Comments on: Peter Marshall on Marriage

By: Rebekah

Rebekah — Sat, 22 Apr 2006 17:59:53 +0000

I have no life but this;
To lead it here;
Nor any death, but least
Dispelled from there;

Nor tie to earths to come,
Nor action new,
Except through this extent,
The realm of you.
Emily Dickinson

What a beautiful celebration of marriage. Thanks for reminding us.

By: Jessica

Jessica — Sat, 22 Apr 2006 20:24:22 +0000

Wow…that’s wonderful! Thank you for sharing.

By: catherine illian

catherine illian — Sun, 23 Apr 2006 02:43:04 +0000

although i found the sentiment in the poem very beautiful, i find it interesting that catherine marshall most definitely did have a career as a writer–in addition to her wifely duties.. so what do you make of this.. just wondering what you think

By: Lanier Ivester

Lanier Ivester — Sun, 23 Apr 2006 11:12:59 +0000

Hello Catherine!!!
That’s a good point–Catherine Marshall was a very successful writer. In fact, it was probably her book about her husband that causes his memory to be still respected so deeply today. But, for all appearances, she wasn’t writing to make a name for herself but to fulfill a unique call that God had given her–not in opposition to her wifely duties but as part of the whole person God had equiped her to be. I think that’s where the distinction lies–it’s not so much what each of our individual situations looks like but why we’re doing what we’re doing. A woman living fully in her specific gifts and talents is a joy to her husband and everyone around her. But God has so created us that, as Catherine says, ‘we acheive greatest happiness and greatest character development as our husband’s career becomes our own, and as we give ourselves unstintingly to it and to our homes’. That doesn’t disqualify us for anything outside of that blessed realm, but I think that it’s a continual battle in our world today to give the role of ‘wife’–under God–our first and our best.

By: Claudia

Claudia — Sun, 23 Apr 2006 17:49:56 +0000

Thank you for reminding me of this beautiful selection of Peter Marshall’s. Catherine Marshall’s life parallels another one of heroines-Elizabeth Elliott. Her writings also have had a great influence on many women’s lives–and men too!

By: Jessica

Jessica — Mon, 24 Apr 2006 00:46:09 +0000

I agree with you, Claudia…Elisabeth Elliot is an AMAZING writer, and, from what little I know of her, an amazing person!

By: Emily

Emily — Mon, 24 Apr 2006 17:38:08 +0000

I’ve just picked up _Christy_ for the umpteenth time a few nights ago for my before-bedtime read!

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

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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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…