April 29, 2025 • 47 mins
Principal Edwina Thompson shares her journey as the first African-American principal of Lane Tech College Prep and reveals how loving people through leadership has become her core purpose. She discusses balancing her roles as school administrator, pastor's wife, mother, and friend through intentional presence and spiritual grounding.
• Servant leadership means pausing to consider others before yourself, ensuring people feel seen and valued
• Being purposeful with your time requires daily shifting of priorities based on who needs your attention most
• Early morning quiet time (3:30-4:00 AM) provides essential spiritual nourishment before facing the day's demands
• True friendship involves active listening, helping others see themselves clearly, and considering long-term impacts
• Life's greatest lesson: "God has never failed me" - finding calm in chaos through faith
• When facing challenges, "draw in" to your spiritual center rather than reacting to the chaos around you
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Until next time, continue to press into your purpose!
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:28):
Hello and welcome to today's episode of Pressed Into
Purpose.
I'm your host, valeria Wright.
Let's meet today's guest.
Edwina Thompson is a 20-yeareducator whose passion for
children, education andeducators is closely matched by
her love for her community andfamily.
She is a wife to Captain PastorSean Thompson, mother to three
(00:53):
children, aaron Myra and Sean II, and the very proud alumna
principal of Lang Tech CollegePrep.
Principal Thompson serves asthe proud principal of Lang Tech
College Prep, home of 4,600students and more than 400 staff
members.
This selective and diverse highschool consistently ranks in
the top five schools in Illinoisand serves the largest student
(01:16):
body under one roof in thenation.
Principal Thompson made historyas the first African-American
principal and alumna appointedto her position in 2021.
Her post-secondary accoladesinclude a bachelor's degree in
English secondary education,minor in computer information
systems from the University ofWisconsin-Stevens Point, a
(01:39):
master's degree in educationaladministration from Concordia
University in Riverford, inEducational Administration from
Concordia University inRiverford, national Board
Certification as an EnglishEducator and several continuing
education courses and trainingsthat undergird her knowledge as
a lifelong educator.
Edwina Thompson is a highlyskilled, passionate and
results-oriented instructionalservant leader who believes in
(02:02):
providing optimal and equitableeducation experiences for staff
and student.
Her dedication to student andstaff success fuels her desire
to serve as the collaborativeleader of Lane Tech and is a
direct result of her love forthe advancement of people.
This same love is amplifiedthrough her volunteer service as
(02:25):
a youth leader, director,women's ministry leader,
instructor and first lady in herlocal church, shiloh Missionary
Baptist Church of Chicago.
Please join me in welcomingPrincipal First Lady Elwina
Thompson.
Welcome to the podcast.
Thank you for having me.
I am so glad that you are heretoday.
I am excited to talk to you andto hear more about your journey
(02:49):
.
But I just want to start out bysaying I have known you for
years and we met in high schoolas the illustrious Blaine Tech
and even then you were a leader.
You came in the door as afreshman and you were in charge.
We didn't know what you were incharge of, but you were in
(03:10):
charge, honey.
You were in charge Like youwalked around, like you own the
place, and I love that.
And so it was so natural whenyou became the principal, it was
so natural to see you.
You know, step up and step upand take that position, and
myself and everybody else that Iknow I don't know anybody who
(03:32):
isn't proud of you and who isn'texcited about this part of your
journey.
But I just want to start off bysaying you wear many hats.
We heard wife, mother, uh,first lady, principal, uh, and
the list goes on out.
(03:54):
Of all of those things, what doyou believe is your purpose?
Like in in life, what do youbelieve is your purpose?
Speaker 2 (04:08):
I believe that loving people is my purpose, and doing
so through leadership, doing sowith kindness, doing so with
forgiveness and with alwaysputting keeping others in mind.
(04:28):
Okay, I when it in the bio whenit talks about being a servant
leader.
You know, some people think ofservants from a place of
weakness, and for me, it's aprivilege to get to serve others
, to see them come into theirown, whether or not that's at
home, at school, at church.
It's very important to me thatpeople are walking away feeling
(04:50):
like they have accomplishedsomething, feeling like they can
be a better version ofthemselves, no matter who that
is.
And God, uniquely, has designedit so that I typically forgive
easily, I am able to moveforward very easily, okay, and I
(05:13):
do believe that that's justpart of the design and part of
my purpose on this earth to helpothers.
But in helping others, Ibelieve that also helps and
strengthens me for the next step, the next journey.
Speaker 1 (05:24):
Gotcha, a servant leader.
We hear that a lot in thechurch world.
Yes, servant leader, and Iwould like to know what servant
leader looks like in your life.
Like, I know that you lead theschool, you, you, you lead the
(05:45):
school, you lead um as firstlady in the church.
You, you, you know you are uh,even uh, leading your children
at home.
And so what does servantleadership look like?
Just uh, whether it's a day inthe life or just different
nuggets, what does that looklike for you?
Speaker 2 (06:08):
Oftentimes it looks like really pausing and
considering others beforeyourself, and I do believe that
we live in a world where you aretaught that you need to think
about yourself.
When are you going to putyourself first?
Then you need to think aboutyourself.
When are you going to putyourself first?
And often I don't do that, notfor any accolades or awards, but
(06:30):
just because I'm always tryingto see people, trying to see the
heart of what they need andtrying to see how I can assist
them.
You know, you're, you know.
You always hear about theanalogy of putting on your own
mask on an airplane it's goingdown from your own oxygen mask
in helping everyone out.
Yes, yes, I have not masteredthat, ok, ok, I have not, but I
(06:54):
also.
I also feel like that's part ofthat purpose that I was
speaking of, because people dooftentimes need help.
It doesn't make you theirsavior, but it just means that
God may have equipped you withsomething to help them along
their journey.
And so, like in a schoolsetting, it means that every kid
, no matter what they've done,no matter how they've left the
(07:16):
situation, how they've messed up, I always need them to know
that I am here to help them, toserve them, what's going to help
you get what you need?
And that is vital to me, evenstaff members For me, when
you're in a position where youhave to manage a large
environment, such as what I getthe privilege of managing, if
(07:40):
you don't put others first, youwill quickly get lost in the
position and I think that you'llburn out too fast, because when
it becomes all about you and ifeverything revolves around you,
then how are the people allowedto flourish, like I can go into
my office and take a meeting.
(08:00):
The school is still running,right, right, you know, but it's
running because there areadults who are out there taking
care of children.
There are children who arehelping to take care of children
, and I believe that part ofthat is because of the modeling
of being kind and beingempathetic to others, being
respectful of others.
Those are part of our corebeliefs in our school building.
(08:22):
But I also believe that, as aservant leader, you really have
to consider the other person,even when it might feel like
you're making the sacrifice, andoftentimes you are.
And oftentimes you are makingthe sacrifice, you're
sacrificing your thoughts, notsaying what you really want to
(08:43):
say oftentimes, okay, okay.
So you have to watch your mouth.
That's not just at work, that'sat church, that's church.
Watch your mouth, you have towatch your mouth.
Yeah, you know.
But not only do you have towatch, you know, watch your
mouth.
You also have to consider thelong lasting effects that your
actions are going to have onothers.
(09:04):
You know I think about my roleas a pastor's wife.
You know I love on the peopleoften.
I'm always listening.
Let's take pictures, let's dothis, let's you know, try to
give them hugs.
How are you doing?
How did it go?
Yeah, and for me it mattersbecause I want them to know that
I see them as a human being.
I see your life matters.
It's not just, did you?
Speaker 1 (09:31):
show up for church today.
Speaker 2 (09:32):
Did you sing in the fire?
You know your life matters,what's going on with you as a
person, because if you're okay,then you can give your time, you
can serve in other capacities,but if you're not okay, how are
you going to be in the positionto help others?
Speaker 1 (09:45):
You know, I love that , as you were talking about the,
about just serving and puttingothers before yourself and
making sure that people areother people are OK, and I
believe a part of that also ismaking sure that people feel
seen.
Believe a part of that also ismaking sure that people feel
(10:08):
seen.
Um, and it it brought up astory, uh, or an encounter that
I had at a church I won'tmention the name of the church
sure, um, I went to a churchonce and it was a large for a
large conference and got it laidon my heart.
This is years ago.
Um, got laid on my heart to goto this conference.
I ended up going by myself.
It was out of town and I wasthere and the atmosphere was
just, it was, it was, it wasloving, it was, it was, you know
(10:33):
, the spirit of God was there,the service was powerful and
impactful and there was likeservices in the morning,
services in the evening and soin between the services, you
know I was meeting new peopleand I'll never forget I was in
the hallway and the worshipleader walked past me and I was
(10:54):
like hi, and the worship leadernever even acknowledged my
presence, like just walked pastme as if I had said nothing.
I was like, wow, really.
I mean, you were just leadingsuch powerful worship and you're
(11:16):
walking and acting like people.
Other people don't even existand I was a new worship leader
at that time and I could havetaken it and been hurt.
