June 17, 2025 • 18 mins
Striking out on your own brings a whirlwind of emotions—excitement tangled with nervousness, independence shadowed by loneliness. For Rylee Jackson, her freshman year began with a mountain that seemed impossible to climb: $2,000 in tuition every semester while earning just $300-500 weekly at her grocery store job.
"I climbed it," she says simply, embodying a resilience that defines her journey. Working nearly 40 hours weekly while taking 15 credit hours in criminal justice, Riley demonstrates extraordinary determination. Her 40-minute commute adds another layer of challenge, costing $275 monthly in gas alone. Yet through it all, a profound faith sustains her: "I knew if I failed, I would still have people to back me up."
What makes Riley's story truly remarkable isn't just her work ethic, but her heart for others. Despite her packed schedule, she remains attentive to hurting customers at her checkout line, recognizing God's gentle nudges to offer kindness to strangers. "Sometimes I can just hear Him tell me, tell them about me," Riley explains, describing moments of connection with people society often overlooks. Her perspective on helping those struggling with addiction reflects wisdom beyond her years: "God's never going to quit on them, so we for sure need to be there, willing to help and lift."
If you're facing your own mountains—whether starting college, managing finances, or finding your purpose—Riley's parting wisdom resonates: "Just don't be scared. God's got your back, you're going to be okay." Her journey reminds us that our challenging seasons aren't just obstacles to overcome but opportunities to discover our strength, compassion, and faith. Listen now and be inspired to climb your own mountains with the same determined spirit.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Denise Jackson (00:00):
I am so happy that you joined us today for an
interview with another one of myamazing granddaughters.
I have seven of them.
This is Riley Jackson.
She just went away to collegerecently, in July.
She moved away from home forthe first time like a long way
(00:21):
away, first time like a long wayaway and settled herself in to
be ready to work and to go tocollege.
And it's been a little bit of atransition, but God's been
there with her and I just wantedher to have the chance to talk
to you about it.
Rylee Jackson (00:38):
Thank you for coming.
Denise Jackson (00:39):
Riley, I'm so happy you're here today.
You're welcome.
So, riley, do you rememberbefore you left to go to college
, you had some mixed feelings?
Right, I did.
Rylee Jackson (00:53):
Yeah, let's talk about that.
At first I was really excited.
I was ready to get out of thehouse and then, as I got closer
to graduation, I got nervous, Igot sad because I didn't want to
leave my family.
Denise Jackson (01:06):
But it's been good and that's like natural
right, you know.
Like, have you talked to any ofyour friends that have gone
through the same thing or not?
Rylee Jackson (01:14):
really, yeah, a lot of like my friends from high
school, my group that Igraduated with.
We talk a lot and they arefeeling the same thing.
Denise Jackson (01:23):
So it seems normal, right, whenever you're
gonna leave one thing and startsomething new, I mean, you're
out on your own.
Were you afraid to be out onyour own?
Was that there in fear there,or you were good?
Rylee Jackson (01:37):
I don't know if there was fear more as like a
very nervous person, okay, um, Iwasn't't really.
I knew that if I failed, yeah,and I knew that if I failed, I
would still have people to backme up.
So I wasn't really.
I didn't have that sense offear like some people do.
Denise Jackson (01:56):
So you know, that's a good point you brought
up.
Like you knew you had peoplethat had your back and I love
that, you know that and we alldo.
We love you so much.
But there are a lot of peoplein the world that don't have.
They don't know that somebodyhas their back Right and that
just makes me so sad because Goddoes have their back Right.
(02:21):
But but if they don't even knowthat, yeah it's just really
tough on them, yeah.
Rylee Jackson (02:26):
And, like the people that I know have my back
here on earth, always remind methat God's got my back too.
So that's what makes it evenbetter.
Denise Jackson (02:34):
So you were in a position that you moved into a
family's members home and it'sabout 40 minutes from school and
you had to earn the money toget ready and go to college.
And how did that feel at first?
Rylee Jackson (02:55):
um, at first it was.
It felt like it was um kind ofimpossible because, like when
you're actively working for itand trying to pay for gas to get
to and from work and all that,it feels like I get a paycheck
every Wednesday and my paychecksare between three and five
(03:16):
hundred dollars and that doesnot feel like a lot when your
school bill is two thousanddollars.
