Paper Towels & Duct Tape For Diapers, No Lights, No Water: T.D. Jakes Reveals History Of Extreme Poverty

would be Mother to Son by Langston Hughes, with this one line being

a perfect summation: “Life for me ain’t been no crystal stair.”

In other words, things have been hard in the preacher’s life over the

years, coming from modest means and slipping below the poverty line.

During a heartfelt Father’s Day message, while encouraging dads to

stand in the gap for their families and don’t give up, even when the

going gets tough, Jakes, 56, shared his own difficult experiences. 32

years ago, back in 1981, the then-24-year-old married the love of his

life, Serita Ann.