You know and I'm not going tosay I wasn't, but I didn't stay
in the hurt place.
I went to.
(11:36):
I then shifted and said okay,god, you allowed that to happen
to me for a reason.
So after that I said, movingforward, I don't ever want
anybody to feel the way I feltwhen he walked past me and
didn't even acknowledge mypresence.
So I made it my business fromthen.
(11:56):
From that time to now, when I am, wherever I am whether it's
church, whether it's work,whether it's, you know,
extracurricular activities whenI walk in the room, I am
greeting everybody and loving oneverybody, because it's
important that people feel seen.
And so I love that.
(12:17):
That you talk about puttingpeople first and making sure
that they know that their lifematters first and making sure
that they know that their lifematters.
Yes, um, because, if?
Because when people know thattheir life matters, they, and
that somebody else cares, itmakes a difference in how they
care for themselves.
I agree, and so when you, whenit comes to being a first lady,
(12:43):
let's stick in that vein um,what do you feel is your most
vital asset as a first lady?
Um, as you, yeah, just like,what is your most?
What is your vital, most vitalasset as a first lady?
Speaker 2 (13:01):
I shared this a little bit earlier, you know,
before we started, but I amextroverted.
My husband is an introvert,extrovert and so I am able to
connect with anybody, yeah, andso I feel like that, the ability
for me to be able to connectwith the people and and have
(13:24):
conversations with them jump in,like if they're fixing
tablecloths and I'm going tograb tablecloths too.
You know, yeah, which is aminister ministry of helps, to
average, yes, you know which isthe ministry of helps too.
Yes, yeah, and that is that'show I operate.
You need me to.
You need me to stand up andhold this book.
You need me to teach a Bibleclass.
(13:44):
You need me to pray, you needto, whatever, wherever I'm
needed and being flexible enoughand knowing that it goes back
to how are you serving others?
Right, these people are comingto a space to get what they need
from God, but my husband isGod's representative in that
moment, right, but I am also anextension of him, absolutely,
(14:08):
and it is very important thatwhat I say, what I do, how I
respond, even if I've been hurt,even if you know, and I'm
grateful, we just have suchwonderful people, but and I'm
not naive that people that therearen't people who are in the
same kinds of positions that doexperience that kind of hurt.
(14:30):
I have not seen that yet, ohpraise God.
But I am.
But I feel like, as anextension of him, it is my job
to to, to look to see to, youknow, to catch certain things or
to remind him of things that hemay not have remembered.
He's leading Right, he's theshepherd.
(14:50):
Sometimes, when they're socaught up in, you know, in their
time with the Lord, or, youknow, just trying to meet that
spiritual need, that sometimesthey don't see other things.
And so I feel like in my roleas a wife, as a helpmate that
transfers into my position andas his wife, as wife of the
pastor, so I do a lot ofconnecting with them, hugging on
(15:13):
them, loving on them, you know,loving on them, yeah, you know,
speaking positive to them andjust and just being present.
Yeah, it's very important thatI'm present for them, it is very
important that I'm present.
Speaker 1 (15:27):
So how do you do that ?
How do you do this?
This is the.
This is the question of thehour.
No-transcript.
Speaker 2 (16:00):
I.
I do feel like there are levelsto the presence.
Okay, if that makes sense.
So whoever's in front of me orwhat I'm, whatever I'm dealing
with at the time, that's whatgets the most of my attention.
So if you were to look at it ona continuum of a 100 percent,
(16:23):
this section might need 50percent of that presence right
now, and this piece might onlyneed five and two and one and
and I.
And that's a daily shifting.
Ok, that's OK, it's not a.
That's a daily shifting.
Okay, that's okay, it's not a.
It's a daily shifting, and itit requires intention.
When I'm at work, I try to beat work easily, but if something
(16:47):
is going on that requires myattention outside of work, if I
need to step away for a fewminutes, uh, to grab a call or
something like that, I have todetermine the magnitude of that
call, like, is this somethingthat can be handled when I'm
done, because technically I'mnever done?
Speaker 1 (17:04):
The principal you're 24.
I'm never done.
Speaker 2 (17:06):
If I get a call at 10 o'clock at night saying student
A is X, y and Z, I have torespond Wow, if I, when I see it
, yeah.
But integrity means if I see itat 10 o'clock at night, then I
saw it at 10 o'clock at night.
I'm not going to say I didn'tsee it until the next day, right
, right and so.
But when I'm there so when I'mat church, I'm at church, and if
(17:31):
there's something that we'replanning, an event or something
like that for church, there'stime that I allot for that Very
intentionally.
Our son is 11.
It is very important that healso gets time, so I'm very
intentional in my car.
Now, when I first became aprincipal, I was still working.
Once I would pick him up fromschool.
(17:52):
I would still work while he'sin the car to make up the time.
And now my rule is, if I needto answer a call or something
like that, once I know that I'mpicking him up, I will limit
that time so that he can have mytime and then, if he goes to
sleep in the car, then I mightresume what I'm doing.
But if he's awake, he's gettingthat attention because I need
(18:16):
to know how his day was yes, andthat time is very important,
yeah, but but there's only one.
You Right, correct?
And so when he is getting thetime on a Saturday because of
his games, then I can't be in myemail checking it, right, so my
job doesn't get me at that time.
Gotcha email checking it right.
(18:38):
So my job doesn't get me atthat time gotcha, but it's a
daily balance and nobody getsall of me all the time right,
right.
Speaker 1 (18:43):
So when do you take time for so that?
Speaker 2 (18:51):
I plan to be much more intentional about that in
2025.
That is what I, that is what Iwill say about that.
I believe you should.
Speaker 1 (19:01):
Because everyone that gives and gives, and gives and
serves, and serves and serves,at some point you have to be
replanted.
Yes, so that you, so that your,your pots don't run dry.
That is right, you know you,you, you have to refill and
refuel, and I know that, youknow you can do that along the
way.
But sometimes you just have tounplug, that's right.
Speaker 2 (19:23):
And I honestly, over this break, when we traveled to
go see our daughters and my dad,I spent a lot of time.
I was present with them.
Good, I was extremely presentwith them.
What they needed, you knowcooking for them, laughing with
them, taking them to the show,to the mall, like whatever I
(19:45):
could actually do, just beingpresent in the moment with them.
And but in the the tough partabout when you are, you are a
giver.
Oftentimes you don't realizehow much you've given until
you're depleted.
Speaker 1 (20:01):
Yes, yes.
Speaker 2 (20:03):
And then, even when you're depleted, You're still
giving.
You're still giving, and so I'man early riser.
Okay, I wake up between 3.30 amand 4 and four o'clock.
Wow, what time do you go to beddaily?
Well, there was a time in mylife where I could go to bed by
(20:24):
eight o'clock and my husbandwill still use it.
He was like you, you willprobably sleep by eight.
I'm like I haven't seen eighto'clock sleeps.
It's so long, but, um, but itall depends.
Sometimes it's 9, 30, sometimesit's 10 o'clock, but I am
typically up very early and sothat allows me to spend time
(20:47):
with God.
Okay, um, but I am also at onepoint I would utilize that time
to catch up on after I spent mytime with the Lord, to catch up
on like emails and stuff likethat before I would start my day
.
Well, the last, maybe two weeksbefore break, I said I'm going
(21:08):
to use that time for my ownmorning routine or exercising,
et cetera, because I was tryingto fit in exercise in the
evening.
So I was getting a couple ofdays in here and there, but not
the way that I wanted to.
So I have eliminated themorning check.
Very good, and and really, andjust focusing in on whatever I
(21:30):
need to do spiritually.
Everything that relates to myown replenishment is what I do
in the morning so that I can getmy mind like my mind has to be
focused and purposed and it,just it makes a difference in
your day.
Speaker 1 (21:48):
I don't think we realize.
Well, we didn't grow up withelectronics, that's right, you
know in our hands all the time.
Up with electronics, that'sright, you know in our hands all
the time.
So now that we're, you know,older and we have like it's, you
have to be very intentional notto pick up the phone first
thing in the morning you do like, because I've found the same
(22:09):
thing.
If I pick up the phone, then Istart scrolling.
Either I'm scrolling, wastingtime on social media, or I'm
scrolling through emails and Ihaven't even had a moment to set
myself.
That's right, get in, get you,you wake up, you know, get some
peace, you know what I'm saying.
Like you haven't even had amoment to breathe and you're
(22:34):
inundated with all these things.
And so when we put thosedevices down and we just focus
on ourselves and God, that'sright it it really does shift
how the rest of your day happens.
Speaker 2 (22:51):
It does and when, when the spirit speaks to me,
it's quiet.
Speaker 1 (22:57):
Mm-hmm.
Speaker 2 (22:59):
You know, it isn't some loud, thunderous boom.
Right, you don't just like dothis.
It's very subtle Mm-hmm, and Ihear it and I know I'm like got
it.
Speaker 1 (23:11):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (23:12):
You can't get that when you are inundated with the
cares of this world.
Speaker 1 (23:20):
That is true.
