Good Words for Today: June 3

https://youtu.be/MqtG-XfxMC4 Robertson McQuilkin died yesterday at the age of 88. For many years he served as president of Columbia International University (formerly Columbia Bible College and Seminary) in South Carolina. In 1990 he made headlines throughout the Christian world when he stepped down from his presidency to care for his wife Muriel who suffered from Alzheimer’s and needed his full-time care. She died 13 years later, in 2003. This brief video comes from the announcement he made in 1990 when he stepped down from his position to care for his wife. Here is one excerpt:

“It’s not only that I promised in sickness and in health, ’till death do us part, and I’m a man of my word.

But . . . it’s the only fair thing. She sacrificed for me for forty years, to make my life possible . . . so if I cared for her for forty years, I would still be in debt.

However, there’s much more. It’s not that I have to. It’s that I get to. I love her very dearly, and you can tell it’s not easy to talk about.

She’s a delight. It’s a great honor to care for such a wonderful person.”

In his long life, Robertson McQuilkin wrote many books (including the very beautiful A Promise Kept about his life with Muriel), served as a missionary in Japan, had great influence at the school where he served as president, and gave many powerful sermons. But he never did more than when he laid down his career to take care of his wife. He called it the easiest decision he ever made. Though there were many challenges, he never regretted the choice he made. A godly man and a faithful husband has gone to heaven. His legacy will last for many generations.

June 3, 2016