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Ruth Bell Graham — 1920-2007

June 15, 2007 by Janice

This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

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ruth-graham-crop.jpgAt 5:05pm Thursday, at her home in Little Piney Cove in Montreat, N.C., Ruth Bell Graham passed away.

She was surrounded by her husband Billy Graham and all five of their children.

After a lifetime of loving and serving the Lord, she is now with Him in glory. But I can only imagine how many tears are falling — not only by her beloved family and friends, but also by us, the many who never knew her but watched and admired her.

Growing up, Billy and Ruth Graham were our heroes. Our parents held them in highest regard and so did we. How could we not? When others disappointed and shamed the Lord, Ruth and Billy Graham stayed the course and honored Christ with their lives and their message.

ruth-and-billy-graham.jpgPersonally, Ruth Graham is my hero – I am in awe of her and her dedication to the Lord, to her husband and to her children. To me, she is one of the purest examples of what the Holy Spirit can do with a life given to Christ. She was human and flawed I am sure but, from all I have read about her and by her, she seems to have truly allowed the Holy Spirit to govern her day in and day out. And through that power of God, she quietly lived out an extraordinary life for Christ.

Anne Graham Lotz, Ruth and Billy’s second daughter, revealed her mother’s deep relationship with the Lord:

“I would go down to my mother’s room early in the morning. Her light would be on, and I would find her at her big, flat-top desk. She would be reading and studying her Bible, with about 14 different translations spread out around her.

“When I would go down to her room late at night, I would see the light on underneath the door and I’d go in, and she would be on her knees in prayer.

“As I look back on my childhood, I cannot remember any impression whatsoever that my mother was ever lonely. She may have been lonely, but I never saw it.

“I believe that our heavenly Father, our Savior, saved my mother from loneliness because of her daily walk with the Lord Jesus, He was the love of her life. I saw that in her life. It was her love for the Lord Jesus, with whom she walks every day, that made me want to love Him and walk with Him like that.”

It seems strange after a lifetime of having the Grahams teaching and ministering to us that Ruth is now gone. But I hope the world will remember her. And for all of us mothers, if you are looking for a hero, pick up some books by Ruth Bell Graham (and especially her poetry). She will inspire you through her sincerity and her dedication to the Lord.

And when I die
I hope my soul ascends
slowly, so that I
may watch the earth receding
out of sight,
its vastness growing smaller
as I rise,
savoring its recession
with delight.
Anticipating joy
is itself a joy
And joy unspeakable
and full of glory
needs more
than “in a twinkling of an eye,”
more than “in a moment.”

Lord, who am I to disagree?
It’s only we
have much to leave behind,
so much … Before.
These moments
of transition
will, for me, be
time
to adore.

by Ruth Bell Graham, from Collected Poems, Page 162

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About Janice

Janice is co-founder of 5 Minutes For Mom. She's been working online since 2003 and is thankful her days are full of social media, writing and photography.

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22 Comments

  1. susan says

    November 9, 2008 at 12:58 am

    does anyone know the book title where Ruth Bell Graham speaks of putting her “apron on” because there was so much to do… She was referring to times when she was raising the children and Billy was gone preaching. I want that specific book, as that anology holds real meaning for me. What a wonderful woman she was.

    Susan
    [email protected]

    Reply
  2. Serge Lavie says

    July 18, 2008 at 9:28 pm

    Serge Lavie films Billy Graham on:
    http://evangelistsergelavie.blogspot.com/

    Reply
  3. annaliza of ventanawhos candid says

    June 17, 2007 at 12:31 am

    yes she’s completely healed and in a new body in Glory. praise Him. she’s an obedient woman of God. she will be missed.

    Reply
  4. taylorblue says

    June 15, 2007 at 4:57 pm

    Wow…I saw your link on a friends of mines blog…I have never been here before but quite sad I haven’t I will make sure to stop by soon. Good job all around!

    Reply
  5. jen says

    June 15, 2007 at 4:46 pm

    what a remarkable lady
    and an inspiration to all woman especailly mums
    may she rest easy in Gods presence now

    Reply
  6. bee says

    June 15, 2007 at 4:01 pm

    I’m with Jana… what a welcome she must’ve gotten up there!

