it down Fast forward.

Speaker 1

I, my, my eldest sister, is has been called to the office of a prophet, my and two, my two other sisters. They have the gift of prophecy. Now, the gift of prophecy is very different from the office of a prophet. So I knew I, over the years, I knew that I had the gift of prophecy, but I don't remember writing down that God has called me as a prophet, right, don't, don't remember that until I'm reading it a few months ago.

Speaker 1

So I'm talking to my sister, um the other, a couple of weeks ago, and she said and and we're just, we're talking and I'm telling her how God is stretching me in all these different areas and I'm just like I said, in every area, in every circle that I'm in, you know, god is provoking All the people around me, are provoking me to righteousness, and I was like I just, you know, I'm not mad, but I'm just like, really, god, you just going to stretch me in every area to do everything and all at the same time. That's what we do. So you know, I'm an intercessor and I, you know, I'm a teacher of the word of God and I knew that God had given me the gift of prophecy, but I had never, I never walked in it, like not for real, for real, like until I got to where the church that I'm at now and where you talk about, the, where you're planted, it matters Right. So, if I remember, we've been at this particular ministry for probably, I guess, six, five, six years somewhere in there now and, to be honest with you, I didn't want to be there. I didn't want to go there because I said, lord, I know too many people, we know too many people. I want to go somewhere where don't nobody know my name. They don't want I want to go somewhere. I don't want to do nothing, I just want to sit. I don't need to be in nobody's leadership, I don't even want them to know that I know how to do nothing. Okay, and I sat there for a whole year. But I can remember, even in that year, very early on, I'm like I'm I'm remembering this in real time as I'm talking to you.

Speaker 1

I remember sitting in the back of the church, because that's why I like to be in the back. I don't say I'm like to be up front, like so he could pay attention and you know all the things. He want to be where the fire is. I would rather be sitting in the back and worship was going on and God spoke to me and said tell him that it's going to be okay. And I'm like tell who? And I look, I turn around and I see the man. I'm like I don't know this man, I'm not telling him that, tell him that. I said it's going to be okay. And I said I mean, but somebody else could tell him. I don't, that's how we do. I don't know why you want me to tell him, but even in that small thing, when I find about the fourth time, he told me Jesus, you know what.

Speaker 1

I went ahead and you know, and at that point I was expecting something real fantastic and big to happen. You know what I'm saying. Okay, god, I'm going to tell the man that you said everything is going to be okay. Right, I turned around, I tapped him on the shoulder and I said God said everything is going to be okay. Right, I turned around, I tapped him on the shoulder and I said God said everything is going to be okay. And he said okay, I was kind of deflated. You thought he was going to fall out Out of the Holy Spirit. That's what I thought was going to happen. Okay, that did not happen.

Speaker 1

But God was working on my obedience. And so I see that now you know what I'm saying Me and obedience. So I've, I've, I've learned, you know that. You know obedience is better sacrifice. But also I've learned that when you're not obedient the first time, that is disobedient, absolutely. And so that was that was challenging for me.

Speaker 1

But to get back to the point that I was trying to make right, because you know I'd just be going off on tangents, no, you could. I didn't remember that until I read it about the prophet God called me to be a prophet. And I'm sitting and I'm talking to my sister a couple weeks ago and she says, well, because I said, well, yeah, you know, you know, god has stretched me in all these areas. And now they've asked me to, you know, pray at the altar and stuff, and I don't know what to pray. I'm not that I don't know how to pray for people, because I've been praying for people for years. Okay, I'm just more comfortable if I know exactly what it is that you need to be praying, be prayed for, needs to be prayed for. So I can, in my mind, hit the target Right, but God is showing me that has its place Right. But then there's also a time where I just need you to depend on me, right. And so I'm, as you were talking.

Speaker 1

I'm reminded of the stretch in this area that I am currently in and it is very uncomfortable, absolutely. So that was my very long way of getting to the question of how did you deal with that uncomfortability and move past it? Or is there a moving past it? Or is there a moving past it? There's absolutely a moving past it. I think it's just leaning on Holy Spirit, recognizing that it's not by power, nor by might, but by my spirit, says the Lord. So understanding that it's not about us. This walk that we walk is a selfless walk, and us being uncomfortable is all a part of the territory, because if we were comfortable then we would think it's us. Now, that's true, we'll be confident in our own ability.

