So.... I'm Adopted Podcast!
This podcast creates a space for genuine conversations about adoption, where emotions are acknowledged, journeys are reconciled, and a healthy acceptance of truths is fostered. Delve into the impact of adoption on all parties involved, gaining insights from adoptees, adoptive parents, biological parents, as well as professional psychologists and social workers. Explore the realities, reconciliation processes, and ongoing dynamics of adoption.
So.... I'm Adopted Podcast!
Healing Hearts: Family, Forgiveness, and Faith
What shapes a person's path more profoundly: the family they’re born into or the family that steps in during times of need? This episode unearths the stories of famous adoptees like Ice-T and Simone Biles, whose lives were irrevocably molded by non-traditional family dynamics. Hear how Ice-T's aunts provided a sanctuary after he lost his parents, and how Simone Biles' grandparents became her bedrock after her turbulent experience in the foster care system. These narratives reveal the resilience and strength that can flourish within non-traditional family structures, and the irreplaceable roles extended family members can play in offering stability and love.
The emotional intricacies of family relationships take center stage as we recount Kirk's heart-wrenching reunion with his mother after over two decades of estrangement. Confronting deep-seated pain and unresolved trauma, Kirk's story brings to light the necessity of understanding, forgiveness, and compassion in healing broken bonds. Through his experience, we explore the cyclical nature of familial pain and the immense struggle that accompanies seeking closure and answers from biological parents. This chapter highlights the power of grace, empathy, and the arduous journey of emotional reconciliation within families.
Finally, the focus shifts to the profound process of emotional healing, barriers we erect to shield ourselves from trauma, and the impact of sharing personal struggles. Inspired by Kirk Franklin’s candidness about his own challenges, we underscore the importance of addressing emotional barriers rather than masking them, and the healing power of open communication and forgiveness. These stories illustrate how brokenness does not diminish one's capacity to inspire and create, much like how broken crayons can still color. Through faith, hope, and perseverance, we aim to inspire listeners to recognize their collective purpose and the transformative potential of their own stories. Tune in for a compelling discussion that will leave you pondering the powerful dynamics within your own family.
Music by Curtis Rodgers IG @itsjustcurtis
Produce and Edited by Lisa Sapp
Executive Producer Lisa Sapp
Executive Producer Johnnie Underwood
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Welcome to the so I'm Adopted podcast, where we talk everything adoption. This journey is not one we take alone. Together we grapple with raw emotions that surface from adoption stories. We want you to be comfortable enough to heal, so sit back and go with us on this journey as we dive deep into adoption.
Speaker 3:Episode nine, take 1. 9. Welcome everybody, I'm John. And I'm Lisa and we are adopted we finally did it right Only 9 tries but we want to thank you again for taking the time to tune in with us. It's been a minute since we have come to the table, yes, but we are still excited about this opportunity and we have been discussing this platform with others and we're just learning again. This is about non-traditional relationships and families, and we have more in common than we don't. Absolutely.
Speaker 1:Absolutely. So, as always, you common than we don't, absolutely, absolutely.
Speaker 3:So, as always, you know, we start off, we want to jump right in, and we started a segment a few episodes ago. We talk about famous adoptees, right? Yes, you want to share yours first, or you want me to go?
Speaker 1:You go, because we'll probably end up going into our next conversation.
Speaker 3:Okay, so mine I was very surprised, Mine is iced tea, Really. So what happened with iced tea? His mother passed away when he was three and his father passed away shortly thereafter and as a result, then his aunts stepped in and they adopted him and they cared for him.
Speaker 1:Because he used to live in New York and then he moved to California.
Speaker 3:Yes, yes.
Speaker 1:Yes, I remember, I remember.
Speaker 3:You know, and again, opening the umbrella to just non-traditional families, it really paints a picture that you know, everybody is familiar with the nonontraditional situation or household, but there are so many different layers to it, so many different responses, so many things that get swept under the rug. And again I'm just. I learned so much because now I'm trying to figure out who else is carrying this torch of nontraditional familyhood.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and also the piggyback off of that is. It's very common that the family steps in and takes the child in, and that leads me to my person.
