Jim and Jeannie Gaffigan Address Grads at the Catholic University of America

Jim Gaffigan is a smart man. The greatest evidence of that is that he married Jeannie Gaffigan, now his wife, writing partner and fellow executive producer of his TV Land sitcom, “The Jim Gaffigan Show” (season two premieres on Father’s Day, Sunday, June 19).

Apparently she’s also the reason he’s a practicing Catholic today. And she gets something out of it as well. Here’s an excerpt:

Jeannie: Jim agreed to come work for me but at the same time, he needed my help. I would work with him on his first TV project. We are both really hard workers so our lives got very busy.

It was then we realized that if we didn’t work together on something, we would never see each other again. Oh, and then there was the whole “Love” thing.

When you have true love, you don’t only work for yourself. In working with Jim, I realized that I could also work for his career, towards his dreams and it was actually rewarding. And of course all those years of working with troubled kids prepared for a lifetime with Jim Gaffigan. How could it be that all my efforts to do everything by myself were not as fulfilling? Even though I was working tirelessly with urban teenagers, I was in charge. I was giving of myself but for myself. It’s funny how we can make even the most altruistic ventures about ourselves. Sharing your life with someone is not easy because it involves sacrificing control. And something beautiful can happen.

…

Jim: Before I met Jeannie I had lived across the street from a Catholic church for 15 years. I didn’t notice it. I never went in it once.Because of Jeannie that same church became the place I was married, the same church my 5 children were baptized in and the church where once a week I’m reminded to keep focused on priorities.

God, family then work.

Jeannie: I can’t take all the credit. My mother has been saying perpetual novenas for 15 years.

Click here to read the rest.

Image: Scene from “The Jim Gaffigan Show,” courtesy TVLand

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