I won't tell you that it's going to be okay.

So look, before I bring up the three amazing young women that are going to be sitting beside me today.

I first want to say that I am from the big city of Denmark, South Carolina.

Yeah, you always have to pay one person, whether or not it's at your gala's or your

funerals. Always remember to pay one person to be there with you.

But my mom and dad would always tell me the two most important words in the English language

are the words, thank you.

And they're not nearly said enough.

Down south, we have this saying that you have to give people their flowers while they're living.

Amen?

And so before we begin, before we have this amazing event, I want the leadership of Mabel

to either come out here or stand up where you are seating.

And I want us to give you a round of applause

just to say simply thank you for the work that you're done.

So leadership of Mabel, please stand up.

You know, it's amazing because I am always reminded that being an elected official,

whatever I travel the country or the world, I remind people that being an elected official and being a pastor are the only two jobs that have this one thing

in common, and that is people expect more of you than they expect of themselves.

And so I know we did this once before, but I didn't really hear it in my soul.

And as the best type of state legislator in the

room, I am, which means I'm retired. I had good sense. I left the legislature a while ago.

I just want you all to recognize your elected officials one more time and actually clap like

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