Denise Jackson (03:22):
So it it felt like a lot, but you're two
thousand dollars every month,right, for three months every
month, three months everysemester.
Yes, yeah, so yeah and that'snot books.
Yes, it is so.
Rylee Jackson (03:34):
Books are all it's called a bearcat bundle for
my school but, um, and now Ipaid my first one completely by
myself.
Um, and then, I think, oncethey realized that I was going
to be okay and I could do it, myparents started shipping in
$500 each.
So that's awesome.
So now it's only $1,500.
So it's a little more doable.
Denise Jackson (03:57):
But you looked at that mountain and what did
you do?
I climbed it.
Rylee Jackson (04:02):
You did, you climbed that day.
Denise Jackson (04:06):
You did not let it stop you because God says
that you can.
You can do that and you knowthat, but at the time you just
had to take steps of faith rightand just see where that would
lead you and yeah, especiallybecause over the summer I was
supposed to save up money and itdidn't really work out that way
.
Rylee Jackson (04:25):
I don't know where the money went, but that
was a lesson too, wasn't it?
Denise Jackson (04:29):
that was a lesson, because you were out
there having fun thinking I'mfree, I'm a grown woman.
Rylee Jackson (04:34):
I can do what I want to do like I can do what I
want to do.
But if I do those things, it'smore like now me and my money is
holding me accountable, insteadof my parents holding me
accountable for that stuff sowhich has worked out so far.
Denise Jackson (04:51):
Yeah, and it'll continue to work out for you.
And so you were saying to melike um, like you went to
college, you're majoring incriminal justice, and that's all
pretty cool.
Also, I just have to say, andthat's all pretty cool also.
I just have to say she's awelder woman she welds and she
welds good, and it really hasgiven her some opportunities to
(05:12):
learn, uh, even while she was inhigh school, because she worked
for a trucking company a bigsemi trailer and and the 18
wheelers trucking company andgot to drive the 18 wheelers
around the parking lot, which isso cool.
She learned some things and youknow, I don't take that for
granted because in my life godhas used so many different
(05:36):
little things that I learnedalong the way and brought them
in later to do something that Inever imagined.
And so with w Wiley, I feellike you're going to he will not
waste one thing you learned, soI'm really proud of that.
But you're majoring in criminaljustice now and then you told
me earlier.
So, paisley, if you've watchedthe video about Paisley's life
(05:58):
or another granddaughter- thisis what Riley was telling me.
Rylee Jackson (06:09):
I about Paisley, okay, um, well, to start off,
nisi and I went on a missiontrip to Mexico, an amazing
mission trip to Mexico in July,right after I left, and I feel
like God has always called me toserve in that way, not
necessarily on mission trips,but telling people about him and
you know like he does all of usand seeing Paisley do what she
(06:31):
does really inspires me, becauseI feel like that he wants me to
do that at some point.
Just like seeing that, I feellike every time I I feel like
every time I see what Paisley'sdoing, he's like yeah, just wait
, you're going to be doing thatsoon.
Denise Jackson (06:48):
That's good and you're listening to his voice.
It's still quite a voice thatpushes you to reach out to
people right in your own placethat are in need.
You live in an area that has alot of drug abuse and it's easy
(07:10):
to like be just say, oh, thosepeople chose.
But that's not how you feel, isit?
Rylee Jackson (07:17):
No, I see a lot of people.
I work at HEB, I'm a checker,and I see a lot of people come
through and sometimes God willjust put it on my heart and I
can just hear him tell me about,tell them about me, and
sometimes I'm like God, I can'teven understand this person
talking like what do you want meto say to them?
(07:38):
Yeah, he's like whatever.
Just say Jesus loves you orI'll be praying for you.
And there's two um instancesI've had at work so far.
I told you about um.
There's a lady that comesthrough my line every once in a
while and she's super frail andyou can just tell she's been
through a lot and has a roughlife.
Denise Jackson (07:59):
So that's what you, that's your response to
people is you see that they'rehurting and you want to help.
Rylee Jackson (08:10):
I do.
I wish I could help all thehurting people.
Denise Jackson (08:13):
But it's not our responsibility.
Ultimately, god's putting us intheir lives for what we can do
right and to show his love.
And you're doing that with thislady.
That's coming through.
You're smiling, you and talkingto her.
