We first met Tommie as a high school student, and Trevor when he was in college at nearby University of the Cumberlands. Our relationship deepened when the couple came to me for pre-marital counseling. They’ve been married about 3 years and live in a small country home on her Dad’s land only about 3 miles from our house. While Trevor is on the quiet side in a crowd, Tommie is his opposite. He is older by only a couple of years. She is 26.
Trevor smilingly plugs away at an IT position in the local hospital and was recently chosen by his co-workers for an award as the person who best exemplified the character his company desired. Tommie-Leigh is a teacher by profession, but is not currently teaching. Instead, she has chosen to invest in a welcoming home for her husband’s refreshment, and in serving encouragement throughout the community around her. Their home has been filled for months at a time, since their marriage, with foreign exchange students and foster children. For the past two plus years they voluntarily assisted in teaching and nurturing the spiritual lives of the youth in a small local church. Tommie has also been raising awareness and involvement in foster parenting– making disciples of the ‘least of these.’
Bible students and servants, they often bring their questions to Donna and me. Tommie is even dabbling in Hebrew. Trevor is ever listening to a podcast or reading the Word. Their hunger for truth and to know Christ is quiet, simple, and beautiful! I watched them holding each other at church yesterday as the congregation stood to sing. I thought, “There is peace between them, and a deepening affection for one another that is being nurtured by a walk in the Presence of God.” They model a healthy marital relationship to the college students (actually, to all of us) as well as a calm and steady walk with the LORD.
All has not been rosy for them. As with many young couples, they’d planned to have children; however, it was not happening. They were exasperated and prepared, mentally, to adopt, but several weeks ago, in one of our Wednesday gatherings with them and the other families I’ll introduce you to, I sensed a kind of ‘certainty’ and felt we should pray over them again. We circled around them, representing the covering of God and focus of God on them, and called again for Him to open her womb. They are happily expecting now.
PRAYER LIST:
- Pray for the baby and Tommie-Leigh.
- Pray for their influence for Foster Children’s Care.
PS. Your comments or encouragements to the Laughlins or us are welcomed below.
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