    Reply
  7. Jana (sidetrack'd) says

    June 15, 2007 at 3:05 pm

    What a beautiful post and wonderful tribute to a beautiful lady. I can only imagine her rejoicing as she joined with the angels to sing “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God almighty!”

    Reply
  8. Liza says

    June 15, 2007 at 2:12 pm

    Wonderful tribute Janice!
    I watched several video which I posted today. She’s very inspiring:

    http://lizas-eyeview.blogspot.com/2007/06/in-memory-and-honor-of-ruth-graham.html

    Reply
  9. Sandy says

    June 15, 2007 at 1:35 pm

    Wonderful words for an inspiring, Godly women. I remember reading Billy Graham’s autobiography years ago, and I just loved the insight he gave into his wife. It inspired me!
    Thanks for posting such kind words about a dear women.
    I am thankful for her life and testimony!

    Reply
  10. Jen says

    June 15, 2007 at 12:24 pm

    I live in Boone, NC where the Samaritans Purse headquarters and are where Franklin lives. My dad works there so its really been on our hearts and minds this week. My dad got the call yesterday evening while he was working there on premises and called my mom.

    It was like I knew it wouldn’t be long but still when I heard the news I was sad. She was a wonderful woman/mother role model to us all. She helped guide us and show just how much of a people pleaser she was. She was always there at a drop of a hat to help just as her husband was.

    I’m so glad they opened up the Billy Graham Library here a couple weeks to share her and her husband’s legacy. And what a special place for them to have as their final resting place!

    Thanks so much for sharing this beautiful blog post with us Jance!

    Reply
  11. escapades unlimited says

    June 15, 2007 at 12:06 pm

    What a beautiful tribute to a beautiful lady. Thanks for posting.

    Reply
  12. Nell says

    June 15, 2007 at 11:45 am

    Such a lovely and amazing family. You know she is dancing with Jesus right now! I love to think about my Granny up there just loving life 🙂

    Reply
  13. oh amanda says

    June 15, 2007 at 11:28 am

    Thank you for posting this! I didn’t know.

    Reply
  14. melody says

    June 15, 2007 at 10:39 am

    I have no doubt that God granted her slow ascent into heaven that she might savor the joy, and that she sits beside Him smiling down. She and my grandmother are heroes to me. I never saw stronger faith, more unselfish lives than theirs.

    A beautifully written tribute.

    Reply
  15. Karla~Looking Towards Heaven says

    June 15, 2007 at 9:56 am

    this is lovely.

    I posted a small notice of this same thing on my blog.

    blessings,
    karla

    Reply
  16. Adventures In Babywearing says

    June 15, 2007 at 9:45 am

    I KNOW. I KNOW. Ruth Bell Graham was such an inspiration to me. One summer I checked out ALL her books from the library. I have a tiny little book of her writings called Blessings For A Mother’s Day and I read it still all the time. I post some of her entries from time to time on my blog, too. Wow, heaven has a wonderful new angel this week!

    Steph

    Reply
  17. My Quotidian Mysteries says

    June 15, 2007 at 9:41 am

    Thank you for writing this lovely tribute for a lovely, godly woman. I hope others do the same today.

    Reply
  18. Robin says

    June 15, 2007 at 9:34 am

    Wow! She really left a legacy beyond words!

    Reply
  19. Pattie says

    June 15, 2007 at 8:29 am

    This is a lovely post for a truly beautiful woman. I can only hope to be half the ministry wife she was to her husband.

    Reply
  20. Celeste says

    June 15, 2007 at 7:59 am

    This is so sad. She was a good woman. I loved the fact that she was not afraid to show she was human and struggled like the rest of us do.

    Reply
  21. Lu says

    June 15, 2007 at 6:47 am

    What a beautiful post! I know that she is finally at the place she wants to be!

    Reply
  22. Marcia says

    June 15, 2007 at 5:53 am

    Wow, Janice, what a beautiful tribute to a beautiful Christian lady.

    Reply

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