You're making her feel like ahuman, because I think, as
people get addicted to drugs,alcohol, anything like that it
(08:37):
steals their humanity at somepoint and we don't want that.
We want them to have hope andwe want them to be able to make
better choices, right.
But I also know that it's likeGod's got to cut away those
things in their heart, thedesires for things that are just
(08:57):
leading them to hell.
He has to cut those out oftheir heart.
They get to choose, but he'sthe one that does the work, so
you can't even like say, well,too bad, they made the wrong
choice, because God's nevergoing to quit on them.
Yeah, he'll always be therewaiting for them to choose.
So we for sure need to be there, willing to help and lift.
Rylee Jackson (09:18):
Welcome.
Denise Jackson (09:19):
That's what I think, I agree.
So I love that, that you wantto be out even in a bigger way,
like Paisley's doing, but rightnow you're studying.
You're studying criminaljustice, your very first
semester.
But you said I don't know whatI'm going to be doing.
And listen, I'm a 66-year-oldwoman and I still don't know
(09:43):
what.
God's going to do with my life,and I've studied a lot of
different things along the way.
I got a degree in accounting,which I didn't want, but my
husband got me to do thatbecause we had four kids.
And he was worried if somethinghappened to him.
I couldn't afford to take careof them, but God's used that
accounting forever.
Then I got a teachingcertificate and oh, oh, my gosh,
(10:04):
that was such a joy, for mostof that teaching experience
loved that.
And then he took me across theworld to do something that
really was nothing that I reallystudied in school, yeah, and so
, like we have the ability, thisgreat ability that he's given
us to learn, so don't worryabout it, study what he's got
you studying right now.
(10:24):
No, I am?
Rylee Jackson (10:25):
I just went.
I went into school thinking Iwas like I had a plan and I was
like, yes, this is what he wantsme to do.
And then I was like, or is itbecause now he's opened the door
to, or like, train of trains ofthought not really doors yet
but he's like, well, look at allthese opportunities I could
give you so your, your aunt,jenna.
Denise Jackson (10:49):
She went to college to be a dancer, and
before her first year was over,she changed to journalism and
that changed her life, right, uh, and now she's a criminal
justice, in that case, and shenever studied criminal justice I
say that laughingly, but she isshe.
She she's interested incriminal justice, in changing
(11:11):
the world for to make it betterthrough helping people who have
become part of the criminaljustice system, and, and so that
could be your path.
You know, it could be somethingthat you're, um, you're going
to follow, but it also could besomething totally different than
he has for you.
So, like um, you you have twosisters, two older sisters, but
(11:33):
y'all are super close to an age,one year apart each.
So, um, you had them for a lotof years of your life not all of
the years of your life, becauseyou have another story, maybe
we'll save that for another dayand tell that story but for many
years of your life, the threeof you that were together, and
(11:54):
so has that been hard being awayfrom your sisters.
Rylee Jackson (11:58):
At times it is, and you're the youngest.
Yes, For me.
I think I know that they loveme and I don't need the constant
affirmations and communicationthat they do.
(12:18):
I know they need that, so Igive that to them, need that, so
I give that to them.
But it has been hard becausesometimes they're not just like
the next room away anymore.
So it is hard when I needadvice or I just need somebody
to talk to and that's who I usedto turn to.
They're not there anymore, sothat is hard.
Denise Jackson (12:41):
I think it's kind of good too, because you're
having to seek other places forthat advice that God's leading
you to.
Yeah, but it has been hard.
You haven't had a lot offriends in the place that you've
been.
Rylee Jackson (12:54):
That's been hard, lonely it's been hard and it's
lonely at times.
But I don't know, I reallyhaven't felt lonely I.
There hasn't been a time yetwhere I'm like man, I'm lonely
Like I just wish I could go homeand have friends, I don't know.
Denise Jackson (13:10):
Well, that's good, I keep myself busy.
Well, you're super busy.
You're working almost 40 hoursa week and you're taking 15, 14
hours in college.
Yeah, so you go Monday,wednesday and Friday to school
and then you work the rest ofthe time.
It's really tough, I mean, it'snot easy.
So you don't have a lot of time.
(13:30):
But I know that loneliness is aproblem when you first go away
because, like, you just leaveeverything behind.
So I'm glad that you feel andyou're with family too.
It makes it a lot easier to talkto family.
Yeah, yeah, that's good too.
