When our significant others enter the story, it only makes sense that each of the guys would introduce their spouses. As the chronology of our story unfolds, each member of Core will have the opportunity to share a few thoughts about their wives in their own words. The page is intentionally left blank, so to speak, so that there is freedom for the author to say whatever they want to about their wife. Krue was the first to go, introducing Hollee. Then Hamilton, introducing Kristen. Third up, Neal.
Gayle
Gayle and I met the summer before my senior year at Vanderbilt. She was working as a youth intern at Lookout Mountain Presbyterian Church along with Krue. I was struck by her exceptional beauty but, being intimidated by girls in general, I could not find the courage to ask her out. Then she told a mutual friend that she wanted to go out with Jeff Ligon, my twin brother. But thankfully that friend explained that Neal was more her type (thank you Andy Jensen). Two years later we were married.
CORE had been meeting weekly for three years when we first met and Gayle saw how important it was to me. She did her best to believe me that CORE was always honoring of the wives and even pushed each other to pursue our wives better and love them well.
Presently, she has come to know the members of CORE, and trusts that they want the best for her and me. Occasionally she will say, “What does CORE say?” about some issue or question. She knows they make me a better husband, so she gladly encourages their input in my life.
Gayle is truly an amazing person. A four on the Enneagram, she longs to live with purpose and make a difference in the world. She is passionate about whatever she is doing and she engages with God and the world fully and with feeling. She experiences moments of profound intimacy with the Lord and also heartfelt lows when the world is unjust and God seems distant. She wrestles with her Lord and sometimes sheds tears during worship.
Gayle is unbelievably creative and also gifted as an artist which means she has to be creating something all the time - painting, drawing, cross stitch, crochet, graphic design, pumpkin carving, Easter egg decorating, puppet making, costume design, Christmas ornament making… It’s unending. As an artist, she loves beauty and makes things beautiful, from cut flowers to interior design to table setting for dinner guests. I often say that the things in my life that are beautiful are because of her.
She adores her kids, especially our one granddaughter, with every fiber of her being and treasures time with them.
Gayle pushes me to connect with my feelings and I am trying to grow in that area.
I recognize that Gayle stretches me toward going deeper with her and with God and I am grateful to the Lord for her.