A wife of noble character, who can find? She is worth far more than rubies.   Prov 31:10

Ruth Bell Graham (1920-2007)

They say ‘behind every good man is woman who encourages him’. Ruth Bell Graham, beloved wife of the well-known Reverend Billy Graham demonstrated how to be a “wife of noble character”. She was a woman of strength and courage beyond the imagination. She stood quietly in the background as a pillar for her well known husband, raised 5 children (all of whom are in ministry today), wrote books, and lived a life of quiet inspiration. Her husband declares “Ruth was my life partner, and we were called by God as a team,……..my work through the years would have been impossible without her encouragement and support.”.

I cannot imagine what life in the world’s limelight was like for her. She never gave in to the celebrity, the status. She was an example of womanhood and strength.  As an author she shared her wisdom. One particular book of interest is Prodigals and Those Who Love Them .  Admired by her children, son Franklin remembers ” She stood strong for what was biblically correct and accurate…..  Every person needs that kind of input in their life….”

We will miss Mrs. Graham and grieve our loss of her presence, but we shall rejoice for she is now at home with the Lord.  She would not have us weep for her. Here is a poem from her collection, Sitting by my Laughing Fire, titled When Death Comes

When death comes
Will it come quietly
–one may say creep—
As after a hard
And tiring day, one lies
And longs for sleep—
Ending age and sorrow
Or youth and pain?
Who dies in Christ
Has all to gain
–and a Tomorrow!
Why weep?
Death may be savage
We cannot be sure
The godly may be slaughtered,
Evil men endure;
However death may strike,
Or whom,
Who knows the risen Lord
Knows too, the empty tomb.
–Ruth Graham Bell

 Good bye Mrs. Graham, thank you for your example, for your wisdom, for your testimony. You will be missed. I look forward to meeting you one day in heaven.

Bear one another’s burdens Galatians 6:2

I use Barnabas from the book of ACTS as my model for the “Bearnabus Bear” which is used to bring comfort and encouragement to others who are hurting.     Pictured here are some of his friends who recently were sent to bring comfort to an elderly couple in ill health and their nurse daughter who helps care for them.   I got a note from the person who requested these adorable creatures. She said they were so pleased to receive the bears. It reminded them that someone was thinking of them even when not in their presence. Nurse Beary Well with her bottle of antibearotics watches closely. The couple sat arm in arm enjoying their paw holding counterparts. 

It’s hard sometimes to know what to say to someone in pain whether it is physical, emotional or spiritual.  There is a song from many years back “When You Say Nothing At All’. Though a love song telling of all they ways his lover’s presence is encouraging to him, we can sometimes apply these words when offering comfort to another. Sometimes just a hug or your quiet presence is enough. Sometimes just holding their hand while they cry in pain.

When Jesus walked the earth people came from miles around just to be near Him. There was a woman who had had a hemorrhage for twelve years came up behind him. She touched the fringe of his robe (see Matthew 9:20 click here).  While the touch of your robe probably won’t bring about the miraculous hearing this woman received, your caring presence can bring comfort.

There are many ways to “bear each other’s burdens” and these bears are just one example.