Faithwire
  • Watch
  • Go!
  • Podcasts
  • Newsletter
  • Contact Us
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Instagram
  • SCOTUS
  • Life
  • Religious Liberty
  • News
  • Politics
  • Faith
  • Opinion

Billy Graham’s Daughter Tearfully Recalls Her Father’s ‘Unconditional Love’ at Funeral

Photo Credit: Screengrab
Photo Credit: Screengrab
Share Tweet
By Meg Storm
Writer

March 4, 2018

Some 2,000 people gathered in a large white tent in Charlotte, North Carolina on Friday for a private funeral honoring Rev. Billy Graham, who died on February 21 at the age of 99. After being honored this week in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda, the service took place outside the Billy Graham Library and included remarks by several of the late evangelist’s children. His youngest daughter, Ruth, brought many in attendance to tears when she shared a stirring story of her father’s unconditional love and forgiveness.

READ: ‘His Spirit Overwhelmed me’: George W. Bush Honors Billy Graham With Powerful Address

Throughout his decades of ministry, Graham touched the lives of millions around the globe, and Ruth said that she has been touched by all the stories and remembrances people have shared with her these last couple of weeks. Speaking from the stage, she told gatherers that it was her turn to share a Billy Graham story that “speaks to the essence” of who her father was.

After 21 years of marriage, Ruth went through a messy divorce from the father of her children and was left “floundering.” Admitting she “did a lot wrong,” Ruth moved away, at the encouragement of her family, for a fresh start. She settled near one of her sisters and started attending a local church where she was introduced a widower.

As she explained it, the two started dating “fast and furiously,” and it didn’t take long for her parents, her children, and those who knew her best to start expressing their concerns. Worried the relationship was moving too fast, Ruth said her father and mother both asked her to slow down, but she scoffed at the suggestion. “What did they know,” she thought.

Describing herself as “stubborn,” “willful,” and “sinful,” Ruth ignored her family’s concerns and married the name on New Year’s Eve. “Within 24 hours,” she said, “I knew I’d made a terrible mistake.”

Five weeks later, she fled the marriage fearing for her safety and began a two-day trek back to her parent’s home. She recalled how questions “swirled” in her mind as she thought about what her father would say to her.

“You don’t want to embarrass your father,” Ruth quipped. “You really don’t want to embarrass Billy Graham.”

When Ruth finally made her way up the mountain to her parent’s home, she found her father waiting in the driveway with his arms wide open. She tearfully told attendees of the incredible mercy he showed her:

“My father was standing there waiting for me. As I got out of the car, he wrapped his arms around me and he said, ‘Welcome home.’ There was no shame, there was no blame, there was no condemnation, just unconditional love.

My father was not God, but he showed me what God was like that day. When we come to God with our sin, our brokenness, our failure, our pain, and our hurt, God says, ‘Welcome home.'”

It was that display of grace that reminded Ruth of the healing power of God’s love, and before leaving the stage, she reminded all those in attendance that the same “invitation is open for you,” should you choose to seek forgiveness.

(H/T: IJR)

Latest

  • Faith

    ‘Duck Dynasty’ Star Opens Up About Struggle With Infertility: ‘We Haven’t Really Shared Publicly’

  • Faith

    Joe Rogan Is Reportedly Attending Church ‘Consistently,’ Christian Apologist Reveals

  • Faith

    Christian College Scores Big Victory After ‘Incredible Attacks’ From Biden Admin, Stunning Claim by Trump Officials

  • Faith

    Digital Babylon: Biblical Wisdom from Daniel for Today’s Social Media Age

  • Faith

    Christian Summer Camp Fights Back Amid Claims Government Could Shut It Down Over Gender Law


Sponsored
Sponsored

Newsletter
Signup

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Recent Posts

  • ‘Duck Dynasty’ Star Opens Up About Struggle With Infertility: ‘We Haven’t Really Shared Publicly’
  • Joe Rogan Is Reportedly Attending Church ‘Consistently,’ Christian Apologist Reveals
  • Christian College Scores Big Victory After ‘Incredible Attacks’ From Biden Admin, Stunning Claim by Trump Officials
  • Digital Babylon: Biblical Wisdom from Daniel for Today’s Social Media Age
  • Christian Summer Camp Fights Back Amid Claims Government Could Shut It Down Over Gender Law

Archives

  • May 2025
  • April 2025
  • March 2025
  • February 2025
  • January 2025
  • December 2024
  • November 2024
  • October 2024
  • September 2024
  • August 2024
  • July 2024
  • June 2024
  • May 2024
  • April 2024
  • March 2024
  • February 2024
  • January 2024
  • December 2023
  • November 2023
  • October 2023
  • September 2023
  • August 2023
  • July 2023
  • June 2023
  • May 2023
  • April 2023
  • March 2023
  • February 2023
  • January 2023
  • December 2022
  • November 2022
  • October 2022
  • September 2022
  • August 2022
  • July 2022
  • June 2022
  • May 2022
  • April 2022
  • March 2022
  • February 2022
  • January 2022
  • December 2021
  • November 2021
  • October 2021
  • September 2021
  • August 2021
  • July 2021
  • June 2021
  • May 2021
  • April 2021
  • March 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016

Categories

  • Christian Persecution
  • Coronavirus
  • Culture
  • culture
  • Entertainment
  • Faith
  • Faith
  • Family
  • George Floyd
  • Go!
  • Israel
  • Life
  • Life
  • Lifestyle
  • Media
  • Men
  • Mission Haiti
  • News
  • News
  • Opinion
  • P.O.V
  • Politics
  • Politics
  • Roe
  • Sponsored
  • Sports
  • Virtue
  • Women

Meta

  • Log in
  • Entries feed
  • Comments feed
  • WordPress.org

Navigation

  • Watch
  • Go!
  • Podcasts
  • Newsletter
  • Contact Us
  • Staff
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service

Follow Us

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Instagram

Subscribe to the Newsletter

Sign up to get our newsletter your inbox every day.

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Newsletter Signup

Do you want to read
more articles like this?

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.