I only had the great pleasure of meeting her once. As religion writer and syndicated columnist for the San Francisco Examiner, I covered the 1971 Billy Graham Crusade in the Oakland Coliseum.
On the second night, an usher came to the press box to present me a note. It was signed by Ruth Graham and invited me to come to the room where she and her husband were, an hour before the service began.
I had covered Billy's opening night, after which she had arrived in California. When I came to that dressing room, I was slightly wary. For on occasion, I had disagreed with, or criticized, this world's most famed evangelist.
So, I was surprised to be invited and then to be warmly welcomed, by both of them.
As a syndicated religion columnist, one of the 253 newspapers I wrote for each week was the Ashville Citizen near the Graham's home in North Carolina.
I was both honored and wary when this beautiful clergy wife told me that she was a regular reader of my column.
I thanked her and her husband. Then I asked if I might ask a question or two, since I was covering the Crusade.
They looked at each other. Then they both grinned and he said: "Have at it! I'm braced!"
My first question was quoted by Examiner columnist Jack Rosenbaum and the Ashville Citizen's Bob Terrell:
"Last night, your husband confessed to 41,000 people that he had committed adultery in his heart by looking on a woman with lust. But he never identified her."
This evoked a great guffaw from Billy – and a dazzling smile from his lovely and brilliant spouse.
I learned just how brilliant when she replied:
"We never tell house secrets. Besides, I've always believed there's an important difference between window shopping and shoplifting!"
In my distinct remembrance of that marvelous response of Ruth Bell Graham, I can fully understand and greatly appreciate the following statement by her husband:
"Ruth is my soul mate and best friend, and I cannot imagine living a single day without her by my side. I am more in love with her today than when we first met over 65 years ago as students at Wheaton College. … 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."
Of this did Jesus Christ speak in one of his Beatitudes:
"Blessed are they that mourn – for they shall be comforted."
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