Speaker 3:Look at that. It's organic. It's supposed to happen that way. It's supposed to happen.
Speaker 1:So I have you know, in honor of the Olympics that just passed, um, I won. My person is Simone Biles, okay, and I don't know how. It's not that much of a secret that she was. She's adopted. She's adopted by her grandparents, okay, and her mother was, you know, on drugs and alcohol, and it was for them.
Speaker 1:She had a younger sister and two older siblings and at the time her mother couldn't care for them, so they were in the foster system. So they were in the foster system, her and her sister. All four of them were in the foster system for at least three years, wow. So I think they went into the foster system when she was three and by six. So the two older ones the grandfather's sister took them and they were in Ohio, right. And then the grandfather took the two younger ones, which is Simone and her sister. Oh, wow.
Speaker 1:And the thing is that the father told his daughter, which is Simone's mother, don't have any contact with them. I don't want you to come by because I don't want you in and out of their lives. They've been through so much drama already and traumatic situations of going into foster care that now they're gonna be in a stable home and she hasn't been there because the father said don't come at all, he set the standard. He set the standard at the beginning, you know. So that was interesting because she's still with her parent. I mean her, her biological parent, grandparents, but she calls them mom and dad. She doesn't call them grandma and grandpa, she calls them mom and dad. She doesn't call them grandma and grandpa, she calls them mom and dad.
Speaker 3:I wonder, now that she's older, has she had any interaction with her mom?
Speaker 1:So that's the thing. I don't know if you've seen in social media, because I'm always on social media and so I know these things. Her mom has spoken out this recently in regards to Simone and her, her take, and everybody has an opinion because, yeah, everybody has an opinion and you're entitled to your and you're entitled to your opinion, but my opinion is I feel that she is.
Speaker 1:You know, she's remorseful and what she's saying right now she's speaking to I think it was Daily Mail and she said that I want to be forgiven. I want to have the opportunity to ask for her forgiveness. I want to be able to answer any questions that she may have, because she doesn't know what she was told. She hasn't spoken to her. She has no relationship with her. Now she speaks to the little sister. Okay, a little bit, not a lot, but she does have some type of an interaction with her, with Simone. She doesn't. She was like I think the interviewer asked her so do you have a phone number? She was like yeah, I have it, but I never used it because I want her.
Speaker 1:See, this is my opinion no, no, I got you.
Speaker 2:She doesn't want to.
Speaker 1:When Simone is ready to come and speak to her, she's ready for her to come whenever she wants to come. Now, based on what she stated, she's sober, she's clean. I don't know how long that's been, but she's clean, she's sober, she's working as a cashier somewhere in Ohio, so she's trying to get her life together, okay, and she's just whenever she's ready. She's like yeah, my daughter got married and I wasn't there. I wish I was there. You know, I want to be a part of her life, but I'm not going to be a part of life if that's something she doesn't want. Okay, and I can respect that. So she's really putting it on her. Okay, that's good, right, right, and so I feel that she's sincere, absolutely. She's in what she's stating, in her position.
Speaker 3:So my initial processing face that caught you off guard was all right. Are we doing this right now because of the fame and what's going on, you know, and wait a minute. Ok, go ahead, I'm sorry I was giving you my yes, yes, yes, go ahead. And as you continue to talk, you know I wrestled with OK. How did you get the number? Does?
Speaker 3:Simone know that you're trying to reach out Like. These are the questions, having traveled that road, that I'm asking, right, but then to hear her say, if she doesn't want me to, I don't want to say, if she doesn't want me to, I don't want to. I respect that. Yes, you know. I would just hope that those conversations have been put out there prior to this and not just in a public manner. But again, you don't know, and we don't know because we don't know how.
Speaker 1:If she has, she hasn't gotten a response before or anything of that nature. So we don't know, because everyone was saying, oh, she's just doing that because you know.