Speaker 1

But I always tell people when you're nervous, that's a good sign. Now you sound like my mama, when you feel like I don't know about that. Lord, now you're cooking. But when you ever get up there like, oh, I got this, I'm finna, kill them, I'm finna, kill this word. The people are gonna die. Finna, get this word. Now, you in the flush. Now you in the flush, sit on down. That ain't God.

Speaker 1

Because a prophet told me many, many years ago. She said and this is a prophetic word that I got and it's gonna connect. She didn't know me from Adam's Tom Camp, yeah. But she said God has called you to be a prophet, but your gift is not for the house that you're in. I was in Texas at the time. Wow. And she said and when God begins to use you, if you have to think, it's not prophecy, hmm, well, okay then if you're spending time trying to think about what you're finna say or what you're getting ready. That's not prophecy. Wow, I train our prophets at the church. Well, the people with the gift of prophecy at our church. If you're thinking god ain't speaking, yeah, yeah, that's. That's your own understanding, that's you, yeah.

Speaker 1

So for me, the uncomfortability was almost like comfort in knowing that God, god got it. Wow, I'm leaning on Holy Spirit because I don't know what to tell these people. I am clueless. Listen, maybe some Sundays I get up and I'll be saying, while I'm getting dressed for church, and I'm literally telling me I don't have anything to say today. I wish you could hear my inner dialogue. It's on Sunday mornings. I'm not saying nothing, I'm not even going to. Am I going to work all day? Yeah, I'm going to get up there because I'm going to help the man of God. I'm going to help the man of God, but I don't have it. I just feel like I really don't have anything to say. Doesn't mean today's?

Growing Together in Marriage and Purpose

Speaker 1

God used me the most Because I be feeling like I don't have nothing to say, because I don't know what to tell people, and I get in that atmosphere and God start and I start seeing and hearing. I'm like whoa, whoa and people at the altar and they're standing and Apostle G is praying for them and the Holy Spirit would give me a word for that person in the moment and I'm like, okay, and what I love about the way that we operate in ministry we always hold space for each other. Okay, it's never been a competition with he and I. Yeah, because we realize that we have separate giftings and we have separate callings, but we work so well together and it's not like, okay, I'm the dominant gift. It's not that it's never been jealous, he's trying to squish my gift. We work so well together and I'm always so grateful when he opens up space for me. There's never a moment in ministry where he's like, all right, I'm the only one that got the word. You know, I'm the pastor. It's never that, and I'm so grateful that the men in our ministry get to see that in action.

Speaker 1

It's important because in this region it is a very male dominated region where the women they just most of them sit and look pretty on Sunday morning and I can do that. Listen, yes, you can do it very well. Yes, you can, but he understands the fire in my belly, he understands the anointing that's on my life and he opens space in every situation, every altar call, every time we're in a ministry situation. You got anything? I mean, I've seen it, I've seen it in action and I love to see it, thank you. And it is a blessing to be able to witness, because not everybody has that same testimony. Mm-hmm, mm-hmm.

Speaker 1

There are some spaces where, whether it's the male, the man or the woman, mm-hmm, I'm the one that God doesn't call, mm-hmm, man or the woman, I'm the one that God doesn't call. And you just support, you ain't got nothing. I got it Right. And it's like, wait a minute. And what I love and what I see all the time is and I'm going to say this to the women a woman that is fulfilled is a happy woman. Come on, say that again for the people in the back is a happy woman. Come on, say that again for the people in the back when a woman is fulfilled, we can operate at our greatest capacity.

Speaker 1

When we are fulfilled Absolutely and I can't be, I wouldn't be fulfilled if I couldn't be everything that God has called me to be, if I had to choose, or if I had to come in church and be silent. Right, right, right and listen, I'm going to tell you this early in my marriage, I thought that that's what I had to do. I thought that I had to come down, bring myself down so that I could push him up because he's the, he's the leader, right? He's the this, he's the that, and and although although he is the leader and he should, he is the head, because that's where God has called him to be that does not mean that I'm supposed to push myself down. And he even would say to me where is the? Like?

