Comments on: Peter Marshall on Marriage

By: Barbara

Barbara — Fri, 06 May 2011 03:21:25 +0000

I learned that Peter Marshall Jr died about a year ago. I know he is with God as are his parents.
I almost felt like I knew him from reading about him in his mother’s books. She mentioned once, when they had to move from the manse because her husband had died, that he stood there holding an airplane in each hand. Cute.
Or when he told her during a storm that the lightning looked like string beans dancing.
Catherine Marshall LeSourd was truly an inspiration and help to me.
Her writings were anointed by God. She was ordained to help the world through her writings.
God led me to her inspirational books to help me through some hard times in my life. I began to understand so much. Through her writings I got closer to God.
I hope no one minds but what has always bothered me when I read her books was why was Leonard LeSourd alone.
In Meeting God At Every Turn where she tells about her love story with Mr LeSourd again no mention of why he was raising three little kids all alone.
The youngest was three.
I have searched trying to find out what happened to the biological mother of Mr LeSourd’s children.
Do I recall vaguely that she was alive and in some type of medical facility?
Or am I thinking of someone else?
Catherine Marshall LeSourd, though I never saw her or met her, was an instrument God greatly used to help and bless me.
No kidding I hope to meet her in heaven someday for taking the time to pray and write so others such as myself could be helped.
But that one thing always has bothered me: what happened to the mother of Mr LeSourd’s biological mother?
Maybe someone here knows.
Thanks and God bless you all.

By: Lisa

Lisa — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 05:52:12 +0000

Catherine did have a career as a writer, but not until after her husband’s death. She took to writing in order to support herself and her young son. I have been rereading some of her writings lately…very insightful and relevant even today.

By: Claudia

Claudia — Sat, 29 Apr 2006 19:19:49 +0000

Lanier, I do not know if she heard him preach at Westminster but she heard him speak rather regularly at lunchtime on the marble steps of the Peachtree Arcade. She and my Granddaddy never missed him there and so loved hearing him…

By: Lanier Ivester

Lanier Ivester — Fri, 28 Apr 2006 23:34:43 +0000

Oh, Deb! That is so neat! I had always meant to ask my grandmother if she heard him preach at Westminster and I so wish that I had. I’m happy about your ‘journey’ and the interesting family connection it has turned up. Thank you for sharing it!

By: Deb

Deb — Fri, 28 Apr 2006 03:43:19 +0000

Dear Lanier,
Your post has sent me upon a most wonderful journey! I checked out “A Man Called Peter” at the library and am reading it for the first time with such pleasure. I have grilled my mom and my aunt regarding their knowledge of Peter Marshall. You see, my preacher grandfather (AKA Aphid Squisher) was in the same presbytery as Peter Marshall and my grandfather was the Stated Clerk (Secretary) of Presbytery. The two men exchanged pulpits a few times, and my mom got to meet Peter Marshall. Mom remembers having a picnic at Rock Creek Park in Washington, after church in the glorious New York Avenue Church. She also vividly remembers when Dr. Marshall visited her dad’s church and someone called her Peggy. Dr. Marshall was near, and replied, “They should call you Mar-r-r-garet!!” My aunt remembers that my grandfather said the actor who played Peter Marshall in the movie really captured him well on screen.

Well, once again, you have written such a lovely post. THANK YOU!!!!

By: Rebekah

Rebekah — Thu, 27 Apr 2006 00:48:11 +0000

This is one of the most wonderful sites I’ve ever stumbled across. I’ve never considered myself a poet…but I can appreciate the beauty of one. Thank you for sharing such touching thoughts and quotes.

By: Lanier Ivester

Lanier Ivester — Tue, 25 Apr 2006 22:06:25 +0000

I agree! Thank you, Island Sparrow for such a lovely tribute to Catherine Marshall…

By: Wendy

Wendy — Tue, 25 Apr 2006 18:39:32 +0000

Thank you Lanier and thank you ‘Island Sparrow’ for that precious quote
from Leonard Lesourd about Catherine Marshall. ‘she tried to lift the sights
of her famiily and friends by planting dreams in our hearts of achievements
that appeared beyond us.’ What a wonderful tribute…

By: Islandsparrow

Islandsparrow — Mon, 24 Apr 2006 23:58:54 +0000

Christy is one of my favourite Christian novels. I think that Catherine Marshall began writing because she needed the income. When Peter Marshall died unexpectedly, she was left in very tight financial circumstances. He didn’t believe in insurance. She became a very successful writer and continued on working as a roving editor for Guideposts with her second husband, Leonard LeSourd, who was the executive editor of the magazine. She also founded “The Intercessors,” a nonprofit prayer ministry. She was like the Prov. woman – working plus raising her family and apparently doing a good job – This is what Leonard Lesourd worte – “”During our 23 years of marriage, I did discover the secrets behind her extraordinary gifts of communication. There were two. One came out through the dedication she showed in rearing my three young children–despite lungs that never operated at more than 75 percent normal capacity. It emerged as she struggled for the precise descriptive phrase in her writing, as she sought the exactly right color for a living-room chair, as she searched for total perfection in stereo music. She tried to lift the sights of her family and friends by planting dreams in our hearts of achievements that appeared beyond us. This reach toward excellence was a part of everything she did.”

By: catherine illian

catherine illian — Mon, 24 Apr 2006 20:04:32 +0000

Lanier
thank you for your thoughtful comment. I agree with you and very much appreciate your kind response