Do what you can to show you care about others
and you will make our world a better place.
~Rosalynn Carter
1927-2023

Until I found myself sobbing uncontrollably through most of Rosalynn Carter’s memorial service, I hadn’t realized just how much I missed the concept of “good” in our world.

Not just the concept, the action, as she was fond of pointing out. For Mrs. Carter, action was what counted. Boy, was she right about that.

And then, through my tears, it struck me: She (and her husband, President Jimmy Carter) epitomized all that is good about Americans. They lived those now mythical values almost effortlessly, integrated into their very long lives.

They built houses for Habitat for Humanity. They hammered and sawed together throughout those long lives, even as they aged.

She was active in conservation and environmental efforts. She worked hard to remove the stigma surrounding mental illness.

They built a large and loving family. A close family.

She was a true partner to her true love. Yes, even sitting in on Cabinet meetings. Which raised some eyebrows at the time.

She lived her faith, unlike so many self-proclaimed Christians today. She didn’t proclaim anything. She wasn’t out there blathering about saving souls for the kingdom. She wasn’t a phony, She just lived a life of love and through that example, showed us all what true Christianity is.

Her life inspires us… her loss is one more mile marker in the decline of our society. Because when I look at what has replaced her over time, it sickens me. My tears were for all that we have lost in her lifetime. And yet, she didn’t let the bad stuff that was going on deter her. Not at all. She continued to live a life of love.

Let me share just a little bit of her wisdom that we might carry with us as we live our own lives:

A leader takes people where they want to go. A great leader takes people where they don’t necessarily want to go, but ought to be.

I had already learned from more than a decade of political life that I was going to be criticized no matter what I did, so I might as well be criticized for something I wanted to do.

I tell him what I think.” ( in 1977 to the Associated Press about how her husband didn’t need to ask for her advice.)

Jimmy and I had always worked side by side; it’s a tradition in Southern families, and one that is not seen as in any way demeaning to the man. Once the press and our persistent opponents heard about my attendance at Cabinet meetings, very soon it was rumored that I was ‘telling’ Jimmy what to do! They obviously didn’t know Jimmy!

You have to have confidence in your ability, and then be tough enough to follow through.

There are only four kinds of people in this world: those who have been caregivers, those who are currently caregivers, those who will be caregivers and those who will need caregivers. 

You must accept that you might fail; then, if you do your best and still don’t win, at least you can be satisfied that you’ve tried. If you don’t accept failure as a possibility, you don’t set high goals, you don’t branch out, you don’t try — you don’t take the risk.

As with so many things, I didn’t realize how much I loved and admired her until she was gone. Your words will continue to inspire me til we meet again, Mrs. Carter.