Franklin and Billy Graham, Cleveland Ohio, June 1994, Wikimedia commons

Reverend Billy Graham, we’re mourning.

Our hearts are weighted with sadness. Even though we knew that this day would come, we refused it. And yet it has come. Oh, how we wish you could’ve stayed a little longer.

“God proved His love on the Cross. When Christ hung, and bled, and died, it was God saying to the world, ‘I love you'”–Billy Graham.

I’m grateful, deeply grateful, to have been among the generations who heard you preach of God’s mercy, of His eternal love, and of His forgiveness for sins.

You were ‘America’s pastor,’ and you were gifted by God to draw us into the Savior’s arms. Millions of people heard the message of God’s grace that you preached. The stadiums were filled with people, with everyday people, working hard people, famous people, unemployed people, curious people, religious people, wealthy people and poor people–all needing God people.

We will miss you.

Thank you, Reverend Graham for loving us and for loving God so well…

“No matter how prepared you think you are for the death of a loved one, it still comes as a shock, and it still hurts very deeply”–Billy Graham.