Speaker 2 (23:21):
You just can't, because those things require
time, because you're not onlyare you taking in the
information, you're processingit, and then you're thinking
about the long term effects ofit, especially in my, in my kind
of position, where I'm like thenews is saying this about
contract negotiations and you'rejust, you're ingesting all of
that.
What is this going to mean?
(23:41):
And then, but what that ends updoing is that evokes fear.
Yeah, right, yeah.
And so, instead of feeding yourspirit man because God doesn't
give us the spirit of fear yeah,you need to feed your spirit
with the word.
And so that's what you have todo.
And so how do you do that?
How do you block out, how doyou eliminate the fear?
You feed it.
You feed your spirit man withwhat God's word says.
(24:04):
But that's intentionality, yeah, and it's.
That can be hard, but I knowthat everybody else is asleep at
3.30 in the morning.
Speaker 1 (24:14):
Listen, everybody else is asleep.
It's amazing to me how I can,if I get up so typically on a
good day I'm up at like between5.30 and 6.
And the stillness of themorning is just not the same at
(24:36):
seven or eight or not, becausethe traffic is moving, the and
you know, and uh, the hustle andbustle, like your, your
neighbors are moving, the carsare starting, but that early in
the morning it's typicallyreally not only quiet in the
house but it's quiet outside.
That's right.
(24:56):
And so things are just stilland you can really, like you
said, on and on, not justreading but hearing.
That's right.
Because if we, how, how do weknow where to go if we can't
hear?
That's right, and not just hearour voice, hear the voice of
God and be able to know thedifference.
(25:17):
The only way we know thedifference is if we are studying
his word.
That's right, because he'snever going to say anything
contrary to his word.
That's right.
So, like this, this is good tobe able to, to sit, no matter
how early it is, and some peopleI know some people do it late
in the evening and that worksfor them, but it's still quiet
between the hours of like 11 pmand like 5 am it is super quiet,
(25:45):
it is, and sometimes God willwake me up at three or four
o'clock in the morning.
I'm like Lord, now, you know, Igot to wake up, and a few hours
I just can I just get, and it'slike, okay, I got to wake up in
a few hours, I just can I justget, and it's like, ok, I get up
Now.
I don't always do it, but whenI do I'm nourished, that's right
(26:06):
.
And you get that instruction orthat thing that you've been
praying for, that thing, thatthat instruction you've been
waiting for, and you're like,wow, I'm so glad I got up.
Or we don't know what the dayholds, but God does and pretend.
So you get in that word, you'restudying that word, you're
spending time with him and he'lldownload just what you need
(26:29):
when you encounter that personat 1030 or just even in passing.
But, like you said, you'rereplenished and you have
something to give.
I love that today's episode isbrought to you by destiny film
and media.
Go to destinyfam1.com for allyour media needs.
Destiny, film and media, yourdestiny through film and media.
(26:53):
We talked about Edwina the.
We talked about Edwina theprincipal.
We talked about Edwina thefirst lady.
We even talked a little bitabout Edwina, the wife and the
mother.
Let's talk about Edwina thefriend.
How are you purposeful withyour friendships?
Speaker 2 (27:16):
That's a great question.
So a lot of people call mefriend and but I recognize it.
There are a few deep personalfriendships that I have.
Yeah, and I noticed that forthose deep personal friendships.
(27:39):
Those are people that I'm nottalking to them every single day
, but they know me.
Speaker 1 (27:45):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (27:46):
Very well, very, very intimately, and so with those
friends I also just try to bepresent.
I do a lot of listening in myfriendships.
I laugh, I'm like maybe Ishould have been a therapist.
Speaker 1 (28:00):
I know right, Listen, trust me.
Speaker 2 (28:04):
Sometimes I feel the same way I do a lot of listening
in my friendships, try to makethem laugh.
I really love laughing.
I do.
My husband is a prankster, he'sa jokester, and so I'm always
laughing.
I do.
I have a husband is a prank,he's a jokester, and so I'm
always laughing at somethingcrazy that he's doing.
But I like laughing.
But I also have a smart mouthand my friends who know me well,
(28:26):
they're like I can't believeyou just said that, but I try to
.
I feel as if I that's probablythe one area where I need to be
stronger by making, bycontacting more, by reaching out
(28:48):
more.
There are some people that Ilove deeply, like if they call
me right now and said I'm on theside of the road, can you come?
I would show up.
And I don't talk to them maybe,but three times a year.
I understand, but part of thatis I feel like part of that is
me.
I just get so caught up intoall the other things that I have
to do and I do feel likesometimes my friends are on the
(29:08):
back burner.
I've never been a going outperson, like everybody knows.
You know I'm not gonna be inthe clubs, I'm not gonna listen,
you know I'm not going to be inthe clubs, I'm not going to
listen.
You know that's just not goingto happen.
They're not going to catch meout at the local bar, it's just
not.
And so, yeah, a lot of thingsthat people just like enjoy
doing and hanging out Like I'mjust not going to be at that.
Speaker 1 (29:27):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (29:28):
But I feel like that's something.
That's something that I have tobe better at.
Okay, but I am, but I do a lotof listening, like, if you need
me, I'm, I'm going to listen,yeah, and I'm going to share
with you what I believe God issaying about it and and really
try to get you to think abouthow you feel about it, because I
(29:50):
feel like it's being a part.
Being a good friend meanshelping someone to see
themselves.
Yeah, not just seeing what yousee, but helping them to see
themselves and how is this goingto affect their lives beyond
just the moment?
Yeah, I am very much so aperson that thinks beyond the
moment.
I've always been that way.
Yeah, what is this going to dotwo years from now?
(30:14):
Yes, how will this affect thesix months from now?
I'm very, very cautious aboutthose kinds of things, but I try
to really have some of myfriends to really think about
that.
I have people who are veryprotective of me too.
They're very protective of me.
Speaker 1 (30:30):
Oh, I know, I know some of them.
Speaker 2 (30:32):
And so I have to, and so I try to make sure that I'm
intentional about how I give tothem, how I'm thinking about
them, how I am just saying Ilove you, you know, or you're a
great person.
It's very easy, you know, withconsidering some of person.
It's very easy, you know, withconsidering some of the
positions that I have, thatpeople are very much so like oh,
we're so, we're proud of you,we're glad you're doing this,
(30:54):
we're glad you're doing that.
But I have to make sure and I'mand I feel like I've done
better with it within the lastyear of just telling other
people how proud I am of themyeah like that's what's what
being a good friend is, likepeople.
You just get so used to peoplesaying those things.
Yeah, I want to give some ofthat back, not just in service
(31:14):
Right, but in words ofaffirmation.
That's important, it's veryimportant.
Speaker 1 (31:19):
It's very important.
I love that.
I love that, okay, okay.
So if you had to sum up lifethus far because we have a whole
lot more life to live, godwilling, at least another 45, 50
(31:40):
years at least we won't giveaway ages, but we'll just say
that, give away ages, but we'lljust say that, um, but if, if
you had to sum up your life'sjourney thus far, the challenges
, the triumphs, what would youwhat?
What lesson or lessons have youlearned from life thus far?
Speaker 2 (32:04):
I had to sum it up.
I had to sum it up one thingwhenever I have any kind of like
conflict or something thatfeels like it's going to be
impossible, the first thing thatpops into my head is and Wina,
(32:27):
god has taken care of you all ofyour life.
He has never not taken care ofme, ever.
I remember being nine years oldand, without saying too much, I
just remember being nine and Iremember going into the room and
closing the door and crying andpraying and talking to Jesus.
Speaker 1 (32:49):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (32:50):
And saying I don't know how I'm going.
This hurts.
I don't know what to do.
I don't know.
And just hearing him speak veryclearly to me I love you,
You're going to be fine.
Speaker 1 (33:03):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (33:03):
And he has never failed me.
Speaker 1 (33:05):
Hallelujah, ever You're going to be fine, yeah,
and he has never failed meHallelujah Ever.
Speaker 2 (33:08):
And so when I think about, like the life lessons
that I've learned and you knowwhat do I walk away with?
I know that God will never failme.
Yeah, and because I know that Itrust him, even when it looks
bleak, even when it doesn't feelgood, Even when the chatter is
(33:28):
going on, I've learned to drawin.
Speaker 1 (33:31):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (33:34):
And I don't have to say the words to others around
me, but when I feel the chaoshappening, I immediately draw in
and that's my hiding place,that's my safe space.
Yeah, it's going in and findinghim and talking to him through
my heart and just saying God,you hear it, but don't allow
these words, don't allow thesewords to influence my actions.
(33:56):
Allow my actions and my wordsto be pleasing to you.
Give me wisdom in thissituation, because it doesn't
feel good right now, but I knowit's for a purpose Right.
And when people are notbelievers, it's very hard for
them to understand that stance.
That is true, and so I.
It's true, I don't.
When I'm in that secular space,I don't get on that kind of
(34:22):
soapbox.
Yeah, yeah.
It doesn't mean that peopledon't know that.
