A very wise man once said, "Charm can mislead and beauty soon fades. The woman to be admired and praised is the woman who lives in the fear of God" (Proverb 31, TMB).

About that same woman it is said, "Her husband trusts her without reserve and never has reason to regret it . . . She senses the worth of her work, is in no hurry to call it quits for the day . . . She's quick to assist anyone in need, reaches out to help the poor" (Proverbs 31, TMB).

Such a woman, from all appearances, passed away last week. Her name: Ruth Graham.

I read this week that her pastor said she was "The first lady of evangelical Protestantism, she undoubtedly was an equal partner in a ministry that Billy Graham carried to presidents and peasants alike . . .

"There's a saying that somebody is 'one in a million' -- well she's the 'one.' She had the ability to move among presidents and leaders, but then turn right around and clean the oven of a widow."

That very wise man quoted above also said when describing the woman who lives in the fear of God, "She is worth far more than rubies. Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value"(Proverbs 31, TMB).

Listen to what Billy Graham said of Ruth, "No one else could have borne the load that she carried. She was a vital and integral part of our ministry, and my work through the years would have been impossible without her encouragement and support."

I understand she had been bedridden for months with degenerative osteoarthritis, which was the result of a serious fall from a tree in 1974 when she was fixing a swing for grandchildren. That says a lot, doesn't it?

I have always thought that behind every man who is anything is a woman who is everything. I am sure Billy Graham was blessed to have had such a woman.

May there be more like her; and, may her family continue to be blessed.

Jack Rollins is the managing editor of the Daily Dunklin Democrat.