“Goodness is easier to recognize than to define.”
(W.H. Auden, 1939)

Several times now, we have pulled up to our house in our Suburban with plants hanging out the back. Our friend Jeannie, who we believe is a Master Gardener, is always sharing her yard with us. Sharing, as in she divides up her plants and gives us literally hundreds of dollars worth to replant in our yard.

We now say we are on our way to having a “Jeannie” yard.

Beautiful and stunning.

Jeannie is one of those extraordinary people who touches lives in many ways. She has practiced as a R.N. and a Social Worker, and she is married to Minor, who is a retired cardiologist. Between the two of them, they have spread compassion and healing to many.

In 2002 Jeannie’s life was hanging by a thread. She was diagnosed with Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia (CML) and received a bone marrow transplant. Her journey was tough, but God granted her a longer life. Now we get to reap the rewards of sharing that life with her, as she is cancer-free! In fact, she just had her “5” year old birthday last week.

She not only practices hospitality by sharing her yard, she and her husband Minor are fantastic cooks, and have literally served hundreds of people meals in their home.

She has traveled the world, visiting 103 countries. She has experienced hospitality in ways that we probably could never comprehend, living here in the United States.

Jeannie is a miracle to be shared. And we are reminded of her impact in our family’s life, as we glance at these beautiful daisies that are spreading throughout our yard!

(Daisies in our front yard. Photography by Paul Coughlin)

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