That's how I am Correct.
God gives me a sense of calm.
Often here people say how areyou calm in this?
Why aren't you like mad?
Why aren't you warm enough?
I'm like I don't have to be.
Exactly, I don't have to bebecause I'm not fighting the
battle anymore, and I and I, andso, when I think about the fact
(34:43):
that, that God has never failedme, he has always protected me,
yeah, has always kept me, hasalways, you know, uh, made a way
for me, yeah, where doors justopen yeah and when they didn't
open, I said, oh, that wasn'tGod.
Then, yeah, it wasn't for me.
Yeah, and I know it, and andbeing confident, yeah and that
(35:07):
you know, when you read Jeremiah29, I was thinking.
I was like that's, that's myscripture.
You know that?
Just knowing that there areplans for me, yes, plans that
were designed for me before Ientered this world.
Speaker 1 (35:24):
That's right.
Speaker 2 (35:25):
God knew my story.
He knew the story I had before.
He knows the story is to come.
Yes, and he's given me justwhat I need in order to, in
order to live that out.
Yeah, and there's enough gracethere, there's enough mercy
there to see me through.
Yes, and therefore those are my, those are my, that's what I've
learned.
No matter what comes highs,lows, triumphs, disappointments
(35:48):
doesn't matter, because, nomatter what, his mercies are new
every morning, every morning,every morning, and I get, and I
get to experience it, and I'mgrateful for that.
And I don't take I don't takeany of the things that you read
on that bio.
I don't take any of that forgranted.
You read on that bio.
I don't take any of that forgranted.
Being a mom there are peoplewho want to be moms and they
(36:10):
aren't moms.
Being a wife there are peoplewho want to be married, who are
not married.
Being a pastor's wife there aresome people who want to be a
pastor's wife.
Speaker 1 (36:19):
They don't know what it really means, but they want
to be it.
I would rather not, but Ipraise God for those of you who
are standing there allowing Godto use you in that space.
Speaker 2 (36:30):
But it's true, right.
There are people who want to beeducators, people who want to
go to school, people who want tohave people who love them.
Yes, unconditionally, you know,and for me, I know that I don't
take it for granted.
I don't believe it's becauseI've been so wonderful.
I believe it's because God hasgraced me with that.
Speaker 1 (36:50):
He has graced you for it.
Speaker 2 (36:52):
And since he's graced me with it, he gives me what I
need to operate in it.
Yes, and if he ever decidedthat that was it, I would have
to go with that's it.
Yeah, because if there's nograce there for it, right, then
I can't be effective in it andthen I'm not doing as well.
(37:15):
Yes, you know.
Yes, as well as that, weprosper as our soul prosper
absolutely, and so when you're,when you're not prospering, yeah
, anymore, and if every thethings that you are touching are
no longer prospering, youreally have to pause and say,
okay, god, and what's the nextmove?
Right, are you in this?
Where are you leading me?
And it really take moments toreflect yeah, that's good,
(37:36):
that's good, that's good.
Speaker 1 (37:38):
I, I love all of that .
Listen, I'm sitting here beingminister to my sap AP.
I just listen.
I, I love that.
At the foundation of it all,you are always, you are always
taken back to your faith becausethere is for for the people of
(38:03):
faith.
There is no other way, none,there is no other way, none.
There is no other foundation,there is no other rock, there is
no other shelter than thefather none, none.
He, he is with us, he is withus, he is for us and he has
(38:27):
given us everything we need todo what he has called us to do.
And so I am, I am listen, wecould talk on and all, but I'm,
I'm go, I'm go.
Let us wrap it here, because Iwant those words to resonate
with people, that when I wantthose words to resonate with
people, that when, wheneveryou're going through trials or
(38:50):
tribulations or challenges, oreven the highs of life, when
chaos is all around, go inbecause Holy Spirit lives on the
inside.
That's right, and he and Godhas given us everything that we
need to be successful, if weonly take time to recognize when
(39:11):
he's speaking, recognize whenhe is shifting us and recognize
when we are in purpose, and so Ilike to ask people is there
anything you'd like to ask mebefore we, before we end?
Yeah, anything you want to askme?
Speaker 2 (39:34):
So, since you're talking about being pressed into
purpose, what do you thinkpressed you into this purpose?
Speaker 1 (39:44):
Well, I know, in 2020 , in the middle of the pandemic,
I was, my husband and I wereseparated and I was in my
apartment sitting on the couchand I was just like God, like
there's got to be more than this, there's got to be more than
this, there's got to be morethan this, and I had gotten to a
(40:11):
place of surrender.
That's a that's a very longstory, but I got into the place
of surrender and I said, god,what would you have me to do?
And I just heard, like pressedinto purpose, and I was like,
okay, well, what is that?
And, um, I heard podcasts and Iwas like god, it's a million
(40:33):
people out here doing podcasts.
I'm not.
Nobody wants to hear my voice.
That that's what I said.
I was like nobody needs to,like I will just be another
voice in the midst of all theothers, like I don't have
anything special to say.
Who am I to tell God anything?
(40:55):
First of all?
Uh, especially what you know,like, if he, if he's giving you
something, then we're alwayspraying for witty ideas and
inventions, and so when God gaveit to me, I had to finally
submit.
So it has taken me like Istarted recording episodes, like
(41:17):
just because I didn't like.
I also didn't like the sound ofmy voice, and so I had to get
used to hearing myself talk.
But the very long, the very longstory short is, I heard God say
start a podcast, preston'sPurpose.
I didn't want to do it.
I fought him on it.
I started and I said it to theside and did and well, we're now
(41:42):
in 2025, so in 2024 I picked itback up because he just
wouldn't let it go.
Yeah, and I was like fine, ifwe still talking about this in
2024, from 2020, obviously thisis something that you really
want me to do, so I will do it,just show me how.
And when I tell you, when Isaid I'll do it, show me how.
(42:06):
He, god, showed me.
Everything was here in my hands,wow, including a husband that
is a that does production,mm-hmm, like because we're back
together now, that's right, allis well.
But everything was in my hands,yeah, and all I needed was my
(42:29):
voice, and all he wanted me todo was have conversations like
we're having now, which is whatI do all the time.
So I was pressed to get out ofmy comfort zone and be obedient
to this call.
So it's definitely different,but as I sit here, I know that
(42:52):
I'm right in the center of God'swill and I would not I would
rather not be in any other placebesides the center of God's
will, and I haven't felt thisway in a very long time.
So that's how I know.
That's how I was pressed intothis.
God gave it to me.
I didn't want to do it, Ifought him.
He didn't let it go, becauseyou know that's how he is If he
(43:14):
wants you to do something, hewants you to do it, and I love
that he didn't give it toanybody else, because sometimes
we feel like, well, I've waitedso long, maybe I've missed the
moment, but sometimes we have togo through the process and then
we get right where we'resupposed to be, at the appointed
(43:34):
time, and so I feel like now isthe appointed time for this to
come forth, and I just want tosay thank you for being a part
of my journey in Preston toPurpose, and sharing your
journey not only with me butwith the listeners, because it's
everybody's.
Life has purpose, whether theyrealize it or not, but how we
(43:57):
journey in that purpose isdifferent.
It looks different for everyone.
So I just appreciate yousharing your story.
I appreciate you spending thistime with me.
I appreciate and I just want tosay thank you for being who you
are in the earth, because andaccepting all that God has
graced you to do, because Ithank you for not fighting I
(44:22):
guess that's the, that's whatthat's the, and maybe you have
fought some, but I thank you foraccepting what God has graced
you to do because it yieldsgreat impact in the earth, and
so thank you for your time today, thank you for your yes and
yeah, thank you for coming tosit on Preston's breakfast.
(44:43):
I appreciate it.
Speaker 2 (44:44):
Thank you for your yes.
Your yes is inspirational.
I have had my own conversationswith the Lord.
Some of the very same thingsthat you said you know.
You don't need another series,you don't need another.
You know some of the samethings, but that's very just.
(45:04):
Hearing you talk about thatjust makes me reflect on
something I was just talkingwith my sister about recently,
and so I appreciate you sharingthat, which is further
confirmation.
Um, but I I do because it'ssometimes it's hard to say yes,
but you never know.
You never know how your yes isgoing to influence someone
(45:28):
else's yes absolutely.
Speaker 1 (45:30):
And so, and that's what I've learned, the our yes
is not just for us, that's right.
It's rarely for just for us,it's rare.
It's really for the people andfor the purpose.
Because, like, like we, like weboth said, we're here for a
(45:52):
reason.
From the before we even gothere, god had a purpose and a
plan for us, yeah, and so whenwe, when we say yes and submit
to him, everything is going toline up, everything is going to
work just the way it should, andall the people that we're
supposed to impact in our sphereof influence will be impacted,
(46:14):
and then they will go and impactothers, agreed, and it's, it's
the ripple in the water.
That's right, you know.
So, yeah, all because of a yes,all because of a yes.
Well, thank you, thank you.