Speaker 3:Again, simone just didn't come out this Olympics, right, she's been known for two other Olympics so let me ask this, though, as a a mother and I don't have the mother, I don't have anything of that nature but as a mother, when Simone went through what she went through in that dark season, if mom knew who she was which we all assume she did, or maybe she wasn't clean at that time she could have still been. You know, I don't know. But the question would be does that mother gene kick in and override?
Speaker 1:Because of that mental situation she went through. I don't think that would have been a good, a good thing for her to even pop up. That would have made everything worse. Okay, considering that, since she's been three years old, right. The first time you come in, come in is when that's just going to add to it.
Speaker 3:Add more questions.
Speaker 1:You know so, and Simone talked a little bit about when she was three and all the stuff that they had to go through. She was like the cats were eating better than than we were. So they were, and she's like you know, I, just I, I was taking care of my sister she's three, taking care of her baby sister because she felt that she had to but that happens more frequently than not right you know, that's that a lot of kids are forced to be adults sooner than they then they need so.
Speaker 1:Therefore, her mother coming in at the time that she had her issues in 2020, no, that would have no, no, that just would have added, added to it to where maybe she wouldn't have been able to perform and be in olympics. This you know, you just don't know, you just don't know. But I feel she's sincere and it was just crazy how she wants to be forgiven. She wants the opportunity to be forgiven, right To apologize, to speak her truth.
Speaker 3:In that sense, speak her truth in that sense, but it's the daughter who is not coming out with open arms. Oh so it's been documented, it's not?
Speaker 1:documented, I'm assuming because you haven't heard anything and we haven't. You know, or I'm sure if simone did, the mom would have said oh well, we did speak at one point or another in the past, but but not recently, or something like that. But she's like they haven't had any communication.
Speaker 3:That's one of the challenges with being in the public spotlight. You know everything. You have to second guess what people's motivations are and how will this impact me on this platform and it's just a lot to it, so I encourage and you know. Pray for all those that are in that public eyes challenge.
Speaker 1:Exactly.
Speaker 3:So, yeah, and again, this is why this you know celebrity who's adopted pieces is impactful, because you're able to see. You know what. I'm not the only one going through this.
Speaker 1:No, you're able to see. You know what? I'm not the only one going through this. No, you're not. And then, if everything didn't play out the way it did, would Simone Biles be Simone Biles?
Speaker 3:everything has a reason.
Speaker 1:Everything has a reason, because her mom probably wouldn't have been able to afford.
Speaker 3:Right the care.
Speaker 1:The care, the gymnastics, because her and her sister were gymnasts. Oh, is her sister still a gymnast? Her sister just. She just decided to bow out and not do it because everybody kept comparing her yeah. And she was like, eh, I'm on, but she was good oh yeah, but she wasn't Simone Biles she wasn't, but she won her share that's the thing never heard of right and her thing was, I think, is dance.
Speaker 1:she was more into dance, so her passion for it may not have been as passionate as Simone's Gotcha, but she was. She can do it very well.
Speaker 3:That's awesome. Well, we continue to pray for the Simone.
Speaker 1:The Biles family.
Speaker 3:It's been a long day, but it's all good. So again, please hit that like button, hit that share button. Follow us on various social media platforms. We're on Spotify, apple Music, wherever you can get a podcast, we are there, and our goal, our desire, is to help just improve healthy families and relationships. Improve healthy families and relationships yes, that is what we have strived to do. God placed this on our hearts to share our stories and do that transparency. I've had people reach out. Please, if you are willing to come on our platform and share your story, even if you're not willing to share, but you just want to talk to us about our experiences or different resources, if you are someone who has resources for the adopted community, please share them with us. We have learned about various conferences, various retreats for adoptees and for parents of adoptees and other connected entities, so we're thankful for this safe space. We recognize that it is a heavy task, but one that is needed.
Speaker 3:So again, that is our celebrities who you didn't know were adopted. Yes, so let's jump in for our topic for discussion today. I am excited about this and I'll let you kind of give the lead.
