Today, Ruth Graham, the wife of the first evangelical Protestant Billy Graham, died at 87. Billy Graham is legendary for his "tent" meetings that have made him a contemporary father of the faith. Graham and his wife had 5 children.
Reading the headlines from Associated Press and other news outlets the first line of the story begins with "Ruth Graham, who surrendered her dreams of missionary work in Tibet to marry a suitor who became the world's most renowned evangelist died at 87." I began to research and learn more about Ruth and found out that she and Billy Graham met at Wheaton college. Upon graduating she wanted to travel to Tibet but Rev. Graham convinced her to stay in the states and marry him. What a beautiful love story. But I think that if they met today, 2007, and she was a recent graduate of Wheaton College she might be better off telling him to wait until she got back. They married in 1943, over 60 years ago. Ruth was in college during a time when many women received their college education only to find within 5 years they were no longer employed nor using their education for anything beyond mopping floors, changing diapers and singing ABC's. Their career pursuits and I am only referring to white middle class women, were limited to secretary or teacher. (Betty Friedan in 1960's wrote the Feminine Mystique to deal with this issue.)
Mrs. Graham was obviously a very special woman married to a very special man and their lives together touched millions of people around the globe. What is unfortunate is that the type of faith that she had in the longevity of her marriage is almost non-existent today. I remember reading an article in Time Magazine about Graham that stated he has been faithful to his wife since the day they married - now that's a testimony. I think what is most admirable is that their marriage had a purpose outside of procreating and subsiding loneliness, they committed their lives to helping others. Definitely a good example of what a marriage can be.
Reading the headlines from Associated Press and other news outlets the first line of the story begins with "Ruth Graham, who surrendered her dreams of missionary work in Tibet to marry a suitor who became the world's most renowned evangelist died at 87." I began to research and learn more about Ruth and found out that she and Billy Graham met at Wheaton college. Upon graduating she wanted to travel to Tibet but Rev. Graham convinced her to stay in the states and marry him. What a beautiful love story. But I think that if they met today, 2007, and she was a recent graduate of Wheaton College she might be better off telling him to wait until she got back. They married in 1943, over 60 years ago. Ruth was in college during a time when many women received their college education only to find within 5 years they were no longer employed nor using their education for anything beyond mopping floors, changing diapers and singing ABC's. Their career pursuits and I am only referring to white middle class women, were limited to secretary or teacher. (Betty Friedan in 1960's wrote the Feminine Mystique to deal with this issue.)
Mrs. Graham was obviously a very special woman married to a very special man and their lives together touched millions of people around the globe. What is unfortunate is that the type of faith that she had in the longevity of her marriage is almost non-existent today. I remember reading an article in Time Magazine about Graham that stated he has been faithful to his wife since the day they married - now that's a testimony. I think what is most admirable is that their marriage had a purpose outside of procreating and subsiding loneliness, they committed their lives to helping others. Definitely a good example of what a marriage can be.
1 comment:
I am so glad that your latest blog is about Ruth Graham. I began reading a book about her life a few months ago and picked it up again about two weeks before her passing.
Being a bit more familiar with her character and how determined she was, I don't think that Ruth Graham would have ended up in a common woman's role during that time.
Though she was a very devoted wife and mother, she was mischevious, head-strong and someone to be admired.
It's interesting to me that a woman born during a time when women did not have the opportunities open to them, accomplished so much in her life. In a time where the world is more open to opportunities for females, most of the ones the society is interested in sleep around and spend daddy's money in rehab. Now that's progress.
By the way there are more faithful and loving husbands in the world than we realize. They just don't make good news stories.
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