Of a yes, well, thank you,thank you, thank you and thank
you all for listening.
This has been another wonderfulepisode of Pressing to Purpose
(46:35):
with Edwina Thompson, and I amso glad that we were able to
chat today.
Me too, thank you, thank you.
Today's episode is brought toyou by Destiny Film and Media.
Go to destinyfam1.com for allyour media needs.
Destiny, film and media, yourdestiny through film and media.
(46:56):
Thank you.
Hello and welcome to today's episode of Pressed Into
Purpose.
I'm your host, valeria Wright.
Let's meet today's guest.
Edwina Thompson is a 20-yeareducator whose passion for
children, education andeducators is closely matched by
her love for her community andfamily.
She is a wife to Captain PastorSean Thompson, mother to three
(00:53):
children, aaron Myra and Sean II, and the very proud alumna
principal of Lang Tech CollegePrep.
Principal Thompson serves asthe proud principal of Lang Tech
College Prep, home of 4,600students and more than 400 staff
members.
This selective and diverse highschool consistently ranks in
the top five schools in Illinoisand serves the largest student
(01:16):
body under one roof in thenation.
Principal Thompson made historyas the first African-American
principal and alumna appointedto her position in 2021.
Her post-secondary accoladesinclude a bachelor's degree in
English secondary education,minor in computer information
systems from the University ofWisconsin-Stevens Point, a
(01:39):
master's degree in educationaladministration from Concordia
University in Riverford, inEducational Administration from
Concordia University inRiverford, national Board
Certification as an EnglishEducator and several continuing
education courses and trainingsthat undergird her knowledge as
a lifelong educator.
Edwina Thompson is a highlyskilled, passionate and
results-oriented instructionalservant leader who believes in
(02:02):
providing optimal and equitableeducation experiences for staff
and student.
Her dedication to student andstaff success fuels her desire
to serve as the collaborativeleader of Lane Tech and is a
direct result of her love forthe advancement of people.
This same love is amplifiedthrough her volunteer service as
(02:25):
a youth leader, director,women's ministry leader,
instructor and first lady in herlocal church, shiloh Missionary
Baptist Church of Chicago.
Please join me in welcomingPrincipal First Lady Elwina
Thompson.
Welcome to the podcast.
Thank you for having me.
I am so glad that you are heretoday.
I am excited to talk to you andto hear more about your journey
(02:49):
.
But I just want to start out bysaying I have known you for
years and we met in high schoolas the illustrious Blaine Tech
and even then you were a leader.
You came in the door as afreshman and you were in charge.
We didn't know what you were incharge of, but you were in
(03:10):
charge, honey.
You were in charge Like youwalked around, like you own the
place, and I love that.
And so it was so natural whenyou became the principal, it was
so natural to see you.
You know, step up and step upand take that position, and
myself and everybody else that Iknow I don't know anybody who
(03:32):
isn't proud of you and who isn'texcited about this part of your
journey.
But I just want to start off bysaying you wear many hats.
We heard wife, mother, uh,first lady, principal, uh, and
the list goes on out.
(03:54):
Of all of those things, what doyou believe is your purpose?
Like in in life, what do youbelieve is your purpose?
Speaker 2 (04:08):
I believe that loving people is my purpose, and doing
so through leadership, doing sowith kindness, doing so with
forgiveness and with alwaysputting keeping others in mind.
(04:28):
Okay, I when it in the bio whenit talks about being a servant
leader.
You know, some people think ofservants from a place of
weakness, and for me, it's aprivilege to get to serve others
, to see them come into theirown, whether or not that's at
home, at school, at church.
It's very important to me thatpeople are walking away feeling
(04:50):
like they have accomplishedsomething, feeling like they can
be a better version ofthemselves, no matter who that
is.
And God, uniquely, has designedit so that I typically forgive
easily, I am able to moveforward very easily, okay, and I
(05:13):
do believe that that's justpart of the design and part of
my purpose on this earth to helpothers.
But in helping others, Ibelieve that also helps and
strengthens me for the next step, the next journey.
Speaker 1 (05:24):
Gotcha, a servant leader.
We hear that a lot in thechurch world.
Yes, servant leader, and Iwould like to know what servant
leader looks like in your life.
Like, I know that you lead theschool, you, you, you lead the
(05:45):
school, you lead um as firstlady in the church.
You, you, you know you are uh,even uh, leading your children
at home.
And so what does servantleadership look like?
Just uh, whether it's a day inthe life or just different
nuggets, what does that looklike for you?
Speaker 2 (06:08):
Oftentimes it looks like really pausing and
considering others beforeyourself, and I do believe that
we live in a world where you aretaught that you need to think
about yourself.
When are you going to putyourself first?
Then you need to think aboutyourself.
When are you going to putyourself first?
And often I don't do that, notfor any accolades or awards, but
(06:30):
just because I'm always tryingto see people, trying to see the
heart of what they need andtrying to see how I can assist
them.
You know, you're, you know.
You always hear about theanalogy of putting on your own
mask on an airplane it's goingdown from your own oxygen mask
in helping everyone out.
Yes, yes, I have not masteredthat, ok, ok, I have not, but I
(06:54):
also.
I also feel like that's part ofthat purpose that I was
speaking of, because people dooftentimes need help.
It doesn't make you theirsavior, but it just means that
God may have equipped you withsomething to help them along
their journey.
And so, like in a schoolsetting, it means that every kid
, no matter what they've done,no matter how they've left the
(07:16):
situation, how they've messed up, I always need them to know
that I am here to help them, toserve them, what's going to help
you get what you need?
And that is vital to me, evenstaff members For me, when
you're in a position where youhave to manage a large
environment, such as what I getthe privilege of managing, if
(07:40):
you don't put others first, youwill quickly get lost in the
position and I think that you'llburn out too fast, because when
it becomes all about you and ifeverything revolves around you,
then how are the people allowedto flourish, like I can go into
my office and take a meeting.
(08:00):
The school is still running,right, right, you know, but it's
running because there areadults who are out there taking
care of children.
There are children who arehelping to take care of children
, and I believe that part ofthat is because of the modeling
of being kind and beingempathetic to others, being
respectful of others.
Those are part of our corebeliefs in our school building.
(08:22):
But I also believe that, as aservant leader, you really have
to consider the other person,even when it might feel like
you're making the sacrifice, andoftentimes you are.
And oftentimes you are makingthe sacrifice, you're
sacrificing your thoughts, notsaying what you really want to
(08:43):
say oftentimes, okay, okay.
So you have to watch your mouth.
That's not just at work, that'sat church, that's church.
Watch your mouth, you have towatch your mouth.
Yeah, you know.
But not only do you have towatch, you know, watch your
mouth.
You also have to consider thelong lasting effects that your
actions are going to have onothers.
(09:04):
You know I think about my roleas a pastor's wife.
You know I love on the peopleoften.
I'm always listening.
Let's take pictures, let's dothis, let's you know, try to
give them hugs.
How are you doing?
How did it go?
Yeah, and for me it mattersbecause I want them to know that
I see them as a human being.
I see your life matters.
It's not just, did you?
Speaker 1 (09:31):
show up for church today.
Speaker 2 (09:32):
Did you sing in the fire?
You know your life matters,what's going on with you as a
person, because if you're okay,then you can give your time, you
can serve in other capacities,but if you're not okay, how are
you going to be in the positionto help others?
Speaker 1 (09:45):
You know, I love that , as you were talking about the,
about just serving and puttingothers before yourself and
making sure that people areother people are OK, and I
believe a part of that also ismaking sure that people feel
seen.
Believe a part of that also ismaking sure that people feel
(10:08):
seen.
Um, and it it brought up astory, uh, or an encounter that
I had at a church I won'tmention the name of the church
sure, um, I went to a churchonce and it was a large for a
large conference and got it laidon my heart.
This is years ago.
Um, got laid on my heart to goto this conference.
I ended up going by myself.
It was out of town and I wasthere and the atmosphere was
just, it was, it was, it wasloving, it was, it was, you know
(10:33):
, the spirit of God was there,the service was powerful and
impactful and there was likeservices in the morning,
services in the evening and soin between the services, you
know I was meeting new peopleand I'll never forget I was in
the hallway and the worshipleader walked past me and I was
(10:54):
like hi, and the worship leadernever even acknowledged my
presence, like just walked pastme as if I had said nothing.
I was like, wow, really.
I mean, you were just leadingsuch powerful worship and you're
(11:16):
walking and acting like people.
Other people don't even existand I was a new worship leader
at that time and I could havetaken it and been hurt.
You know and I'm not going tosay I wasn't, but I didn't stay
in the hurt place.
I went to.
(11:36):
I then shifted and said okay,god, you allowed that to happen
to me for a reason.
So after that I said, movingforward, I don't ever want
anybody to feel the way I feltwhen he walked past me and
didn't even acknowledge mypresence.
So I made it my business fromthen.
