Even with death approaching, Jimmy and Rosalyn Carter's end will be a true love story for the ages

Former President Jimmy Carter's grandson is saying that both Carters have reached the "final chapter" of their lives. Both are in palliative care at their home in Plains, GA.

This is being reported everywhere:

Jimmy Carter and wife Rosalynn are in 'final chapter' of lives, grandson Josh Carter says (nypost.com)

Jimmy Carter in 'final chapter' as grandson shares heartbreaking news | US | News | Express.co.uk

Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter in ‘final chapter’, ex-president’s grandson says | Jimmy Carter | The Guardian

Grandson of Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter says 'we're in the final chapter' in health update | CNN Politics

Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter's grandson says 'it's clear' they are 'in the final chapter' (msn.com)

Jimmy Carter served as our nation's 39th President from 1977-1981, but his post-presidency and endless advocacy for those less fortunate is nothing less than legendary. Only the Lord knows how many houses he help to build with his "Habitat for Humanity", how many peoples' lives he touched as a humble Sunday School teacher, how many kind deeds both he and Rosalyn committed in the service of others without ever saying a word about it. When I think of a person who is a true Christian, who wants to be "Christ-like" as many Christians like to describe it, I think of someone like a Jimmy Carter. And in Judaism, the good deeds he did go under the principle of "tikkun olam", which essentially means to repair the world with good deeds so that we leave this world in better condition than we found it.

He is currently 98 going on 99 years old and he and Rosalyn have been married for 77 years, which means that he goes into the history books as the longest living ex-president ever and their marriage also goes into the history books as the longest presidential marriage ever. A faithful husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather, if he makes it to his 99th birthday on October 1st of this year, that would be a wonderful thing, but I am suspecting that his grandson does not think he is going to live that long. What a shame.

You may notice that the press reporting of Jimmy (and Rosalyn) Carter's impending end of life is every bit as respectful regardless of which media is reporting. The FOX article is especially respectful, which says something good about FOX news in this case.

The Carters live in Plains, GA now with minimal Secret Service coverage as they have stopped traveling, everyone in Plains knows who Jimmy and Rosalyn are, people in Plains love this family, regardless of possible political differences. It says a lot about this genteel small-town in GA and reminds us that kindness and respect go a long, long way.

My gut tells me that when the one dies, the other will follow suit shortly thereafter, because after 77 years of marriage and such a deep and truly abiding love, I am sure that losing my wife after 77 years of marriage would kill me pretty much instantly and I think that most of us would feel that way as well.

When both Ronald Reagan and Gerald R. Ford died, I felt a deep sadness at their passing. They were not candidates I voted for, but I respected them and grew to be quite fond of both of them. I really, really hope that people will take a pause to actually look into all the good things that Jimmy Carter did, both in his one-term presidency and in his massive post-presidency and simply see a good, decent human being.

My political awakening as a 12, going on 13-year-old happened in the summer of '76 as I watched both conventions and decided that I liked Jimmy Carter better. My 7th grade geography teacher (his name was Mr. De**) and I fought furiously with each other during class over who was going to win in November. In fact, in the presence of my classmates, he and I made a deal: whomever's candidate won, that person would get a free dinner from the loser. And so Mr. De** made sure that we ate a fantastic steak and potatos dinner shortly after the election. He was a great schoolteacher and a farmer, one of the hardest working people I ever saw in my life. He was also one of my sport coaches and one of the few who also really supported school music as well. At that steak dinner he said to me: "well, Peanut Head (his nickname for me), your guy won, I hope he does well, he is a decent fellow".

I took time for this thread because I think our world is lacking a huge amount of empathy and understanding. The bitterness of politics should not cause us to lose these things.

-Stat

 

Nice story. They indeed lived a life to be respected and honored. Here in the Congo we also see the Carter Center people during elections, probably one of their lesser know activities in the US.

 

Carter did a lot of good even after his presidency. A LOT.