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Ruth Bell was born on June 10, 1920, the daughter of medical missionaries in China. This young woman saw Christians brutally murdered for the cause of Christ, including some of her dearest missionary friends in China.
Her parents, in spite of the fear and instability of war, exercised a profound effect upon the development of Ruth’s character and laid the foundation for the woman she would become. What this extraordinary girl witnessed in her family home, she willingly and diligently practiced for herself: dependence upon God in every circumstance, a delightful love for His Word, a deep concern for others above self, and an indomitable spirit always displayed with a smile.
When Ruth was thirteen years old, her parents believed it best to send her to a Christian boarding school in Korea. She was ferociously homesick and often days went by when Ruth was unable to either eat or drink. It was during these dark, solitary days she learned to overcome her loneliness and to take care of the needs of others.
When Ruth turned seventeen, her parents sent her to the States to attend Wheaton College during the years preceding and during World War II. It was there Ruth met her future husband and gave up her long-held dream of becoming a missionary because that was not his dream or call. She raised her five children, most days alone, on a mountaintop in North Carolina while her husband traveled the world for Christ.
Ruth’s happiness and fulfillment did not depend upon her circumstances. She was a lovely and wise woman simply because she had determined to make Christ her purpose, her center and her vision. Ruth gave up her childhood dreams in order to serve her husband, her children, and her aging parents.
Ruth Bell Graham went to be with the Lord just after turning eighty-seven years old in June of 2007. Her dedication to the Word of God and to the diligence of obedience is her legacy. On Ruth’s tombstone are written these words: “End of Construction ... Thank you for your patience!”
Her parents, in spite of the fear and instability of war, exercised a profound effect upon the development of Ruth’s character and laid the foundation for the woman she would become. What this extraordinary girl witnessed in her family home, she willingly and diligently practiced for herself: dependence upon God in every circumstance, a delightful love for His Word, a deep concern for others above self, and an indomitable spirit always displayed with a smile.
When Ruth was thirteen years old, her parents believed it best to send her to a Christian boarding school in Korea. She was ferociously homesick and often days went by when Ruth was unable to either eat or drink. It was during these dark, solitary days she learned to overcome her loneliness and to take care of the needs of others.
When Ruth turned seventeen, her parents sent her to the States to attend Wheaton College during the years preceding and during World War II. It was there Ruth met her future husband and gave up her long-held dream of becoming a missionary because that was not his dream or call. She raised her five children, most days alone, on a mountaintop in North Carolina while her husband traveled the world for Christ.
Ruth’s happiness and fulfillment did not depend upon her circumstances. She was a lovely and wise woman simply because she had determined to make Christ her purpose, her center and her vision. Ruth gave up her childhood dreams in order to serve her husband, her children, and her aging parents.
Ruth Bell Graham went to be with the Lord just after turning eighty-seven years old in June of 2007. Her dedication to the Word of God and to the diligence of obedience is her legacy. On Ruth’s tombstone are written these words: “End of Construction ... Thank you for your patience!”
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About this Plan
“Extraordinary Ordinary!” is a challenge to live well and embrace the life you have been given with no regrets. We must each accept responsibility for our own lives with no blame or aspersions cast in the direction of others and their choices. You, in partnership with God, will design the life that will occupy the length of your days. While you may not be able to determine all of the events and circumstances of your life, the atmosphere of your life is entirely up to you.
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