After 30 years of being acquainted with Jeannie Patterson, I was finally blessed to spend an evening with her on July 7, 2020. This warm, lively, welcoming woman made a great impact on my life.

Our India mission team wanted to have a reunion before four of our ten-member team moved away. It was during the Pandemic and restaurants served only take-out. We needed a place to gather. So we arranged to order the meal from a nearby Indian restaurant and eat in the Pattersons’ yard. Jeannie had not been on our team, but her husband Pat had been our leader.

I was impressed with Jeannie’s hospitality. Genuine love and interest for others spilled out of her. We were thoroughly cared for and our group was delighted to be together again.

Jeannie’s Garden

You can’t be in Jeannie’s yard without recognizing her love of gardening. With her permission I explored her yard and found lovingly nurtured flowers and plants, restful seating areas, and garden art. Even today I enjoy scrolling my photos from Jeannie’s garden.

In January of 2022 Jeannie Patterson was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Her resilient faith in Jesus may not have kept her from pain, but it sustained her until her last breath on November 7.

Hundreds of people gathered at Warm Beach Camp for her Celebration of Life on December 3, 2022. My peek into Jeannie’s life turned out to be a very small glimpse. Several of her dear friends told of her involvement in drama—both as an actor and a director. She was a horse girl from childhood, teaching riding and vaulting. Jeannie’s amazing organizational skills served her well in many roles at Warm Beach Camp over her 35 years there, most notably as the founding director of the Lights of Christmas.

All agreed that Jeannie was an exceptional friend. They recounted the fun they had with her. She found many ways to help her friends. Jeannie was good at matching people’s skills with work that needed to be done. They say it was hard to turn down Jeannie when she offered them an opportunity to volunteer. And everyone who spoke remarked about Jeannie’s love of God and of people.

The quote that changed her life

In Pat’s announcement of Jeannie’s death on her Caring Bridge Journal page he said: “She started this cancer journey in January standing firm in the reality best captured by St John Paul II when he said, ‘We are not the sum of our weaknesses and failures. We are the sum of the Father’s love for us and our real capacity to become the image of His Son Jesus.’ As she shared with the hospice nurse on the day she died, ‘If we could only learn to live as God’s beloved, it would change everything.’ Her mission has been to do just that and again in her words, ‘to live as God’s beloved and take as many people with her as possible. Will you come?'”

Jeannie grabbed hold of the possibility of living daily as God’s beloved. She lived out that commitment as she let the love of God wash over her and empower her to love others as she had been loved by Jesus.

She invites us to join her in accepting the precious gift of the Father’s transforming love. We can live as God’s beloved. If we do, it will change everything for us.

Wouldn’t that be a great challenge to accept as we begin a new year?

I’m ready. How about you?

Ginger

P.S.

P.S.#1 Not long after Jeannie was diagnosed she shared this song with people. I found myself listening day after day, waking up and falling asleep singing it. I shared it with my sister Peach, who also loved it. When Peach suddenly, unexpectedly slipped into Heaven, this song was a mainstay for me. I shared another version of the song several months ago in a blog post. But today I offer you the original, sung by Steffany Gretzinger. Click on the title to hear it. No One Ever Cared for Me Like Jesus.

P.S. #2 I have spoken about Jeannie as someone who has come late to the party. I wish I had known her earlier, better. If you would like to get to know Jeannie through the eyes of her family and close friends I encourage you to view Jeannie’s Celebration of Life here.

P.S. #3 The garden photos are some of those I took the night of our reunion. The others I took from Jeannie’s Facebook page. Thank you, Pat.