Speaker 1:So you know how I mentioned Simone Biles. It's like her mom wants the opportunity to ask for forgiveness. So we're going to do a part two with Kirk Franklin and how it's like he wants his mother to ask for forgiveness, right, and she ain't having it. She's still not having it. So recently he was on a podcast with um cam newton. I mean was if you haven't seen it, you have to see it.
Speaker 3:And don't let us spoil the interview. It's a long interview and Cam goes real deep. He goes beyond the churchy questions and Kirk actually encouraged him. He said listen, man, don't ask me those questions. And it yielded some good fruit. Yes, it did those questions and it yielded some good fruit. Yes, I think it yielded some good fruit. Another illustration that you know we all have something that we're carrying in our backpack yes, it was.
Speaker 1:I have to give it to Cam.
Speaker 3:He was really good yeah, I would have expected that type of product from you know the club Shea, because those are the interviews that he's been given exactly and yes, cam Newton knocked it out the park big shout out to Cam, shout out the park, knocked it out the park.
Speaker 1:But so tell me what you know set you back. What were you surprised to hear in that?
Speaker 3:So in the what surprised me, there were a couple of different nuggets, different nuggets, but what floored me, what actually pierced me?
Speaker 3:when he shared the story that he never talked about publicly and he shared, how you know, they were caring for the sister and all the family got together and his mom came in with her new boyfriend at the time because I don't think they were married, no, they were married. Okay, so the new husband boyfriend at the time, because I don't think they were married, no, they were married, the new husband and they were having a family moment and the husband the new husband made the comment to say you need to call your mama sometime. And Kirk said he kind of spazzed out, he used some words that I'm not going to say here that he chose not to say. He did spell it out. Cam said it because Cam had the freedom to do that. Yes, but what he said afterwards, he said he blacked out, he did. He said that his mom, her response wasn't oh well, you know, wait a minute.
Speaker 1:No, but you got to say it right, got it. You got to say it right. Okay, you got to say it right.
Speaker 3:Hey, listen. If you're enjoying the conversation about Kirk Franklin that's interviewed by Cam, do us a favor, hit those like and share buttons so that other people can benefit from this conversation as well. So I'm adopting podcasts on all of your platforms for podcasts, please like and share, get the word out, give us some feedback. All right, I'll let y'all go back.
Speaker 1:So they in the huddle, the mom the sister, no, it's mom the sister and kirk, they're all hugging. Now this is a monument deborah deborah.
Speaker 3:No, I'm sorry, she was.
Speaker 1:Okay, but the huddle was just three of them, okay. And she was like, oh, that's so beautiful, it's beautiful. This is how family should act. And then Kurt goes wait a minute, we're not here for us, we're here for I can't remember his sister's name. We're here for her, we're trying to get her on the right track, right. And then that's when he made the comment. The comment came from the peanut gallery in the corner. Well, you need to call your mama sometime. So Kirk was like wait a minute. Okay, wait a minute, let's, let's pause here. He said she's the parent and I'm the child. And then he had the nerve to go but you're a Christian, you call yourself, you call yourself a Christian. And that's when he blacked out. Kurt blacked out, he got a little bubbly underneath his skin and they said he followed him out. No. Then the mother goes come on, come on, baby.
Speaker 3:He took his hand and said come on, baby let baby, took his hand and said come on, baby, let's go. The husband, the husband right, and that's the part that Kirk said it broke him.
Speaker 1:Yeah, because here's this mother who never provided, never protected, never loved and he gave like five or six other oh my yes descriptive words, and here's another illustration of you choosing something else over me or the sister Right Over us, and he, he followed them out of the of the house and he said to her go ahead, do what you always do and walk out on us, right? And that right there is why he has not spoken to her for over 23 years, until the documentary. Until the documentary in July, and then that's the last time he talked to her was that day when she walked out after two DNA tests saying that this man was his father.
Speaker 3:She still denies it.
Speaker 1:And still denies it and still won't say why or how or when he was conceived, and he hasn't spoken to her since then. Yeah, help me understand, but the one thing about it all he still giving her grace.