(11:56):
From that time to now, when I am, wherever I am whether it's
church, whether it's work,whether it's, you know,
extracurricular activities whenI walk in the room, I am
greeting everybody and loving oneverybody, because it's
important that people feel seen.
And so I love that.
(12:17):
That you talk about puttingpeople first and making sure
that they know that their lifematters first and making sure
that they know that their lifematters.
Yes, um, because, if?
Because when people know thattheir life matters, they, and
that somebody else cares, itmakes a difference in how they
care for themselves.
I agree, and so when you, whenit comes to being a first lady,
(12:43):
let's stick in that vein um,what do you feel is your most
vital asset as a first lady?
Um, as you, yeah, just like,what is your most?
What is your vital, most vitalasset as a first lady?
Speaker 2 (13:01):
I shared this a little bit earlier, you know,
before we started, but I amextroverted.
My husband is an introvert,extrovert and so I am able to
connect with anybody, yeah, andso I feel like that, the ability
for me to be able to connectwith the people and and have
(13:24):
conversations with them jump in,like if they're fixing
tablecloths and I'm going tograb tablecloths too.
You know, yeah, which is aminister ministry of helps, to
average, yes, you know which isthe ministry of helps too.
Yes, yeah, and that is that'show I operate.
You need me to.
You need me to stand up andhold this book.
You need me to teach a Bibleclass.
(13:44):
You need me to pray, you needto, whatever, wherever I'm
needed and being flexible enoughand knowing that it goes back
to how are you serving others?
Right, these people are comingto a space to get what they need
from God, but my husband isGod's representative in that
moment, right, but I am also anextension of him, absolutely,
(14:08):
and it is very important thatwhat I say, what I do, how I
respond, even if I've been hurt,even if you know, and I'm
grateful, we just have suchwonderful people, but and I'm
not naive that people that therearen't people who are in the
same kinds of positions that doexperience that kind of hurt.
(14:30):
I have not seen that yet, ohpraise God.
But I am.
But I feel like, as anextension of him, it is my job
to to, to look to see to, youknow, to catch certain things or
to remind him of things that hemay not have remembered.
He's leading Right, he's theshepherd.
(14:50):
Sometimes, when they're socaught up in, you know, in their
time with the Lord, or, youknow, just trying to meet that
spiritual need, that sometimesthey don't see other things.
And so I feel like in my roleas a wife, as a helpmate that
transfers into my position andas his wife, as wife of the
pastor, so I do a lot ofconnecting with them, hugging on
(15:13):
them, loving on them, you know,loving on them, yeah, you know,
speaking positive to them andjust and just being present.
Yeah, it's very important thatI'm present for them, it is very
important that I'm present.
Speaker 1 (15:27):
So how do you do that ?
How do you do this?
This is the.
This is the question of thehour.
No-transcript.
Speaker 2 (16:00):
I.
I do feel like there are levelsto the presence.
Okay, if that makes sense.
So whoever's in front of me orwhat I'm, whatever I'm dealing
with at the time, that's whatgets the most of my attention.
So if you were to look at it ona continuum of a 100 percent,
(16:23):
this section might need 50percent of that presence right
now, and this piece might onlyneed five and two and one and
and I.
And that's a daily shifting.
Ok, that's OK, it's not a.
That's a daily shifting.
Okay, that's okay, it's not a.
It's a daily shifting, and itit requires intention.
When I'm at work, I try to beat work easily, but if something
(16:47):
is going on that requires myattention outside of work, if I
need to step away for a fewminutes, uh, to grab a call or
something like that, I have todetermine the magnitude of that
call, like, is this somethingthat can be handled when I'm
done, because technically I'mnever done?
Speaker 1 (17:04):
The principal you're 24.
I'm never done.
Speaker 2 (17:06):
If I get a call at 10 o'clock at night saying student
A is X, y and Z, I have torespond Wow, if I, when I see it
, yeah.
But integrity means if I see itat 10 o'clock at night, then I
saw it at 10 o'clock at night.
I'm not going to say I didn'tsee it until the next day, right
, right and so.
But when I'm there so when I'mat church, I'm at church, and if
(17:31):
there's something that we'replanning, an event or something
like that for church, there'stime that I allot for that Very
intentionally.
Our son is 11.
It is very important that healso gets time, so I'm very
intentional in my car.
Now, when I first became aprincipal, I was still working.
Once I would pick him up fromschool.
(17:52):
I would still work while he'sin the car to make up the time.
And now my rule is, if I needto answer a call or something
like that, once I know that I'mpicking him up, I will limit
that time so that he can have mytime and then, if he goes to
sleep in the car, then I mightresume what I'm doing.
But if he's awake, he's gettingthat attention because I need
(18:16):
to know how his day was yes, andthat time is very important,
yeah, but but there's only one.
You Right, correct?
And so when he is getting thetime on a Saturday because of
his games, then I can't be in myemail checking it, right, so my
job doesn't get me at that time.
Gotcha email checking it right.
(18:38):
So my job doesn't get me atthat time gotcha, but it's a
daily balance and nobody getsall of me all the time right,
right.
Speaker 1 (18:43):
So when do you take time for so that?
Speaker 2 (18:51):
I plan to be much more intentional about that in
2025.
That is what I, that is what Iwill say about that.
I believe you should.
Speaker 1 (19:01):
Because everyone that gives and gives, and gives and
serves, and serves and serves,at some point you have to be
replanted.
Yes, so that you, so that your,your pots don't run dry.
That is right, you know you,you, you have to refill and
refuel, and I know that, youknow you can do that along the
way.
But sometimes you just have tounplug, that's right.
Speaker 2 (19:23):
And I honestly, over this break, when we traveled to
go see our daughters and my dad,I spent a lot of time.
I was present with them.
Good, I was extremely presentwith them.
What they needed, you knowcooking for them, laughing with
them, taking them to the show,to the mall, like whatever I
(19:45):
could actually do, just beingpresent in the moment with them.
And but in the the tough partabout when you are, you are a
giver.
Oftentimes you don't realizehow much you've given until
you're depleted.
Speaker 1 (20:01):
Yes, yes.
Speaker 2 (20:03):
And then, even when you're depleted, You're still
giving.
You're still giving, and so I'man early riser.
Okay, I wake up between 3.30 amand 4 and four o'clock.
Wow, what time do you go to beddaily?
Well, there was a time in mylife where I could go to bed by
(20:24):
eight o'clock and my husbandwill still use it.
He was like you, you willprobably sleep by eight.
I'm like I haven't seen eighto'clock sleeps.
It's so long, but, um, but itall depends.
Sometimes it's 9, 30, sometimesit's 10 o'clock, but I am
typically up very early and sothat allows me to spend time
(20:47):
with God.
Okay, um, but I am also at onepoint I would utilize that time
to catch up on after I spent mytime with the Lord, to catch up
on like emails and stuff likethat before I would start my day
.
Well, the last, maybe two weeksbefore break, I said I'm going
(21:08):
to use that time for my ownmorning routine or exercising,
et cetera, because I was tryingto fit in exercise in the
evening.
So I was getting a couple ofdays in here and there, but not
the way that I wanted to.
So I have eliminated themorning check.
Very good, and and really, andjust focusing in on whatever I
(21:30):
need to do spiritually.
Everything that relates to myown replenishment is what I do
in the morning so that I can getmy mind like my mind has to be
focused and purposed and it,just it makes a difference in
your day.
Speaker 1 (21:48):
I don't think we realize.
Well, we didn't grow up withelectronics, that's right, you
know in our hands all the time.
Up with electronics, that'sright, you know in our hands all
the time.
So now that we're, you know,older and we have like it's, you
have to be very intentional notto pick up the phone first
thing in the morning you do like, because I've found the same
(22:09):
thing.
If I pick up the phone, then Istart scrolling.
Either I'm scrolling, wastingtime on social media, or I'm
scrolling through emails and Ihaven't even had a moment to set
myself.
That's right, get in, get you,you wake up, you know, get some
peace, you know what I'm saying.
Like you haven't even had amoment to breathe and you're
(22:34):
inundated with all these things.
And so when we put thosedevices down and we just focus
on ourselves and God, that'sright it it really does shift
how the rest of your day happens.
Speaker 2 (22:51):
It does and when, when the spirit speaks to me,
it's quiet.
Speaker 1 (22:57):
Mm-hmm.
Speaker 2 (22:59):
You know, it isn't some loud, thunderous boom.
Right, you don't just like dothis.
It's very subtle Mm-hmm, and Ihear it and I know I'm like got
it.
Speaker 1 (23:11):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (23:12):
You can't get that when you are inundated with the
cares of this world.
Speaker 1 (23:20):
That is true.
Speaker 2 (23:21):
You just can't, because those things require
time, because you're not onlyare you taking in the
information, you're processingit, and then you're thinking
about the long term effects ofit, especially in my, in my kind
of position, where I'm like thenews is saying this about
contract negotiations and you'rejust, you're ingesting all of
that.
What is this going to mean?
(23:41):
And then, but what that ends updoing is that evokes fear.
Yeah, right, yeah.
