Some may call this straight from a fairytale but this is my reality. While my classmates were prepping for junior prom, I was dropping out of high school to care for my ailing mother. By age 19, I’d lost my beloved mother who was the matriarch of our family. Couple that with being a young mother of a 9 month old and now having to care for my 5 year old brother, grieving amid my harsh reality left my young mind in total shock and disbelief.
I was raised in the church and spiritually grounded but at this critical point in my life, I wanted no parts of God as I felt abandoned in my most vulnerable state. I remained in this dark place for months while juggling my new role of mother and head of household. Then like lightning one day it hit me. I had to get out from under this grief and honor my mother who would not have wanted me to live in despair.
So I returned to school, obtained my diploma and trained as a home health care provider. This career choice was my way of giving back to a service my mother had received for several years. During this time, I worked several jobs while obtaining an associate’s degree in information technology and computer programming. I’d later become a pastor and pastoral counselor.
While working as a home health care provider, I observed so much pain, disparity, and misfortune among the patients and families I cared for. Many lacked resources and would often have to choose between eating a meal and paying for their medication. Soon I found myself speaking on behalf of my patients and educating their families on resources available to help care for them. My bosses noticed this and quickly promoted me to a patient care liaison.
As I advanced in my new role, I gained a reputation for the quality of my work. Unfortunately, my passion for honoring the legacy of black heroes resulted in me losing my job for not coming to work on one MLK day (something that was previously agreed to). As fate would have it, within 2 months, I was hired at another company as branch manager where I outperformed my colleagues and was promoted to regional director in the largest home health care company in my state. But, not everyone was thrilled for me and soon the owner’s insecurity would sever our professional relationship.
However, I believe every setback is a set up for God’s divine comeback. Man’s disappointment is often God’s blessing. Soon I secured another job where I was hired as vice president with a six figure salary. My charge-was to take the company to the next level as they prepared to go public and that I did for several years. Then soon like déjà vu. One of the senior executives at the company discovered how much money I made and was determined to sabotage my integrity by trying force me to terminate & replace those with seniority. Those efforts failed with my integrity unblemished.
It was at this juncture, I decided to heed the advice of my husband and inner circle, to step out on faith and start my own business. And so I quit my job, partnered with a colleague and we started our own home health venture. However, after just 2 years of financial losses, my partner gave up on the business and I was left to run solo. For the next 7 years, I endured financial losses regularly forgoing my salary to pay my employees. Every professional voice of reason from my accountants to attorneys advised me to shut down but my faith wouldn’t buckle. God said it and I believed it so I hustled day and night trusting God will see me through.
In the process my circle got smaller, I fired my attorney and avoided people that were negative towards my vision. By the 8th year things began turning around and today I am running a highly successful and the first Christian-based home health care business with multiple branches in my home state. Staying true to my faith which I nearly abandoned, the mission of my business is to care for not only the body but the mind, spirit and soul of our clients and their families.
My advice for queens undergoing grief or any of life’s challenges is “Eternity is too long to be mad at God.” Don’t turn your back on God because in your moment of grief and despair is actually where he’ll best show you strength and growth to reach your God given potential.
Signed by,
A Queen.