Speaker 3:He did. He said that she still is the woman that gave me life.
Speaker 1:He gave her a shout out he did.
Speaker 3:After all that, he said listen, I still respect the fact that she gave me life.
Speaker 1:But he also caveated with saying really I thank God for Gertrude, for making sure that she didn't make the decision to have an abortion Right, because he said he heard her.
Speaker 3:So I didn't want, I don't want to, I was going to have an abortion.
Speaker 1:You were going to have an abortion.
Speaker 3:Talking to Gertrude wouldn't allow me.
Speaker 1:Would not allow you to. And I thought Gertrude was like a distant relative or something. I don't know. I kind of think I heard that, but lately he hasn't been saying that. But um, that was that was powerful for him to say. I still give her grace After everything he said. He gives her grace because he doesn't know what. He doesn't know her story, he doesn't know her story. Something happened to her To make her act the way she's acting, make her treat the kids the way she's treating them.
Speaker 3:A lot of times a lot of times it's just a repeated cycle. You know, the old saying goes hurt people hurt people.
Speaker 1:Absolutely.
Speaker 3:And you know whatever. Like you said, whatever was done to her was so traumatic that this is the result of it. So what surprised you in watching it?
Speaker 1:What surprised me was that he was given her grace.
Speaker 3:After all of that, after all of that was that he was given her grace After all of that.
Speaker 1:After all of that, he was still given her grace. But I don't understand how you still won't tell him what happened. How did you two end up together? Cam was like well, what you know? Did you ask her? Cam was like did you, did anybody just ask her? He was like well, I haven't talked to her since that day.
Speaker 3:And she's probably not answering that. Well, who? I'm not going to make assumptions, because you don't know.
Speaker 1:You don't, you don't know, you don't know. I don't understand. I know, for me, when I addressed my mother, my biological mother, with questions, she was forthright in it. Now, do I remember the answers to the questions? Because, no, I don't, because I have bad memory and I didn't write anything. But she was forthright and give me the answers. Now, to me she didn't give it willingly. I mean, she gave it willingly, but it felt like it was forcing. You know, like, okay, I really have to tell her. I don't want to tell her. I felt that, you know, she was getting a little bothered when I would ask questions. So I didn't ask as many questions as I wish I would have, because now I don't have that opportunity to ask the questions. So now I'm just out here saying, oh, I wish I did this and that and a third. But I mean it is what it is, you know.
Speaker 3:So I'll share with you. With my first mom, you know we've had conversations and I've asked certain questions and you know I told her. I said if it's a question that you're unable to answer for whatever reason, I respect that. And she said well, you can ask anything you want, she said, and I'll let you know. She said, because it's a process and I'm working through it, and I just appreciated the fact that she was willing to even be transparent because she could easily say I don't feel like talking about it. Yeah, you know. So it's a I don't want to say tug of war, because it's not a battle, it's more of a euphoric seesaw and I'm just appreciative of that. So I guess if we could put a bullet or a nugget, have intentional communication and conversation, yeah, because communication and conversation, yeah, because one you know it's benefits to knowing and people probably take it for granted knowing where you come from, knowing who you're connected with.
Speaker 1:Those of us who don't have those answers, you know we walk around with blanks and we unfortunately fill in those blanks with misinformation or misunderstanding, because we and it's a coping mechanism- it is because we, we kind of play, make our own narrative in our heads, you know, and what, what we would have liked the reality to be, and, like you said, it is a coping it's. And then when you find out the real truth, you like shatter, you like a ton of bricks?
Speaker 3:wait a minute. What? Or it may be. Why didn't you tell me? Because now it's too late and I can't get the rest of the puzzle, or you?
Speaker 1:know, different things, but then people are only able to provide based on what they had a capacity but check this out what happens if the mother's name is Deborah Deborah, I'm this hypothetical finally says okay, I'm gonna tell you the whole story. And then Kirk goes really, is that it? Oh well, I'm okay with that, but she will never know if he's okay with it or not. You know what?
