[ PRAISE POEM ]    I AM TONYA PAYNE, THE PROUD DAUGHTER OF . I AM OF INDIAN AND AFRICAN DESCENT.WHICH MAKES ME A DOUBLE QUEEN. LIKE MY ANCESTORS I AM STRONG. I AM LIKE THE LIMBS ON A TREE. I BEND BUT DONT BREAK. MY FEET ARE FIRMLY ROOTED. SO THAT I CAN ENDURE WHATEVER COMES MY WAY.MY BACK, MIND,BODY AND SOUL IS STRONG AND LONG SUFFERING. ILL STAND TALL FROM SEASON TO SEASON.BECAUSE GIVING UP IS NOT A GOOD REASON. MY INNER SELF IS VERY GIVING AS WELL AS FORGIVING.I'M VERY TRUE TO HONESTY.THE REAL ME IS WHAT YOU SEE.IM HUMBLE AND WORTHY BECAUSE I BELONG TO THE KING. IM A HERITAGE TEACHER WHO STUDIES MY HISTORY.I TRY TO TEACH TO ALL WHOM I MEET AND SEE.BECAUSE IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHERE YOUR PEOPLE COME FROM.THE JOURNEY IN WHICH YOU SHOULD TAKE WILL BECOME LOST.WHILE  TRAVELING IN THIS GLORIOUS LIFE. YOU'LL ENCOUNTER OBSTACLES AND YOU'LL THINK TWICE. THE WORST THING IN ALL THE WORLD. IS TO GO AROUND LOOKING FOR A PEARL. THAT WHICH YOU SEEK .YOU BECOME HUMBLE, BOLD, AND MEEK.SO LEARN YOUR HISTORY EVERYDAY. AND KNOW THAT GOD HEARS YOU WHEN YOU PRAY.