Speaker 1

We had a frank conversation like early in our marriage, probably a year, two or three, because we were just like this, this ain't what we thought it was going to be, like, this is kind of trash, like you know, like the marriage was not great. And we had a conversation one day and it was like, and I was like well, I'm not doing this, this and this, because you know I'm trying to help you do this, this, this. And he was like I didn't ask you to do that, that poet. I never asked you to do that, that poet. I never asked you to do that. In fact, I was looking for the person that I dated for them three years. That disappeared when we got married and I was like, say what now? Say that again.

Speaker 1

I had thought that submission meant I have to dumb myself down or I have to push myself down so that he can be great. That's not what that means. That's not what that means at all At all. And all that, get and get understanding and a real man will tell you that's not what that means. Come on, come on. A real man will push you to your fullest potential and allow you to evolve.

Speaker 1

Yes, gino tells the story all the time. He said Kareem becomes a new woman every year. He told not one lie. Wow, I evolve every. It's feel like every six months, I really do wow, and and it's not like a, it's not a bad thing, it's just God, god grows me in different areas and I start tapping into different passions that I have. And what I love about being married to Gino is he allows me to do that.

Speaker 1

Yes, he creates space for me to be and evolve and create and try stuff. You know, because we're adventurous. Yes, anybody that can pick up their family and move to another state uh, more than once and don't know a soul in the state listen, that's adventurous. And so the fact that I've. I've done real estate, I'm in real estate, I'm in my master's program now. I do content creating, I've worked at sephora all the things that I'm passionate about, and I'm t I'm a first grade teacher.

Speaker 1

Now right him open, not trying to say now you're doing too much. Now you need to pick one thing and you know what I'm saying and set out, and set out somewhere be a good wife. He does not. I'm so grateful that I have a man that says go get it, yes, same, same I. I have a man that says go get it, yes, same, same.

Speaker 1

I have to say my husband has always encouraged me. I love it. He's always pushed me to be the best that I can be. Anything I ever told him I wanted to do, he was like you should do it, come on and you can do it. And recently we've been through our ups and downs, but recently he said to me he was like you know, I, even when I wasn't this is what he said to me Even when I wasn't trying to do anything myself, I always wanted you to be the best that you could be, be the best that you could be. He was like, even though I know I wasn't being the best man or the best husband. He was like I still wanted you to flourish and to win and to grow. And when I look back over our entire marriage, he ain't lied, he ain't lied. And so I was like, well, dang, I mean, but I've been wanting you to be the best that you can be. And I mean, but I've been wanting you to be the best that you can be. And I mean, as of the last few years, he has grown into being and flourished into being all that he can be, and now he's walking it out.

Speaker 1

Yes, but I think about, and I can't live in regret, but I think about what? If I had shown up earlier as my authentic self and not pushed myself down, where would we be? Wow, had I walked in my authenticity early on in the marriage. But you know, I didn't. It's okay, I made a different choice, but I'm doing it now, but you're doing it now, but you're doing it now. And I can see how God is moving in our marriage as I step into all that God has called me to be Like for real, for real, the more I step into it, the more he steps into it, right, right, and I'm just like, well, wow, it's like a partnership. Yes, you know, gino and I have been married. I was 19 and he was 21 when we got married, so we literally been together long. We've been together longer than we've been without each other.

Speaker 1

Yes, yes, and we literally grew up together. Yes, in the literal sense. And it's so funny to think about because, thinking about those early years and who we were then and who we are now, yeah, I said, oh lord, oh baby, I'm so glad, listen, I'm so glad that that God turned it. Listen, because I was a fool. Can I be honest? You can be honest, can I? Can I be honest? I was crazy, I was, was crazy, but thanks be unto God, oh God.

Speaker 1

And I think about both of our journey to who we are today and how we've matured, how we communicate now. You know what I'm saying and how we say okay, remember, I used to. Yeah, I remember that. I ain't like that. Listen, that was whack. You know what I'm saying. I was almost. I ain't like that. Listen, that was whack. You know, I was almost out of here. Glad you got delivered, glad you got that together, because she's about to be homeless. You know what I'm saying, stuff like that.

Speaker 1

Yes, so I think we evolved together. Yes, as as couples you know what I'm saying. When you got the right one, it doesn't matter if we weren't able to be our authentic self. It's okay, because the journey continued and they created space until we got ourselves together. Come on, I created space for him to gather himself. He created space for me to gather myself. I think that's all a part of love and grace with your partner and being able to see them at their worst, but being able to see them at their best. I'm looking at you at your worst, but I can see the best in you Because it's listen. Okay, now we need to.

