Preserved By Purpose: Becoming Aunt Janet

We should all aspire to be Aunt Janet.

I know you’re asking: Who is Aunt Janet? Aunt Janet was the aunt of comedian Mike Epps’ child’s mother who changed his life.  He described in his comedy special Delusional that she told him to  let her know when he wanted to come to Atlanta.  These simple words gave him the open door that changed his life. When the time came for him to make a change and when he didn’t know exactly what to do, he remembered the words of Aunt Janet.  Her words let him know you have a safe place. You have a place where you can start over.   

Eventually, he did make the decision to change his life and called Aunt Janet. He ended up staying with her and her husband for a year and built up his comedy credentials. In the case of Aunt Janet, the words that she spoke impacted him and put him on a pathway to great success.  He believed in himself and that he could change his life.  Her words helped him get to his next level. 

What do we do when we want to do something to help our loved ones get to the next level? Do you say like Aunt Janet “I got you. I’m gonna help you out when you’re ready.” She probably recognized that even though he said he really wanted to make a change, he wasn’t yet ready.   She saw his potential, even when he couldn’t.  She didn’t demand that he do it right then and there, but she just let him know, when you’re ready to make that change, like I said earlier, I got you.  Sometimes that’s all people need to hear. 

Proverbs 18:21 says, “The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.”   So, in the case of Aunt Janet, she spoke life and planted an amazingly powerful seed in the life of Mike Epps. We don’t know the exact words, but whatever it was that was said, it had such an impact on him that he remembered those words and followed up.  

It’s nice to say casually that you’ll help anyone.  But are you prepared to follow through?  Do we believe the words that we say to people, basically the seeds that we plant? Do we believe that it is going to harvest and it’s going to bear fruit?  If we did, we’d be more careful with what we say. I want to challenge those of you that are Aunt Janets or want to be Aunt Janets to keep planting those good seeds as well as those encouraging and life changing words.  Her example shows that we have the ability to change people’s lives with the words that we say. 

I love this quote that hangs over my desk in my office: My mind is my garden; my thoughts are my seeds. My harvest will either be flowers or weeds. Your words will create a harvest in the lives of the people that you touch. Never miss an opportunity to plant good seeds.  

This week leading up to National Aunt and Uncle Day, take the time to show those aunts and uncles who have planted good seeds in your life how much you appreciate them.  There are free, one of a kind electronic greeting cards you can send on my website www.chocolateauntiepodcast.com.  And to all the aunts, uncles, uncs, and aunties out there, have a wonderful National Aunt and Uncle day July 26, 2026!

Shewanda Riley (Aunt Wanda), PhD, is a Fort Worth-based author of “Love Hangover: Moving from Pain to Purpose After a Relationship Ends” and “Writing to the Beat of God’s Heart: A Book of Prayers for Writers.”   Email her at preservedbypurpose@gmail.com or follow her on Twitter @shewanda.   You can also listen to the full episode about Aunt Janet on her podcast “The Chocolate Auntie Podcast” on the Alive Podcast network at  www.alivepodcastnetwork.com or visit www.chocolateauntiepodcast.com.