And so, instead of feeding yourspirit man because God doesn't
give us the spirit of fear yeah,you need to feed your spirit
with the word.
And so that's what you have todo.
And so how do you do that?
How do you block out, how doyou eliminate the fear?
You feed it.
You feed your spirit man withwhat God's word says.
(24:04):
But that's intentionality, yeah, and it's.
That can be hard, but I knowthat everybody else is asleep at
3.30 in the morning.
Speaker 1 (24:14):
Listen, everybody else is asleep.
It's amazing to me how I can,if I get up so typically on a
good day I'm up at like between5.30 and 6.
And the stillness of themorning is just not the same at
(24:36):
seven or eight or not, becausethe traffic is moving, the and
you know, and uh, the hustle andbustle, like your, your
neighbors are moving, the carsare starting, but that early in
the morning it's typicallyreally not only quiet in the
house but it's quiet outside.
That's right.
(24:56):
And so things are just stilland you can really, like you
said, on and on, not justreading but hearing.
That's right.
Because if we, how, how do weknow where to go if we can't
hear?
That's right, and not just hearour voice, hear the voice of
God and be able to know thedifference.
(25:17):
The only way we know thedifference is if we are studying
his word.
That's right, because he'snever going to say anything
contrary to his word.
That's right.
So, like this, this is good tobe able to, to sit, no matter
how early it is, and some peopleI know some people do it late
in the evening and that worksfor them, but it's still quiet
between the hours of like 11 pmand like 5 am it is super quiet,
(25:45):
it is, and sometimes God willwake me up at three or four
o'clock in the morning.
I'm like Lord, now, you know, Igot to wake up, and a few hours
I just can I just get, and it'slike, okay, I got to wake up in
a few hours, I just can I justget, and it's like, ok, I get up
Now.
I don't always do it, but whenI do I'm nourished, that's right
(26:06):
.
And you get that instruction orthat thing that you've been
praying for, that thing, thatthat instruction you've been
waiting for, and you're like,wow, I'm so glad I got up.
Or we don't know what the dayholds, but God does and pretend.
So you get in that word, you'restudying that word, you're
spending time with him and he'lldownload just what you need
(26:29):
when you encounter that personat 1030 or just even in passing.
But, like you said, you'rereplenished and you have
something to give.
I love that today's episode isbrought to you by destiny film
and media.
Go to destinyfam1.com for allyour media needs.
Destiny, film and media, yourdestiny through film and media.
(26:53):
We talked about Edwina the.
We talked about Edwina theprincipal.
We talked about Edwina thefirst lady.
We even talked a little bitabout Edwina, the wife and the
mother.
Let's talk about Edwina thefriend.
How are you purposeful withyour friendships?
Speaker 2 (27:16):
That's a great question.
So a lot of people call mefriend and but I recognize it.
There are a few deep personalfriendships that I have.
Yeah, and I noticed that forthose deep personal friendships.
(27:39):
Those are people that I'm nottalking to them every single day
, but they know me.
Speaker 1 (27:45):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (27:46):
Very well, very, very intimately, and so with those
friends I also just try to bepresent.
I do a lot of listening in myfriendships.
I laugh, I'm like maybe Ishould have been a therapist.
Speaker 1 (28:00):
I know right, Listen, trust me.
Speaker 2 (28:04):
Sometimes I feel the same way I do a lot of listening
in my friendships, try to makethem laugh.
I really love laughing.
I do.
My husband is a prankster, he'sa jokester, and so I'm always
laughing.
I do.
I have a husband is a prank,he's a jokester, and so I'm
always laughing at somethingcrazy that he's doing.
But I like laughing.
But I also have a smart mouthand my friends who know me well,
(28:26):
they're like I can't believeyou just said that, but I try to
.
I feel as if I that's probablythe one area where I need to be
stronger by making, bycontacting more, by reaching out
(28:48):
more.
There are some people that Ilove deeply, like if they call
me right now and said I'm on theside of the road, can you come?
I would show up.
And I don't talk to them maybe,but three times a year.
I understand, but part of thatis I feel like part of that is
me.
I just get so caught up intoall the other things that I have
to do and I do feel likesometimes my friends are on the
(29:08):
back burner.
I've never been a going outperson, like everybody knows.
You know I'm not gonna be inthe clubs, I'm not gonna listen,
you know I'm not going to be inthe clubs, I'm not going to
listen.
You know that's just not goingto happen.
They're not going to catch meout at the local bar, it's just
not.
And so, yeah, a lot of thingsthat people just like enjoy
doing and hanging out Like I'mjust not going to be at that.
Speaker 1 (29:27):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (29:28):
But I feel like that's something.
That's something that I have tobe better at.
Okay, but I am, but I do a lotof listening, like, if you need
me, I'm, I'm going to listen,yeah, and I'm going to share
with you what I believe God issaying about it and and really
try to get you to think abouthow you feel about it, because I
(29:50):
feel like it's being a part.
Being a good friend meanshelping someone to see
themselves.
Yeah, not just seeing what yousee, but helping them to see
themselves and how is this goingto affect their lives beyond
just the moment?
Yeah, I am very much so aperson that thinks beyond the
moment.
I've always been that way.
Yeah, what is this going to dotwo years from now?
(30:14):
Yes, how will this affect thesix months from now?
I'm very, very cautious aboutthose kinds of things, but I try
to really have some of myfriends to really think about
that.
I have people who are veryprotective of me too.
They're very protective of me.
Speaker 1 (30:30):
Oh, I know, I know some of them.
Speaker 2 (30:32):
And so I have to, and so I try to make sure that I'm
intentional about how I give tothem, how I'm thinking about
them, how I am just saying Ilove you, you know, or you're a
great person.
It's very easy, you know, withconsidering some of person.
It's very easy, you know, withconsidering some of the
positions that I have, thatpeople are very much so like oh,
we're so, we're proud of you,we're glad you're doing this,
(30:54):
we're glad you're doing that.
But I have to make sure and I'mand I feel like I've done
better with it within the lastyear of just telling other
people how proud I am of themyeah like that's what's what
being a good friend is, likepeople.
You just get so used to peoplesaying those things.
Yeah, I want to give some ofthat back, not just in service
(31:14):
Right, but in words ofaffirmation.
That's important, it's veryimportant.
Speaker 1 (31:19):
It's very important.
I love that.
I love that, okay, okay.
So if you had to sum up lifethus far because we have a whole
lot more life to live, godwilling, at least another 45, 50
(31:40):
years at least we won't giveaway ages, but we'll just say
that, give away ages, but we'lljust say that, um, but if, if
you had to sum up your life'sjourney thus far, the challenges
, the triumphs, what would youwhat?
What lesson or lessons have youlearned from life thus far?
Speaker 2 (32:04):
I had to sum it up.
I had to sum it up one thingwhenever I have any kind of like
conflict or something thatfeels like it's going to be
impossible, the first thing thatpops into my head is and Wina,
(32:27):
god has taken care of you all ofyour life.
He has never not taken care ofme, ever.
I remember being nine years oldand, without saying too much, I
just remember being nine and Iremember going into the room and
closing the door and crying andpraying and talking to Jesus.
Speaker 1 (32:49):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (32:50):
And saying I don't know how I'm going.
This hurts.
I don't know what to do.
I don't know.
And just hearing him speak veryclearly to me I love you,
You're going to be fine.
Speaker 1 (33:03):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (33:03):
And he has never failed me.
Speaker 1 (33:05):
Hallelujah, ever You're going to be fine, yeah,
and he has never failed meHallelujah Ever.
Speaker 2 (33:08):
And so when I think about, like the life lessons
that I've learned and you knowwhat do I walk away with?
I know that God will never failme.
Yeah, and because I know that Itrust him, even when it looks
bleak, even when it doesn't feelgood, Even when the chatter is
(33:28):
going on, I've learned to drawin.
Speaker 1 (33:31):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (33:34):
And I don't have to say the words to others around
me, but when I feel the chaoshappening, I immediately draw in
and that's my hiding place,that's my safe space.
Yeah, it's going in and findinghim and talking to him through
my heart and just saying God,you hear it, but don't allow
these words, don't allow thesewords to influence my actions.
(33:56):
Allow my actions and my wordsto be pleasing to you.
Give me wisdom in thissituation, because it doesn't
feel good right now, but I knowit's for a purpose Right.
And when people are notbelievers, it's very hard for
them to understand that stance.
That is true, and so I.
It's true, I don't.
When I'm in that secular space,I don't get on that kind of
(34:22):
soapbox.
Yeah, yeah.
It doesn't mean that peopledon't know that.
That's how I am Correct.
God gives me a sense of calm.
Often here people say how areyou calm in this?
Why aren't you like mad?
Why aren't you warm enough?
I'm like I don't have to be.
Exactly, I don't have to bebecause I'm not fighting the
battle anymore, and I and I, andso, when I think about the fact
(34:43):
that, that God has never failedme, he has always protected me,
yeah, has always kept me, hasalways, you know, uh, made a way
for me, yeah, where doors justopen yeah and when they didn't
open, I said, oh, that wasn'tGod.
