Believe me, this is by no way a political endorsement. It is about a former president that I cherish, because he is a Georgian. In fifth grade, my granddaughter, Allison, had a school assignment to make a poster of a former president. Most classmates were doing Washington or Lincoln, but she wanted someone different. I suggested Jimmy Carter, because I had a collection of clippings that I had saved of the first and only Georgian president. Her poster won first place, and she became a fan of the president from Georgia. I knew he was back home in Plains and taught a Sunday School class there. I planned a trip of a lifetime for her during summer vacation. Our first stop was at an antique shop owned by his cousin. We had bed and breakfast reservations upstairs. She gave us interesting tidbits about the Carter family and directions to the Maranatha Baptist Church, a country church which was down the road from Plains. We passed through country that could have been in Emanuel County. We were early, but parking lot already filled with cars.
We were given security instructions by a lady who had been teacher of Amy and went to the White House as her tutor. We were able to sit in the second pew behind Rosalynn. We were so excited when he came in and stood behind the pulpit. Now comes the good part! His Bible story was of Joseph in Egypt. He commented, “When Jacob and his sons and daughters came to Joseph, he did not know them.” Allison had recently seen the musical “Joseph and The Technicolor Dreamcoat” and spoke up loudly, “He didn’t have any daughters.” President Carter was stunned for a moment and then replied. “You probably know the names of his sons only, but if he had so many children, he would have also had daughters.” Allison again contradicted, “No he didn’t.” With a stern voice, I warned, “Don’t you say another word.” President Carter ended the service with an invitation to go outside and have our picture made with him. I was concerned of how he would respond to my disruptive granddaughter. When her turn in line came, he put his arm around her shoulder, and pleasantly said, “Here’s my little sweetheart who really knows her Bible stories.” We received a great picture of the three of us that we both proudly display. Thank you, Mr. President, for showing the kindness and grace of a Georgian to my little girl. Write to Shirley at sptwiss@gmail.com.
