Laced With Grace – Christian Devotions

The passing of a mentor.

By Lori June 16, 2007 Character, Faith, Inspirational

In light of the passing of one of my “mentors” I am reposting a tribute I made earlier this year. Mrs. Graham I can not wait to met you face to face in heaven and tell you what an inspiration you were in my life.

“What famous Mom would you like to meet?”

I would love to sit down and chat with Mrs. Ruth Bell Graham. Mrs. Bell Graham was born in China; she is the daughter of medical missionaries. She stayed there until she was 17 years old and then came over to the states to attend Wheaton College. It was there the Lord changed her life forever by falling in love with a man who will be known all over the world.

Mrs. Graham is the mother to five children, 3 daughters and 2 sons. If that was not enough to keep her busy she also founded the Ruth and Billy Graham Children’s Health Center.

With Mrs. Bell Graham I would love to ask her about raising her children. Within her children’s and grandchildren’s lives there have been divorce, two prodigal children, early pregnancy, and many more painful periods through her life as a mother.

Today her son Franklin is a leader in missions, her daughter Ruth Graham is active in Billy Graham’s and Franklin Graham’s ministry. Her daughter Anne Graham Lotz is an award winning author. To get to that point, I can imagine there was significant time spent on her knees wondering how it was all going turn out.

So my question is how did you get from point A of deep concern for your children, to point B, praising God for the mighty works he has done in their life. There is so much I feel I can learn. I would explain that I know covering my children in prayer is very important, but that I also know that great families have children who become prodigals. As a Mother how do you survive the difficult times? I am sure she would have a great deal of insight. As a mother of three boys I would want to learn and takes notes. I would want to know, what is the role of a mother during those times? How do you know when to intervene or back away.

Yes, I would love to sit down face to face and chat with Mrs. Bell Graham, I am sure she would have much wisdom to share. Unfortunately it will be when we are both in heaven rejoicing in the outcome of great things.

Heavenly Father, I know you are the only one to look to, but thank you very much for giving us examples of Godly living. Thank you for the ministry of Mrs. Ruth Bell Graham. May I end my life faithful to your cause.

10 thoughts on “The passing of a mentor.”

  3. Lizzie

    This is a sweet post. Thank you for sharing.

    I also think her life is an excellent example of a wife supporting her husband’s ministry.

    He was called, she followed.

    A lesson many of us need.

  4. Linda

    Before I read your post, I wrote something similar Laurel. Isn’t it amazing – the way she touched our lives? I’m old enough to by your mom and yet I feel exactly the same way about her. She was a role model for me in a time when being a SAHM was definitely out of fashion. She was a wonderful example to me of a Godly wife and mother. I can’t wait to meet her some day too. Maybe we can all get together and have a nice long chat.

  9. LynnLynn

    Thank you, Laurel…

    I am so thankful for Godly women who live their faith every day. Women who struggle with the same things we do and show us how we can also struggle yet live triumphantly.

    Praise God for the Grahams. Our world is a better place because God put them here.

  10. Gretchen

    Thank you, Laurel. When I see an example like Ruth Graham, I know I need to be in the word more, in prayer more. More about God and less about me. What an example she was.