So it makes it a lot easier totalk family.
Yeah, yeah, that's good.
But your hope is to get awayand be on your own soon and or
(13:51):
be with a friend and, uh, livingcloser to the school.
Rylee Jackson (13:53):
Yeah, that's the main part of it.
If I was closer to school, I'dprobably stay with the family
for longer periods of time.
But it is the commute is.
It can be rough sometimes, yeah.
Denise Jackson (14:07):
I, you know we.
Rylee Jackson (14:08):
They spent like $275 on gas last month.
Denise Jackson (14:11):
Well, and it's the driving.
You know, papa and I both havehad to drive a lot for work in
the past, and so you might tooone day.
But it's really hard.
That's like another lesson ofthat you're getting right now,
and we were talking about thatone.
You know we look at things aswhy am I in such a hard season?
(14:32):
But they're really gifts.
Like Riley, earning the moneyfor her tuition has taught her
she can do that, having to workso hard and go to school.
She knows she can do that andyou know, I know God will use it
in her life, and so it's prettycool that I get to see you just
bloom and do so well, is thereanything else that you'd like to
(14:57):
tell girls your age who aremaybe going away to school?
Maybe they're in high school,going to school, college, or
they're in their first year ofcollege?
Just any pearls of wisdom,because you have a lot.
But if you can think of any now, just let me know.
Rylee Jackson (15:13):
Share.
Just don't be scared.
God's got your back, you'regoing to be okay.
What's your verse?
Where God has not given us aspirit of fear but of power,
love and a sound mind?
Yay, nisi's favorite part ofthat is power.
That's right, because Iaccidentally used to always
(15:33):
leave it out when I would writeit, and, and it was it was
because I didn't think I hadpower, and I know now I do.
And you just have to beconfident in the fact that God
does give you power and wisdomand don't let on the wisdom part
.
Don't let people tell you justbecause you're young you don't
have wisdom.
You just have a different kindof wisdom.
(15:54):
You have wisdom that your lifegave you and that God gave you.
But don't be afraid to takewisdom from other people either,
like Denise, You're such a rockstar.
Denise Jackson (16:04):
I'm so proud of you.
I feel that you're going to seemy Riley Rain Jackson more in
the future, along with Paisley,because they do have good wisdom
to share with you guys and webelieve it's going to help you.
And I'm just going to pray foryou, Riley, that God will
continue to order your path ashe's promised so I know he will
(16:26):
and that he will continue toprovide all you need and even
more to give to every good workand that he'll give you clarity
in what he speaks to you, sothat it's just real clear you
know it's him.
You don't listen to the voice ofthe stranger, but you only
listen to the good shepherd, andI'm just looking forward to
(16:48):
what he's going to do in therest of your days, as long as
I'm here to share them in Jesusname.
I am so happy that you joined us today for an
interview with another one of myamazing granddaughters.
I have seven of them.
This is Riley Jackson.
She just went away to collegerecently, in July.
She moved away from home forthe first time like a long way
(00:21):
away, first time like a long wayaway and settled herself in to
be ready to work and to go tocollege.
And it's been a little bit of atransition, but God's been
there with her and I just wantedher to have the chance to talk
to you about it.
Rylee Jackson (00:38):
Thank you for coming.
Denise Jackson (00:39):
Riley, I'm so happy you're here today.
You're welcome.
So, riley, do you rememberbefore you left to go to college
, you had some mixed feelings?
Right, I did.
Rylee Jackson (00:53):
Yeah, let's talk about that.
At first I was really excited.
I was ready to get out of thehouse and then, as I got closer
to graduation, I got nervous, Igot sad because I didn't want to
leave my family.
Denise Jackson (01:06):
But it's been good and that's like natural
right, you know.
Like, have you talked to any ofyour friends that have gone
through the same thing or not?
Rylee Jackson (01:14):
really, yeah, a lot of like my friends from high
school, my group that Igraduated with.
We talk a lot and they arefeeling the same thing.
Denise Jackson (01:23):
So it seems normal, right, whenever you're
gonna leave one thing and startsomething new, I mean, you're
out on your own.
Were you afraid to be out onyour own?
Was that there in fear there,or you were good?
Rylee Jackson (01:37):
I don't know if there was fear more as like a
very nervous person, okay, um, Iwasn't't really.
