I just heard about 30 minutes ago that the wonderful Ruth Graham just passed away. I don’t have any words to describe what an absolute beautiful person she was. I didn’t even know her personally. But . . . wow. So, I’ll let Reverend Graham do it:
“Ruth was my life partner, and we were called by God as a team,” Billy Graham said in a statement. “No one else could have borne the load that she carried. She was a vital and integral part of our ministry, and my work through the years would have been impossible without her encouragement and support.
“I am so grateful to the Lord that He gave me Ruth, and especially for these last few years we’ve had in the mountains together. We’ve rekindled the romance of our youth, and my love for her continued to grow deeper every day. I will miss her terribly, and look forward even more to the day I can join her in Heaven.”
Oof.
I only have a couple of ties to her and her wonderful family: I saw the Grahams at Tong Sing once. Tong Sing isn’t a classy Chinese food joint but the best one we have in Black Mountain. At the time I just happened to look up and see the Reverend Billy Graham return to his seat from the restroom. Of course, he was carried by four angels. Once he got back to his seat I saw the rest of the Grahams sitting there eating Chinese food. Or, rather being fed Chinese food. God has them hooked up! =)
Also, as a wilderness ranger for the Montreat Conference Center I had the pleasure of spending time with Franklin Graham’s mother-in-law. She has volunteered down at the Nature Center (ranger hut) for countless years. Through her I met her grandchildren, Franklin’s children. They were very fun to be around, especially, when I was doing environmental education for the conference center’s Club’s program.
Um . . . wow . . . all I can say is the world lost a special person today. God be with the family (as if I needed to say that) and especially Reverend Graham.