Ruth Graham: Forgiving My Father (LIFE Today)

The daughter of Billy Graham explains how her freedom came through forgiveness, which including forgiving her famous father.

[nighatowotsa]

Billy Graham was and will forever be the messenger of "the Gospel" that changed the lives of millions of souls. Son's and daughter's of Billy Graham will forever live on. From North East India Nagaland.

[natashagriesemer]

I love her transparency and honesty! She’s going to help free so many people from denying the actuality of wounds in their hearts. God bless you sister Graham.

[jaycassio]

This is my life! Thank you, Ruth for speaking out about this. As a child, how could I argue that I was more important than God’s work? I now understand why I have gone from marriage to marriage, and my desire to be loved and feel loved has caused me to ignore the red flags. This one video opened up a door to my healing in God, thank you!

[delancye]

"emotions don't tell the scriptures tell the truth." Love that point! So true.

[laurenforyou]

She's a beautiful witness to deep honesty. She's a credit to the Graham name. The Lord is so good to us. May the Lord bless her and hers abundantly.

[holylandfan]

My mother was in the kitchen and my dad came in my room about 11:00 PM, woke me up when I was 10 years old and said "I'm leaving". I thought he was going to work because he had odd hours as a railroad engineer and I said "Ok, I love you and I'll see you when you come back". He said "No, I'm leaving". He did wait until my brother came home from a date. It was right before Christmas. He had a mistress waiting across town to drive to another city where he was working at and never came back. There are stories throughout the years, and I even tried to talk to him about this night, but was shut down. We did get to talk for many hours because he developed bone cancer and passed 4 years ago. When he passed though, I strangely had an emotional peace about the abandonment from that night and the following years, because I knew it could never be fixed and I let it go through God's help. I think I was trying all my life to "fix it" and there was no more reason to try to do that with him. I did have my Grandfather, that was an AMAZING man. My dad did find the Lord Jesus throughout the years, so I know he will have eternal life. I have forgiven him and I find a lot of peace from that. If I could tell my 10 year old self anything, I would tell myself not to define your life through anyone else but Christ. He will direct you and will never leave you nor forsake you.

[pennymilligan]

Ty for sharing this, my parent's were divorced before I began elementary school, and I was abandoned by him and searched for that relationship ( in all the wrong ways) most of my life, then I met my heavenly Father through Jesus and I am no longer abandoned.

[edw]

For those condemning Billy Graham, I think it is important to remember that most of the generals who have gone before us may not have had the information we have today. Now we have a better opportunity to learn from their remarkable impact and also mistakes through the many platforms and channels available

[SaraRios-lb]

Acceptance of the calling :
There is always a price to pay for the work of the Lord
May God bless the whole family and the generations to come !!!

[rebeccanesbitt]

I appreciate her openness and transparency. God created the family first.

[kathyshogue]

We have been with Ruth as she shared her journey, and there were few dry eyes as she told of her own struggles and missteps. We have all had our own battles and learning experiences. Praise the Lord for His gentle kindness and mercy toward us!!! This is a humble, sweet woman! We loved hearing her share.

[daisyzaldivar]

Thank you for your honesty. I've seen ministers' kids who go through so many issues. As a PK, I grateful my parents chose us over ministry. I know my dad could have done so much more in the ministry, but he preferred to stay home with us. That helped us in our relationship with God But boy did he admire Billy Graham!

[CarolDee]

So bold - speaking of and recognizing her little girl heart. It’s not as much about her dad as it was her heart needs.

[veel]

Military kids go thru this too. Our dads are gone a lot and we just went on with our lives with our moms, siblings and friends. We moved on average of every 3 years.

[karenwhaul]

I admire Ruth Graham for her boldness, humility and truthfulfullness to speak about some Root causes of failed marriages and emptiness we oftentimes feel as christians. Every leader and institutiuons that trains leaders need to have this book in their homes and offices respectively. But the greatess love in this, that even after her parents had gone. GOD remais eternal who continuues to parent and mold our generations even from generation to generation. Thank you Jesus for your faithful love towards us from generation to generation.

[jasonayres]

My wife, born and raised in South East Asia, and her family became close friends with a missionary from New Zealand. A kind and Godly man.
Long after we got married and settled in Australia, my wife made contact with the gentleman, kept in touch, and we eventually met him on a couple of occasions.
On the final visit, not long before he died, we thought that his adult children would give him a glowing reference.
They spoke of the burden of their mother, raising kids in a country town on her own for weeks at a time. Time after time.
My wife and I were really taken by surprise by the deep hurt within the family.
I hope Ruth Graham's message can be of assistance to families like this.

[ellebelle]

I can relate because my father has been a godly man all his life but has emotionally abandoned me since birth. I have four siblings and can't speak for them. But for me I'm still working on forgiveness toward him. Thank you Ruth for your testimony.

[dmb]

My parents supported the Billy Graham ministry and every year at Christmas we received their family Christmas card with a photo of their family. I always thought they looked so happy. We all wear masks and it's good to hear the 'truth' from members of families we thought had it all together. Billy Graham's ministry brought a lot of people to the Lord, but there had to be a personal price paid. I remember hearing Billy Graham praise his wife for being there for the children when he was not and I recognized it hurt his heart but he had to respond to God's call on his life. No matter who has hurt us whether purposefully or not, I agree with Ruth. We can make the decision to forgive and that will open the door for the Holy Spirit to heal our hearts. Life is such a struggle for most of us because the devil goes about as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may destroy. We have victory only in Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. It takes some of us longer than others to understand this but when we do we find freedom that we appreciate all the more for what we have been through. What a wonderful testimony for those of us who also made many mistakes and suffered the consequences on this earth. One great Day, we will be with the Lord and no longer suffer from the results of sin and shame.

[fragrancedeparadis]

May God help my child to forgive me for all the pain I caused them, all the absence and not meeting their needs, promising and failing them, help me to forgive my dad for promising and not doing, help me to forgive others from my heart, and finally to forgive myself in Jesus might name,
Brethren pray for me to encounter God in Jesus name.

[canadasweetie]

Imagine having Billy Graham as a father and feeling the need to forgive him. It’s hard to fathom.