Jimmy Carter’s Sunday school lesson has extra meaning

PLAINS, Ga. – The Sunday school lesson was familiar: When your burden grows heavy, ask God for strength. But the message carried a more powerful and personal meaning than usual because of who delivered it: Jimmy Carter.

The 90-year-old former president taught Sunday school in his hometown for the first time since he disclosed Thursday that his cancer had spread to his brain.

With easygoing humor and his toothy smile, Carter gave back-to-back Bible lessons to crowds totaling more than 700 people just three days after undergoing radiation treatment.

He spent less than five minutes recapping his illness before saying, “That’s enough of that subject” and beginning the lesson on faith, love and relationships.

Carter encouraged his listeners to consider God a partner in their lives.

“Any time, we can just bow our heads and say, ‘God, I’m really troubled. I ask you to give me the strength to bear whatever is on my shoulders and to bear whatever comes to me,’ ” Carter said.