Speaking Life and Seeing Potential

Speaker 1

I was about to turn the corner so we could shut the thing down, but, baby, listen, listen. We need to talk about, we need to talk about listen. We need to talk about this marriage piece and how it is our responsibility as the wife to speak life, listen, and I learned listen. I learned a piece of that from you. Praise the Lord, listen, because you were speaking life out in these streets and I didn't see it. I'm going to tell you that right now. Let me, is this camera on? I didn't see it, but I spoke it till I saw it. Listen, you was out in these streets speaking life and I said, I said, oh, I said I don't know that, I said about mine, but uh, you know, uh.

Speaker 1

But I saw the potential. Listen, I know, don't get me wrong. I saw what you could be. I saw what he could be, but I was like, but he ain't God, I don't see it. I mean, I see what he can be. Why he don't see it? And cause I wasn't speaking it. I w I wasn't speaking what I saw. Now, look now, you. Look now. You got me going back to the prophet. See, you got to start at home. Yeah, if I can't call out what I see in my house, how am I going to go outside the house, that part and prophesy to somebody else. Come on, oh God, help me, holy Ghost, let me share this with you. Somebody else. Come on, oh God, help me, holy ghost, let me share this with you.

Speaker 1

I can remember when Gino was a specialist in the United States, uh-huh. And I can remember saying you won't be that long, hmm, see, that doesn't fit who you are. So I saw the bigger picture. I saw him at his rank that he was when he retired. Come on Also, when Gino was cutting grass, come on, working at bills, uh-huh, like in his song, strapping Just to Make the Ends Meet, strapping Just to Make the Bills. Let that, let that. I saw him as the wealthy man that he is today, come on. So I knew it was only going to be a matter of time before he stepped into that full potential, the job that he has now. I already saw that 15 years ago. Wow, didn't know how it was coming.

Speaker 1

I said now, lord, I need you to hurry up, listen, come on, jesus, manif. Come on, jesus, bring it to manifest your word, manifest this right now. But God said, no, I'm not going to manifest it yet because there's still some things in you that I need to do. Listen, we got to get up off here. Okay, I listen, listen, we got, we got, cause, cause we about to go a whole nother hour and we, we, we listen, we, I'm gonna have to have you back. Yes, ma'am, on the podcast, I'm gonna have to have you and your husband, okay, together on the podcast, cause, listen, we got some stuff to talk about that's going to help the people. Yes, cause we, we have helped the people today. I'm telling you I'm not got to cut this interview off, cause we gonna be here all night and I and we, we got some other things to do. So, but I listen, let's, let's, let's, let's tie that, wrap this up and tie this in a bow.

Speaker 1

And if you had to give advice to a woman who was trying to understand or discover who she is and who she is in God, what would you speak to her? What would you say? I would say God has given you everything you need to be successful. It's already on the inside of you and he's waiting on you to discover it. Come on, he's not going to allow outside influences to tell you who you are. I know you're waiting on somebody to say hey, you're called, you're anointed, you're a prophet, you're an evangelist, you're a teacher. God is not going to allow, because he has. You have to trust what he says about you. His word concerning you is true, yes, and he wants to know that you trust him and what he thinks and what he says about you. Dig deep. Everything you need is already on the inside of you. Be confident that he that has begun a good work in you is able to perform it. Come on, you got this Girl we won. Come on Listen, listen and on that note, listen. Girl, we won.

Speaker 1

We are going to wrap up this Preston's Purpose podcast episode. I just want to say thank you, thank you, thank you. Podcast episode. I just want to say thank you, thank you, thank you. Prophetess, pastor, entrepreneur, influencer, corrine, wife, mother, daughter, sister, friend, corrine Gardner, thank you so much for joining me today. Thank you so much for your yes, thank you for being authentically you. Thank you for having the courage yes, to step out and be all that God has called you to be. Because you've done that, now other people can see that they can do it too. So listen, we will see y'all next time on Preston to Purpose. Until then, continue to be blessed. Today's episode is brought to you by Destiny Film and Media. Go to destinyfam1.com for all your media needs. Destiny Film and Media your destiny through film and media. Thanks for watching.