I knew that if I failed, yeah,and I knew that if I failed, I
would still have people to backme up.
So I wasn't really.
I didn't have that sense offear like some people do.
Denise Jackson (01:56):
So you know, that's a good point you brought
up.
Like you knew you had peoplethat had your back and I love
that, you know that and we alldo.
We love you so much.
But there are a lot of peoplein the world that don't have.
They don't know that somebodyhas their back Right and that
just makes me so sad because Goddoes have their back Right.
(02:21):
But but if they don't even knowthat, yeah it's just really
tough on them, yeah.
Rylee Jackson (02:26):
And, like the people that I know have my back
here on earth, always remind methat God's got my back too.
So that's what makes it evenbetter.
Denise Jackson (02:34):
So you were in a position that you moved into a
family's members home and it'sabout 40 minutes from school and
you had to earn the money toget ready and go to college.
And how did that feel at first?
Rylee Jackson (02:55):
um, at first it was.
It felt like it was um kind ofimpossible because, like when
you're actively working for itand trying to pay for gas to get
to and from work and all that,it feels like I get a paycheck
every Wednesday and my paychecksare between three and five
(03:16):
hundred dollars and that doesnot feel like a lot when your
school bill is two thousanddollars.
Denise Jackson (03:22):
So it it felt like a lot, but you're two
thousand dollars every month,right, for three months every
month, three months everysemester.
Yes, yeah, so yeah and that'snot books.
Yes, it is so.
Rylee Jackson (03:34):
Books are all it's called a bearcat bundle for
my school but, um, and now Ipaid my first one completely by
myself.
Um, and then, I think, oncethey realized that I was going
to be okay and I could do it, myparents started shipping in
$500 each.
So that's awesome.
So now it's only $1,500.
So it's a little more doable.
Denise Jackson (03:57):
But you looked at that mountain and what did
you do?
I climbed it.
Rylee Jackson (04:02):
You did, you climbed that day.
Denise Jackson (04:06):
You did not let it stop you because God says
that you can.
You can do that and you knowthat, but at the time you just
had to take steps of faith rightand just see where that would
lead you and yeah, especiallybecause over the summer I was
supposed to save up money and itdidn't really work out that way
.
Rylee Jackson (04:25):
I don't know where the money went, but that
was a lesson too, wasn't it?
Denise Jackson (04:29):
that was a lesson, because you were out
there having fun thinking I'mfree, I'm a grown woman.
Rylee Jackson (04:34):
I can do what I want to do like I can do what I
want to do.
But if I do those things, it'smore like now me and my money is
holding me accountable, insteadof my parents holding me
accountable for that stuff sowhich has worked out so far.
Denise Jackson (04:51):
Yeah, and it'll continue to work out for you.
And so you were saying to melike um, like you went to
college, you're majoring incriminal justice, and that's all
pretty cool.
Also, I just have to say, andthat's all pretty cool also.
I just have to say she's awelder woman she welds and she
welds good, and it really hasgiven her some opportunities to
(05:12):
learn, uh, even while she was inhigh school, because she worked
for a trucking company a bigsemi trailer and and the 18
wheelers trucking company andgot to drive the 18 wheelers
around the parking lot, which isso cool.
She learned some things and youknow, I don't take that for
granted because in my life godhas used so many different
(05:36):
little things that I learnedalong the way and brought them
in later to do something that Inever imagined.
And so with w Wiley, I feellike you're going to he will not
waste one thing you learned, soI'm really proud of that.
But you're majoring in criminaljustice now and then you told
me earlier.
So, paisley, if you've watchedthe video about Paisley's life
(05:58):
or another granddaughter- thisis what Riley was telling me.
Rylee Jackson (06:09):
I about Paisley, okay, um, well, to start off,
nisi and I went on a missiontrip to Mexico, an amazing
mission trip to Mexico in July,right after I left, and I feel
like God has always called me toserve in that way, not
necessarily on mission trips,but telling people about him and
you know like he does all of usand seeing Paisley do what she
(06:31):
does really inspires me, becauseI feel like that he wants me to
do that at some point.
Just like seeing that, I feellike every time I I feel like
every time I see what Paisley'sdoing, he's like yeah, just wait
, you're going to be doing thatsoon.
Denise Jackson (06:48):
That's good and you're listening to his voice.
It's still quite a voice thatpushes you to reach out to
people right in your own placethat are in need.