Speaker 3:I'm saying I got you. Here's the thing, though, we have to be mindful of. Her story is her story?
Speaker 1:Right. Well, I don't mean to say I'm OK with it, but to say that I understand why you did what you did.
Speaker 3:Correct, and but I wanted to bring that point because I think that's something that happens often. Right, we try and take ownership of other people's narratives and their thoughts and their position. Ownership of other people's narratives and their thoughts and their position, so I think that's a very familiar thing. But, like you said, that's his ability to say I embrace it. He may need it, he may not need it. That's something that you have to unpack yourself and that's why I'm a big advocate I know we both are of counseling.
Speaker 3:Yes, you know being able to talk to somebody that can help you organize your thoughts. Yes, we self-medicate in our community, whether it's through alcohol, whether it's through jobs whether it's through sex, whether it's through money. We do all type of different things to avoid what's really at the root of our challenges.
Speaker 1:That's absolutely. And he he kind of touched on that um as well, because when he said he got married he had a lot going on. So I mean they didn't do no marriage counseling, he didn't. He didn't do any of that because he didn't, he didn't know to do that. You don't know what you don't know.
Speaker 3:It hadn't been modeled for him.
Speaker 1:It wasn't modeled for him and he had a lot of. He was very promiscuous growing up so he had that going on and that wasn't under control. When he married Tammy, he had a lot of baggage, a lot of baggage, and then it's like he gravitated to her because her family was pretty much whole. She had a mother and father. They had, you know, they've been a decent house. You know what I'm saying.
Speaker 2:From the outside looking in. The outside looking in.
Speaker 3:It was a model that he doesn't have, you know, and that's what he was longing for, because he he didn't see that right so, and that's let's park the car right there for a second, because I think that also creates an avenue for people to get into relationships. Thank the lord that you know that was a healthy situation that he got into. A lot of times when people don't have and they think, oh well, they have what I don't have, they can end up going into a repeated situation of brokenness.
Speaker 3:And again, this is why full communication is productive. You know, even though it's scary, it's tough sometimes. The difficult conversation is just that a difficult conversation. But we want to pack so many different narratives of what it could be on it. We have to do better as a whole. So another thing that floored me Kirk was talking about his mom's husband and he said that after he had gotten married he was doing a show in Ohio, I think, and these two women came to him, yes, yes.
Speaker 3:And they said we just want to apologize to you. And he was looking like for what? What did you all do? And they said that they were the daughters of him the father the husband. And they said they remember hearing about that interaction but on top of it, they knew the type of person he was, so they weren't surprised, and the fact that it's interesting how they took responsibility for their father's behavior. Yes, yes, to go and apologize to those who he hurt. Again, we carry on.
Speaker 1:We do that, though. We do that Even though we're not the one who actually did the offense. We feel responsible for our family members when they do things in that nature.
Speaker 3:But I think that's when we have a good conscience and we're trying to live right. We don't want our good to be spoken ill of Exactly, or we don't want to be necessarily lumped in with that Exactly, Although that's who you know I'm a part of. That's not who I am Right.
Speaker 1:And they didn't have to do that.
Speaker 3:No, they didn't.
Speaker 1:He would have never known, he would have never known at all, he would have been trying to get something. Well, they were already at the show, because Maybe they were trying to get something. Well, they were already at the show, because he said they came in, so it wasn't like they called ahead of time, that's true.
Speaker 1:Hey we want to talk to him. Yeah, but no. I think it was admirable of them to even bring it up to him, right and no. Yeah, that's our dad, that's the way he is and we deeply apologize, and that doesn't represent us and our family.
Speaker 3:Right, and you know Kurt acknowledged that that was powerful for them to have to do it. Yeah, something about asking for forgiveness and it's not always or apologizing. Let me say that it's not always for the reasons. We think a lot of times that apology gives a release that we from a place of paralysis. We hold people hostage in our brain. You know so a lot of times, given that and it may have been something that was just eating at them, right, that they were like you know what allow us to try and go and advocate and intercede on behalf of our family, because we are good people. And the reality is there's still a level of connection there, right, even though they're not biological again, that's a non-traditional family.
