Karen-Grace Siriboe answers our 10 Soulful Questions today!
Put one sentence on a t-shirt for the whole world to see, what will it be?
“If God said it, He’ll do it. Rest.” That would be what I’d have stamped on a t-shirt! I think rest is one of the hardest instructions, gifts, and concepts to accept, process, and/or action – particularly when society promotes a narrative that often equates rest to unproductivity, ‘being behind’ or not up to par. The reality is, that life will continue to happen – whether you motion your part of ‘the move’ today or tomorrow. Trust God, Trust His Promises – and if it’s in His Will for your life -it’ll certainly happen. In a nutshell – I’m confident we’d see a lot of people exhale and drop their shoulders in relief if they were to see that phrase (promise) on a shirt!
If you have all it takes to start a support group, which group of people will it be for?
Funnily enough and God being so good, I have the pleasure of having founded two support groups; CoMidMent (Community Midwifery Mentorship – an education and wellbeing support entity for black and brown student midwives studying / training in the UK, Scotland, and Ireland) and ABaHB (A Babe and Her Bible – a Christian Women’s Fellowship – @ababeandherbible__). If I were to turn back time, I wouldn’t pivot or shift my focus from being in these two directions – not for a second!
My heart and my call have always been for solutions that are women and Christ-centred, and more specifically for those who are vulnerable, marginalized, and often left feeling ostracized during complex junctures in life or following a difficult experience.
I think my near future focus is also going to shift more towards young children too. I’m really interested in the word and concept of ‘foundation,’ and when I think about the genesis of many of our key decisions, I think specifically about childhood!
What is the ill in the world, you know you have been equipped to help heal?
Looks like I may have gotten ahead of myself by answering part of this in question two, haha! I’ll elaborate a little further for context. My childhood was an incredibly pleasant one, and I was always encouraged to treat and welcome everyone with kindness – after all, we were being afforded lovingkindness on a daily, hourly, minutely and the second basis from the best example of love known to mankind!
I spent a lot of time speaking with strangers on buses and trains – particularly those who were sat alone and who seemed rather despondent – and I took great delight in sharing my name “Hello, my name’s Karen-Grace,” from as young as three years old (my mum still tells the tale today, and I’m nearly 32!)
What’s the ill I’m certain that I’m called to in this life? Welcoming those who are/have been lost and/or despondent. Recognizing the good inside the ‘bad,’ and healing those who are hurting through intentional compassion without cause or need for reciprocation.
What do you do when life feels heavy?
When life feels heavy, I listen to worship music, I shop (healthily) and I speak to five people in particular. They know exactly who they are.
They speak a sense of stabilization into me that only God Himself could have deposited within them, and they do an amazing job of genuinely reinforcing and reminding me that although the road and journey can be long and a little lonely at points, it is most certainly necessary, guided and worth it.
One life lesson that has taken you the longest to learn?
Being multi-hyphenated is ok, and totally of God (see Philippians 4:13.) Sometimes, we’re made to feel like we need to compartmentalize several parts of ourselves, or that our strengths cannot be exhibited in tandem. It’s ok to give the fullest version of yourself to everything you are called to apply yourself to / in.
We’re literally living in the most multi-hyphenated dispensation of life… ever. It’s always been a good time to block out ungodly noise and show up as your entire self, but just in case you’ve not felt supported or sure enough to do so in the past – here’s your friendly reminder!
If your life is a book, what will be the title of the chapter you are in right now?
The Leap year! I’m celebrated for my audacity; for always attempting to access and execute that which I know and believe I’m called to. I commit to crazy faith – even when it might not make sense to other people. 2020 into this present year, has been no different. I’ve taken and made some pretty big and daring strides to the glory of God, but I’ve also bounced back from a few, too.
Maybe a book is actually on the cards…?
If you can ask God one question about life and get an answer straight from Him, what will it be?
God, why couldn’t you punish Eve by herself? Why?
What do you connect with the most in nature, that resonates with you more than others?
I’d say the sun and the moon. I’m a rather vibrant person, and I have a great appreciation for both of their roles. I often use the analogy of nurses handing over between the day and night shift in a hospital – if the moon didn’t show up, how could the sun take a break and be refreshed in order to do its job the next day, and vice versa?
Thank God for them both – and that they’re different, but the same. They remind me that Jesus being the light of the world, us being made in His image, and Matthew 5:14 referring to us as a light, means we too are of great importance!
What is your favourite thing about yourself?
I’m grateful to God for the confidence and for my love for people. I really enjoy knowing the fact that this particular part of me is something that has stuck with me from my childhood. I was the kid on the bus who walked by every person in every seat, introducing myself – yep, at the age of three – and I still pretty much do that now…at (nearly) 32!
I’ve enjoyed the rewards and lessons that each of these experiences has seen me develop, and can proudly say that some of my greatest (and less preferred) habits and character traits are from being around a plethora of people.
What do you think we need the most to heal the world right now?
Less assumption – more communication. People are releasing their destiny helpers far too early / unnecessarily.
An intuitive, artificially intelligent ringtone that alerts phone owners of incoming messages and phone calls that have a rather toxic/derailing/dysfunctional nature. We need to take better care of our mental health
Leaders who talk about ‘it’ and are about ‘it.’ Speeches and Strategies are a great demonstration of their expertise – but we need a solution. I’d also like to see more of a bottom-up approach to leadership, where directives and solutions are advised on by the people who will and should be benefitting from them – not for the betterment of a leader’s resume.
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About Karen-Grace Siriboe
Karen-Grace Siriboe is a celebrated PR & communications professional, with extensive experience spanning consumer, corporate and international development. She holds a BA Hons in Journalism & PR and has successfully devised and led strategies for a plethora of brands and thought-leaders worldwide.
Karen-Grace is particularly passionate about maternal and neonatal health having acquired two years of clinical experience during her time studying midwifery, and is enthused by the art of advocacy and commits to amplifying positive and progressive narratives for women and girls – and humanity as a whole.
Follow her on Instagram: @ababeandherbible__ | @karengrace_siriboe
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