You live in an area that has alot of drug abuse and it's easy
(07:10):
to like be just say, oh, thosepeople chose.
But that's not how you feel, isit?
Rylee Jackson (07:17):
No, I see a lot of people.
I work at HEB, I'm a checker,and I see a lot of people come
through and sometimes God willjust put it on my heart and I
can just hear him tell me about,tell them about me, and
sometimes I'm like God, I can'teven understand this person
talking like what do you want meto say to them?
(07:38):
Yeah, he's like whatever.
Just say Jesus loves you orI'll be praying for you.
And there's two um instancesI've had at work so far.
I told you about um.
There's a lady that comesthrough my line every once in a
while and she's super frail andyou can just tell she's been
through a lot and has a roughlife.
Denise Jackson (07:59):
So that's what you, that's your response to
people is you see that they'rehurting and you want to help.
Rylee Jackson (08:10):
I do.
I wish I could help all thehurting people.
Denise Jackson (08:13):
But it's not our responsibility.
Ultimately, god's putting us intheir lives for what we can do
right and to show his love.
And you're doing that with thislady.
That's coming through.
You're smiling, you and talkingto her.
You're making her feel like ahuman, because I think, as
people get addicted to drugs,alcohol, anything like that it
(08:37):
steals their humanity at somepoint and we don't want that.
We want them to have hope andwe want them to be able to make
better choices, right.
But I also know that it's likeGod's got to cut away those
things in their heart, thedesires for things that are just
(08:57):
leading them to hell.
He has to cut those out oftheir heart.
They get to choose, but he'sthe one that does the work, so
you can't even like say, well,too bad, they made the wrong
choice, because God's nevergoing to quit on them.
Yeah, he'll always be therewaiting for them to choose.
So we for sure need to be there, willing to help and lift.
Rylee Jackson (09:18):
Welcome.
Denise Jackson (09:19):
That's what I think, I agree.
So I love that, that you wantto be out even in a bigger way,
like Paisley's doing, but rightnow you're studying.
You're studying criminaljustice, your very first
semester.
But you said I don't know whatI'm going to be doing.
And listen, I'm a 66-year-oldwoman and I still don't know
(09:43):
what.
God's going to do with my life,and I've studied a lot of
different things along the way.
I got a degree in accounting,which I didn't want, but my
husband got me to do thatbecause we had four kids.
And he was worried if somethinghappened to him.
I couldn't afford to take careof them, but God's used that
accounting forever.
Then I got a teachingcertificate and oh, oh, my gosh,
(10:04):
that was such a joy, for mostof that teaching experience
loved that.
And then he took me across theworld to do something that
really was nothing that I reallystudied in school, yeah, and so
, like we have the ability, thisgreat ability that he's given
us to learn, so don't worryabout it, study what he's got
you studying right now.
(10:24):
No, I am?
Rylee Jackson (10:25):
I just went.
I went into school thinking Iwas like I had a plan and I was
like, yes, this is what he wantsme to do.
And then I was like, or is itbecause now he's opened the door
to, or like, train of trains ofthought not really doors yet
but he's like, well, look at allthese opportunities I could
give you so your, your aunt,jenna.
Denise Jackson (10:49):
She went to college to be a dancer, and
before her first year was over,she changed to journalism and
that changed her life, right, uh, and now she's a criminal
justice, in that case, and shenever studied criminal justice I
say that laughingly, but she isshe.
She she's interested incriminal justice, in changing
(11:11):
the world for to make it betterthrough helping people who have
become part of the criminaljustice system, and, and so that
could be your path.
You know, it could be somethingthat you're, um, you're going
to follow, but it also could besomething totally different than
he has for you.
So, like um, you you have twosisters, two older sisters, but
(11:33):
y'all are super close to an age,one year apart each.
So, um, you had them for a lotof years of your life not all of
the years of your life, becauseyou have another story, maybe
we'll save that for another dayand tell that story but for many
years of your life, the threeof you that were together, and
(11:54):
so has that been hard being awayfrom your sisters.
Rylee Jackson (11:58):
At times it is, and you're the youngest.
Yes, For me.
I think I know that they loveme and I don't need the constant
affirmations and communicationthat they do.
(12:18):
I know they need that, so Igive that to them, need that, so
I give that to them.
