Billy Graham Writing a Book About Growing Old

Posted by Kevin D. Hendricks on December 29, 2008

Billy Graham—the 90-year-old evangelist who suffers from Parkinson’s disease, has a shunt in his brain, has had prostate cancer and most recently spent a night in the hospital for observation after tripping over one of his three dogs—is writing a book about growing old.

“He’s always been ready to die,” said his son Franklin Graham, “But nobody’s prepared him for getting old.”

The book will cover Billy Graham’s personal experience with growing old and will focus on how people can prepare both emotionally and spiritually for what can be the most fulfilling years of life.

“I never expected to live this long, and it is hard to believe I have reached the age of 90,” said Billy Graham. “Every day is a gift from God, no matter how old we are. I have discovered that just because we grow weaker physically as we age, it doesn’t mean that we must grow weaker spiritually. In fact, we ought to be growing stronger spiritually because our eyes ought to be on eternity and heaven—on the things that really matter.”

Family and friends have expressed concern over Billy Graham’s health and note that he still struggles with the loss of his wife, the late Ruth Bell Graham, who died in 2007.

“He could catch a cold and his life could come to end,” Franklin said. “At his age, any little thing could be a serious event. We realize that.”