Speaker 3:I'm going to point that out every time that we see it. That non-traditional family. Is there Marriages that bring outside children to it? You know there's a level of connection. Although it may not be a deep rooted connection, it's still oh yeah, that's such and such Right, right, that's powerful.
Speaker 1:And with his, another thing that stood out to me was, I thought, with Kirk finding his father and then he, you know, going to his son, who he hadn't spoken to in some time at that time, and how he told him what was going on and how they embraced. I thought that was going to be a turning point for their relationship, but it's still in progress. Still in progress because, you know, in in the video, you know he's saying this is, this is what I've been missing, this is what I've been missing, but apparently there's still some things that's missing because they're still, they're still working through it you know, I'm sure there's a level of being guarded by all individuals, right?
Speaker 3:you know that level of hurt and protect ourselves. Yeah, case in point if you walk by that table and you stub your foot the next time, you won't walk out a little bit wider. True, true, true, yeah, and like it or not, claim it or not, we put up safeguards to emotionally or to protect our emotion. Yes Again, but, like I said, we don't always call it what it is. We mask it with other distractors, but the reality is all you're doing is protecting yourself, so you don't go through that emotional trauma again.
Speaker 1:True, that's like Kirk said I'm okay, but I'm not okay. Right, but I'm okay. That's a coping OK. Right, but I'm OK.
Speaker 3:That's a coping statement, yeah, and it's to protect yourself. It's like you know what. Listen, y'all don't have to bombard me, I'm OK, but I still still got a little something Right. It stings.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 3:So it's definitely, and I just applaud Kirk for being transparent because he doesn't have to share that side of it. You know it's painful as it is but, like you said, so many people that have been blessed by it. Not to say that it changed everything in people's lives, but it gave that little piece of the puzzle to say huh maybe Right.
Speaker 3:Should I, could, I, can, I, will I, whatever you know, it may be, that's true, you know. So a nugget is you know what you're wrestling with may be the key to unlock somebody else's dot, dot dot. You never know, you might be walking around and because you are not willing to address what you're pulling in your wagon. Somebody might be waiting to come out the house, but they're looking to see who's gonna be pulling the wagon down the street.
Speaker 1:That's good, that's good, that's good.
Speaker 3:He unpacked a lot. He did. He did as I was in the car and I was listening. It was almost like I could see the visualization and cam was saying he said I'm getting goosebumps right now. He said because I listened to your songs. And then I'm like you're kirk franklin, you're dressed, the nine, the gospel and this and that, and you're dealing with this Right. So again, perception.
Speaker 1:That was his Michael Jordan. Right, that was Cam Newton's Michael Jordan. No, not Michael Jordan. Michael Jackson, michael Jackson, yeah, michael Jackson. So to be in front of someone who you look up to since you was a child and to hear his brokenness, I'm sure that was very, very impactful and Cam did an outstanding job, so I can say big shout out to Cam Big shout out, and he didn't hold back on any questions.
Speaker 3:Right, right, you know the again and we always try and give you takeaways. You know, broken crayons still color. Think about that. Yes, you know, when I was growing up.
Speaker 3:Yes, a bucket, a can, a coffee can full of broken crayon. Bucket, a can, a coffee can full of broken crayon, and we would just color and not think twice about it. But that's how we are, as we walk around daily. We all are broken, but we still have the ability to create, to do, to inspire. But if you look at that can full of those broken crayons, look at that can full of those broken crayons, it's only a illustration, or not even an illustration. It's a starting point to what could be. So don't I just want to encourage somebody? Don't think that because of your situation, that you have limitations, Right, because there's always hope.
Speaker 3:There's always hope and there's always opportunities. Now, that doesn't mean that it doesn't require work. It also may be a scenario where it may not be for right now. So I don't want people to hear that and say, well, I can't do such and such, well, it may not be the season for it Exactly, you may be being prepared for something down the road, but if you don't do the work here, you think about you're not going to get the fruit there.