Then, yeah, it wasn't for me.
Yeah, and I know it, and andbeing confident, yeah and that
(35:07):
you know, when you read Jeremiah29, I was thinking.
I was like that's, that's myscripture.
You know that?
Just knowing that there areplans for me, yes, plans that
were designed for me before Ientered this world.
Speaker 1 (35:24):
That's right.
Speaker 2 (35:25):
God knew my story.
He knew the story I had before.
He knows the story is to come.
Yes, and he's given me justwhat I need in order to, in
order to live that out.
Yeah, and there's enough gracethere, there's enough mercy
there to see me through.
Yes, and therefore those are my, those are my, that's what I've
learned.
No matter what comes highs,lows, triumphs, disappointments
(35:48):
doesn't matter, because, nomatter what, his mercies are new
every morning, every morning,every morning, and I get, and I
get to experience it, and I'mgrateful for that.
And I don't take I don't takeany of the things that you read
on that bio.
I don't take any of that forgranted.
You read on that bio.
I don't take any of that forgranted.
Being a mom there are peoplewho want to be moms and they
(36:10):
aren't moms.
Being a wife there are peoplewho want to be married, who are
not married.
Being a pastor's wife there aresome people who want to be a
pastor's wife.
Speaker 1 (36:19):
They don't know what it really means, but they want
to be it.
I would rather not, but Ipraise God for those of you who
are standing there allowing Godto use you in that space.
Speaker 2 (36:30):
But it's true, right.
There are people who want to beeducators, people who want to
go to school, people who want tohave people who love them.
Yes, unconditionally, you know,and for me, I know that I don't
take it for granted.
I don't believe it's becauseI've been so wonderful.
I believe it's because God hasgraced me with that.
Speaker 1 (36:50):
He has graced you for it.
Speaker 2 (36:52):
And since he's graced me with it, he gives me what I
need to operate in it.
Yes, and if he ever decidedthat that was it, I would have
to go with that's it.
Yeah, because if there's nograce there for it, right, then
I can't be effective in it andthen I'm not doing as well.
(37:15):
Yes, you know.
Yes, as well as that, weprosper as our soul prosper
absolutely, and so when you're,when you're not prospering, yeah
, anymore, and if every thethings that you are touching are
no longer prospering, youreally have to pause and say,
okay, god, and what's the nextmove?
Right, are you in this?
Where are you leading me?
And it really take moments toreflect yeah, that's good,
(37:36):
that's good, that's good.
Speaker 1 (37:38):
I, I love all of that .
Listen, I'm sitting here beingminister to my sap AP.
I just listen.
I, I love that.
At the foundation of it all,you are always, you are always
taken back to your faith becausethere is for for the people of
(38:03):
faith.
There is no other way, none,there is no other way, none.
There is no other foundation,there is no other rock, there is
no other shelter than thefather none, none.
He, he is with us, he is withus, he is for us and he has
(38:27):
given us everything we need todo what he has called us to do.
And so I am, I am listen, wecould talk on and all, but I'm,
I'm go, I'm go.
Let us wrap it here, because Iwant those words to resonate
with people, that when I wantthose words to resonate with
people, that when, wheneveryou're going through trials or
(38:50):
tribulations or challenges, oreven the highs of life, when
chaos is all around, go inbecause Holy Spirit lives on the
inside.
That's right, and he and Godhas given us everything that we
need to be successful, if weonly take time to recognize when
(39:11):
he's speaking, recognize whenhe is shifting us and recognize
when we are in purpose, and so Ilike to ask people is there
anything you'd like to ask mebefore we, before we end?
Yeah, anything you want to askme?
Speaker 2 (39:34):
So, since you're talking about being pressed into
purpose, what do you thinkpressed you into this purpose?
Speaker 1 (39:44):
Well, I know, in 2020 , in the middle of the pandemic,
I was, my husband and I wereseparated and I was in my
apartment sitting on the couchand I was just like God, like
there's got to be more than this, there's got to be more than
this, there's got to be morethan this, and I had gotten to a
(40:11):
place of surrender.
That's a that's a very longstory, but I got into the place
of surrender and I said, god,what would you have me to do?
And I just heard, like pressedinto purpose, and I was like,
okay, well, what is that?
And, um, I heard podcasts and Iwas like god, it's a million
(40:33):
people out here doing podcasts.
I'm not.
Nobody wants to hear my voice.
That that's what I said.
I was like nobody needs to,like I will just be another
voice in the midst of all theothers, like I don't have
anything special to say.
Who am I to tell God anything?
(40:55):
First of all?
Uh, especially what you know,like, if he, if he's giving you
something, then we're alwayspraying for witty ideas and
inventions, and so when God gaveit to me, I had to finally
submit.
So it has taken me like Istarted recording episodes, like
(41:17):
just because I didn't like.
I also didn't like the sound ofmy voice, and so I had to get
used to hearing myself talk.
But the very long, the very longstory short is, I heard God say
start a podcast, preston'sPurpose.
I didn't want to do it.
I fought him on it.
I started and I said it to theside and did and well, we're now
(41:42):
in 2025, so in 2024 I picked itback up because he just
wouldn't let it go.
Yeah, and I was like fine, ifwe still talking about this in
2024, from 2020, obviously thisis something that you really
want me to do, so I will do it,just show me how.
And when I tell you, when Isaid I'll do it, show me how.
(42:06):
He, god, showed me.
Everything was here in my hands,wow, including a husband that
is a that does production,mm-hmm, like because we're back
together now, that's right, allis well.
But everything was in my hands,yeah, and all I needed was my
(42:29):
voice, and all he wanted me todo was have conversations like
we're having now, which is whatI do all the time.
So I was pressed to get out ofmy comfort zone and be obedient
to this call.
So it's definitely different,but as I sit here, I know that
(42:52):
I'm right in the center of God'swill and I would not I would
rather not be in any other placebesides the center of God's
will, and I haven't felt thisway in a very long time.
So that's how I know.
That's how I was pressed intothis.
God gave it to me.
I didn't want to do it, Ifought him.
He didn't let it go, becauseyou know that's how he is If he
(43:14):
wants you to do something, hewants you to do it, and I love
that he didn't give it toanybody else, because sometimes
we feel like, well, I've waitedso long, maybe I've missed the
moment, but sometimes we have togo through the process and then
we get right where we'resupposed to be, at the appointed
(43:34):
time, and so I feel like now isthe appointed time for this to
come forth, and I just want tosay thank you for being a part
of my journey in Preston toPurpose, and sharing your
journey not only with me butwith the listeners, because it's
everybody's.
Life has purpose, whether theyrealize it or not, but how we
(43:57):
journey in that purpose isdifferent.
It looks different for everyone.
So I just appreciate yousharing your story.
I appreciate you spending thistime with me.
I appreciate and I just want tosay thank you for being who you
are in the earth, because andaccepting all that God has
graced you to do, because Ithank you for not fighting I
(44:22):
guess that's the, that's whatthat's the, and maybe you have
fought some, but I thank you foraccepting what God has graced
you to do because it yieldsgreat impact in the earth, and
so thank you for your time today, thank you for your yes and
yeah, thank you for coming tosit on Preston's breakfast.
(44:43):
I appreciate it.
Speaker 2 (44:44):
Thank you for your yes.
Your yes is inspirational.
I have had my own conversationswith the Lord.
Some of the very same thingsthat you said you know.
You don't need another series,you don't need another.
You know some of the samethings, but that's very just.
(45:04):
Hearing you talk about thatjust makes me reflect on
something I was just talkingwith my sister about recently,
and so I appreciate you sharingthat, which is further
confirmation.
Um, but I I do because it'ssometimes it's hard to say yes,
but you never know.
You never know how your yes isgoing to influence someone
(45:28):
else's yes absolutely.
Speaker 1 (45:30):
And so, and that's what I've learned, the our yes
is not just for us, that's right.
It's rarely for just for us,it's rare.
It's really for the people andfor the purpose.
Because, like, like we, like weboth said, we're here for a
(45:52):
reason.
From the before we even gothere, god had a purpose and a
plan for us, yeah, and so whenwe, when we say yes and submit
to him, everything is going toline up, everything is going to
work just the way it should, andall the people that we're
supposed to impact in our sphereof influence will be impacted,
(46:14):
and then they will go and impactothers, agreed, and it's, it's
the ripple in the water.
That's right, you know.
So, yeah, all because of a yes,all because of a yes.
Well, thank you, thank you.
Of a yes, well, thank you,thank you, thank you and thank
you all for listening.
This has been another wonderfulepisode of Pressing to Purpose
(46:35):
with Edwina Thompson, and I amso glad that we were able to
chat today.
Me too, thank you, thank you.
Today's episode is brought toyou by Destiny Film and Media.
Go to destinyfam1.com for allyour media needs.
Destiny, film and media, yourdestiny through film and media.
(46:56):
Thank you.
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