But it has been hard becausesometimes they're not just like
the next room away anymore.
So it is hard when I needadvice or I just need somebody
to talk to and that's who I usedto turn to.
They're not there anymore, sothat is hard.
Denise Jackson (12:41):
I think it's kind of good too, because you're
having to seek other places forthat advice that God's leading
you to.
Yeah, but it has been hard.
You haven't had a lot offriends in the place that you've
been.
Rylee Jackson (12:54):
That's been hard, lonely it's been hard and it's
lonely at times.
But I don't know, I reallyhaven't felt lonely I.
There hasn't been a time yetwhere I'm like man, I'm lonely
Like I just wish I could go homeand have friends, I don't know.
Denise Jackson (13:10):
Well, that's good, I keep myself busy.
Well, you're super busy.
You're working almost 40 hoursa week and you're taking 15, 14
hours in college.
Yeah, so you go Monday,wednesday and Friday to school
and then you work the rest ofthe time.
It's really tough, I mean, it'snot easy.
So you don't have a lot of time.
(13:30):
But I know that loneliness is aproblem when you first go away
because, like, you just leaveeverything behind.
So I'm glad that you feel andyou're with family too.
It makes it a lot easier to talkto family.
Yeah, yeah, that's good too.
So it makes it a lot easier totalk family.
Yeah, yeah, that's good.
But your hope is to get awayand be on your own soon and or
(13:51):
be with a friend and, uh, livingcloser to the school.
Rylee Jackson (13:53):
Yeah, that's the main part of it.
If I was closer to school, I'dprobably stay with the family
for longer periods of time.
But it is the commute is.
It can be rough sometimes, yeah.
Denise Jackson (14:07):
I, you know we.
Rylee Jackson (14:08):
They spent like $275 on gas last month.
Denise Jackson (14:11):
Well, and it's the driving.
You know, papa and I both havehad to drive a lot for work in
the past, and so you might tooone day.
But it's really hard.
That's like another lesson ofthat you're getting right now,
and we were talking about thatone.
You know we look at things aswhy am I in such a hard season?
(14:32):
But they're really gifts.
Like Riley, earning the moneyfor her tuition has taught her
she can do that, having to workso hard and go to school.
She knows she can do that andyou know, I know God will use it
in her life, and so it's prettycool that I get to see you just
bloom and do so well, is thereanything else that you'd like to
(14:57):
tell girls your age who aremaybe going away to school?
Maybe they're in high school,going to school, college, or
they're in their first year ofcollege?
Just any pearls of wisdom,because you have a lot.
But if you can think of any now, just let me know.
Rylee Jackson (15:13):
Share.
Just don't be scared.
God's got your back, you'regoing to be okay.
What's your verse?
Where God has not given us aspirit of fear but of power,
love and a sound mind?
Yay, nisi's favorite part ofthat is power.
That's right, because Iaccidentally used to always
(15:33):
leave it out when I would writeit, and, and it was it was
because I didn't think I hadpower, and I know now I do.
And you just have to beconfident in the fact that God
does give you power and wisdomand don't let on the wisdom part
.
Don't let people tell you justbecause you're young you don't
have wisdom.
You just have a different kindof wisdom.
(15:54):
You have wisdom that your lifegave you and that God gave you.
But don't be afraid to takewisdom from other people either,
like Denise, You're such a rockstar.
Denise Jackson (16:04):
I'm so proud of you.
I feel that you're going to seemy Riley Rain Jackson more in
the future, along with Paisley,because they do have good wisdom
to share with you guys and webelieve it's going to help you.
And I'm just going to pray foryou, Riley, that God will
continue to order your path ashe's promised so I know he will
(16:26):
and that he will continue toprovide all you need and even
more to give to every good workand that he'll give you clarity
in what he speaks to you, sothat it's just real clear you
know it's him.
You don't listen to the voice ofthe stranger, but you only
listen to the good shepherd, andI'm just looking forward to
(16:48):
what he's going to do in therest of your days, as long as
I'm here to share them in Jesusname.
Popular Podcasts
NFL Daily with Gregg Rosenthal
Gregg Rosenthal and a rotating crew of elite NFL Media co-hosts, including Patrick Claybon, Colleen Wolfe, Steve Wyche, Nick Shook and Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic get you caught up daily on all the NFL news and analysis you need to be smarter and funnier than your friends.
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com