Speaker 3:Right, you think about a conveyor and conveyor belt, like in a warehouse Person A and B if they don't do their part, person C and D can't do their part. Right, and then the person who's waiting for the product won't get there.
Speaker 1:Won't get there.
Speaker 3:So we have to understand that we all are here for a purpose. Everything that we've gone through is for a purpose, for something or somebody else as well.
Speaker 1:Yes.
Speaker 3:So don't be selfish and hold tight to your testimony.
Speaker 1:And we just got to keep our faith and believe that, as long as we are working the process and believe that it's going to bear the outcome that we want and we have to believe that we got to have faith that that's going to happen there's always going to be, like he said, that opportunity and there's always hope that it can can turn around for the good.
Speaker 3:Always.
Speaker 1:Everything that you go through, you go through for a reason. That's right, and whether you see it on this side of heaven, or you see it on the other side, or you don't see it, it's still gonna reach the purpose that it was meant to happen.
Speaker 3:You might not even see the purpose. That's what I'm talking about, Right? I mean, well, no, even on this side you might not. Yeah, true, you know, because we have no clue. Somebody might watch but never respond and be benefited. There might be one thing that they hear that's true and it's just like wow, I never looked at it that way. So just understand that everything has a purpose. Everything has a purpose. So, I'm thankful for this opportunity to talk about Kirk and his journey and hopefully others are inspired.
Speaker 3:If you haven't seen it, please, it's on YouTube. You can just type in Kirk Franklin and Cam Newton and they have a couple of different ones the whole interview and then, I think, the one with just that part snippet. It may be about 20 minutes. Yeah, so if you need a quick reference, you can utilize or view that If you have time to view the whole interview. I encourage it because, like she said, Cam is he's putting in some journalistic work.
Speaker 1:He is. Kirk is laying down some nuggets, man, some gems, and all through the all through the interview, right so and I've listened to some other podcasts I think he's on a podcast circuit right now and he's still consistent in his in his message, right All through it. So, yeah, kirk is on a roll.
Speaker 3:Awesome, that's awesome.
Speaker 1:On a roll.
Speaker 3:So, again, we hope that you took away the nuggets that were that came out of this discussion. This is the first time her and I discussed that. We wanted it to be organic. I think that it yields good fruit. Yes, Nothing was written, Nothing was planned. It just was a result of a common story that was put out that connected both of us and we hope that it connects to you. So just remember, counseling is definitely something that we advocate for Number two, you know your experience. Your story is not just for you. Everything has a reason and everything has a season, you know. So just understand and know. Be encouraged, and we always encourage others or individuals to seek professional support. When you don't know the answers, don't try and right the wrong yourself. There's nothing wrong with seeking professional help.
Speaker 1:Because everybody doesn't know the answers, and it's okay that you don't know the answers, but as long as you have an outlet to go somewhere to get the answers, that's the most important thing. That's right, that's the most important thing. So this was great.
Speaker 3:It was, it was great it was therapeutic, it was, it was unpacked.
Speaker 1:Yes, it was really really good, so make sure you guys go out there and subscribe to our YouTube channel right. It's going to be right there. It's going to be there. It's right there. You should see it. And any podcasts that you usually use. We are there, so just hit your like and share. Please share, Share your stories with us if you would like. We're just here for you. We're here to allow you to speak your truth, however that may be.
Speaker 3:So if you have some resources, let us know. Give us any feedback. We want to be a resource to you and the surrounding community. So I'm John and I'm Lisa and we're adopted. Thank you again for investing time to hear this truth. Until next time to hear this truth. Until next time, until the next episode.
Speaker 2:Thank you for listening to the so I'm Adopted podcast. We hope that this was informative and educational. You can follow us on Instagram and Facebook at so I'm Adopted. Also, subscribe to our YouTube channel so I'm Adopted. And again, thank you for listening and until next time, make the choice to begin your healing journey.
