TREASURED MOMENTS
With Mother Graham
“Her children arise and call her blessed.” Proverbs 31:28
Every mother’s heart warms when their children relate wonderful memories from childhood, shares a moment when their mother’s advice or action helped them in difficult moments or repeats lessons she taught them when they were young. Although she is no longer on earth, I feel certain Morrow Coffey Graham, the mother of Dr. Billy Graham, would be touched by Treasured Moments with Mother Graham by Rose Adams with Donna Lee Toney.
TREASURED MOMENTS WITH MOTHER GRAHAM
By Rose Adams with Donna Lee Toney
B&H Publishing Group
Billy Graham describes Rose Adams as “a delightful Christian woman who cared for my mother, Morrow Coffey Graham, in her last two years of life.” Decades later, Rose would still visit the reverend and his wife, Ruth, warming their hearts with memories of Mother Graham, as she was known, and how every conversation would lead back to the Bible.
In time, Adams put these recollections on tape for Billy Graham. Deeply touched, he then suggested putting them into book form, knowing so many would draw comfort and strength from seeing how one younger woman learned so much from an older one.
Treasured Moments with Mother Graham is the sparkling result, four months worth of daily devotions built from the diary of Rose Adams. Each entry includes a word of Truth from Mother Graham, a related Scripture and application, a recollection from Rose Adams to Billy Graham on the context and meaning of this teaching from his mother, and finally is complemented by reflections on this thought from Billy Graham. These are indeed treasured moments that span every book of the Bible and every facet of the Christian life.
Reading through these devotionals, it is easy to see the influence he had through his mother’s strong faith. In the devotional, “Fret Not Thyself,” Ms Adams quotes Mother Graham, “Rose, I do pray the Lord will help me be the example I should be. I am thankful that each one of my children has thanked us many times for having family devotions. They said these times together taught them what they wouldn’t have learned on their own.” In response to this, Dr. Graham adds, “My mother often said that if Deuteronomy 6 were practiced by parents, there would be far less unrest and problems in the world.”
In “Be Still and Know” Ms Adam quotes Mother Graham, “As sojourners in this world, we need to be reminded that we should allow nothing to impede our passage and our progress. We must not give in to the wickedness, temptations, problems, and circumstances that arise to throw us off course. And even complaining can throw us off course because we can’t praise Him when we’re complaining to Him. Groaning may muffle His whispers. Now wouldn’t that be a shame?”
Throughout Treasured Moments with Mother Graham the thoughts of and the memories about this precious woman of God encourages readers to follow her example of a simple yet profound faith in a holy and loving God.
