Tammi Reed Ledbetter
Tom and kids and grandkids - thinking of you as you approach the anniversary of Jeannie's death. I wanted so much to attend that service and am grateful for the kind person who posted it online. Later I listened to an interview on Family Life about the way Jeannie influenced her family.
I first met Jeannie when assigned by Baptist Press to interview her following Tom's election as president. I thought that was pretty cool - it was the first time I was aware of when a news service had the good sense to recognize the influence of the wife. I'm pretty sure God orchestrated that to introduce me to one of a handful of women who have changed my life for good. Not going to go into all those examples - I've told you a few of them privately, but primarily, the way she taught me how to pray for my kids as adults, and my grandkids as kids - learning to trust God when my child's call to ministry seemed to be diverted away from overseas missions to serving God alongside her husband wherever God leads. I knew all that. I'd taught all that, but I'd never lived any of that. Jeannie showed she prayed as she promised because every time I saw her she led with a provoking question (like a good reporter) trying to see what had changed. Seriously, there are only a handful of people in my life who really do that and I so miss having Jeannie prod me. I've enjoyed watching how God continues to multiply her ministry in the year following her passing on to glory. Blessings on you my dear friend Tom.
Wednesday July 13, 2016 at 10:27 am