Geleta Parker

What drives me is my why, my purpose. I believe truly that everything I've been through, the good, the bad, the ugly, the victories, the setbacks, the health crisis, the disappointments, the lessons, and the healing, it was never for me. Those seasons where I felt alone, misunderstood, overwhelmed, the uncertainties about what was next, if I can take those experiences and help somebody, if I can help somebody as I travel along, if I can help somebody with a word or a song, then my living shall not be in vain. What pushes me is knowing that there are women and children and families who are one conversation, one resource, one meal, one opportunity, or one moment of encouragement away from a completely different future. My faith pushes me. I believe we've all been given gifts, experiences, assignments, and talents. When I was about 18 or 19, my mentor Dr. Miles Monroe asked us what is the richest place on Earth, and he said the richest place is the grave because many dreams, aspirations, books, talents, and gifts die with the person who was purposed to write them, to start the business, to do whatever it was. I made up my mind that day that I will not contribute to the grave. Every gift, every talent, every hard truth, every motivation, every transformation, everything that God has given me, I am going to sow, I am going to say, I am going to serve, so that it doesn't end with me. It will continue on to the next and the next. I am going to die empty. That's my purpose. That's my why.

The best advice I ever received came from my mentor Dr. Miles Monroe when I was about 18 or 19. He asked us what is the richest place on Earth, and we had no clue. He let us blurt out all these crazy answers, and then finally he said the richest place on Earth is the grave. We were like, what? And he repeated himself, the richest place is the grave, because many dreams, many aspirations, many books, talents, gifts die with the person who was purposed to write them, to start the business, to sing, to open, to do whatever it was. Once it's dead, it's dead. The generation stops with you. I made up my mind that day that I will not contribute to the grave. Every gift, every talent, every hard truth, every motivation, every transformation, everything that God has given me, I am going to sow, I am going to say, I am going to serve so that it doesn't end with me. Another lesson I learned from my grandmother, and I just learned as an adult that it's actually Scripture, is that in order for God to bless you with more, you have to take care and steward the little. It's training ground. What are you going to do with the little that I have put in your hand? How are you going to make that work?

My best advice is to not rush becoming who you are meant to be. We live in a world where everyone is comparing themselves to everyone else, especially with social media, and it makes it look like everyone has it figured out today, everyone is successful, everyone is ahead of you. But what I've learned is that comparison will steal your joy, it will steal your confidence, and your purpose if you let it. Focus on becoming, not proving. You don't have to prove your worth to anyone. Invest in your character, invest in your faith, invest in your education, that's still a thing. There's a difference between information and education. Invest in your relationships and your personal growth. Learn how to be faithful with what is in your hands today. Whatever it is, if it's a mixing bowl, a mixing spoon, flour, sugar, butter, and egg, start with that. Start with what you have before you worry about what's next. Don't be afraid of the hard seasons, because some of the greatest lessons you'll ever learn will come from the moments you never would have chosen for yourself. Most importantly, know who you are and whose you are, because if you don't know who you are, the world will gladly tell you who you should be. Know your values, know your boundaries, know your purpose. Technology will change, AI will change, careers will change, industries will change, but integrity, wisdom, compassion, discipline, and faith, those things will never go out of style. Stay teachable, stay grounded, and trust the process, because God is far more interested in preparing you than He is in promoting you. When preparation and opportunity meet, that's where purpose begins to unfold. Don't rush becoming who you were meant to be.

My faith is the foundation of everything I do. My faith isn't a part of what I do, it is the foundation of what I do. I pray every single day, as long as you wake me up, I'm going to get up and show up so that you are glorified and I am able to edify your people. I also pray, Lord, make me so small, so that people can see you, your love, your light, your mercy, and your grace within me from afar ways off. Before they meet Julita Gigi Parker, let them see you first. That's my prayer every day. Stewardship is a big deal for me. I really take stewardship very seriously. I have to be a good steward of every dollar. I teach my women and children not to make emotional decisions regardless of how good it sounds, you have to think about it, you have to pray about it. Honesty is critical because there's no healing without honesty. We have to be honest, and then after we're honest, we have to be able to put in the work to get to where we need to be. I'm not afraid to tell the truth, whether it's my story, especially as it relates to me, because I don't want to be a hypocrite. I show up with the hard things, I write about the hard things, I write about the truths that I've experienced. Every day I ask the Lord to show me me, the good, the bad, and the indifferent, because that's the only way we can grow.