Betty Ford the Healer

A grand ship.

That's what seems to sum up this grand mother.

And on that ship is the grand healer with a huge heart for band-aiding so many defeated souls.
Those ravaged by alcoholism found in Betty the comfort and challenge and transparency surrender needs. Her son is included among those she was the first to band-aid in his own alcohol attachment disorder.

That is after Betty Ford faced her own denial that, 'YES, my son is an alcohol dependent.'

That is after her son reminded her: "Mom you can't be in denial. You're like the poster child of this; you're Betty Ford."

A healer who trusted in her God. As Steve surrendered on that great grand ship in defeat. Yet, he came up stronger, firmer, surer, ever more grand Thursday as he urged my eyes to water streams of tears in his own transparency to admit his own weakness.

As he eulogized his mother - the grand ship - with his dad as the aircraft carrier as a Navy pilot - in Grace Episcopal Church in East Grand Rapids, MI., his mom, the hospital healer on the grand ship comforted mourners as she lay still and breathless, but not lifeless. . .after all, others now soak up her comfort close to their own hearts tore asunder in parting.

The only thing we know about death is parting, the poet noted. I remember not who, but I recall the separation anxiety of my own brother who was murdered in Vietnam in '68, my dear mom who died at 54 of colon cancer, and my dear dad - his own heart valves leaked, weakened without the push and pumping of blood through his heart throughout his body and being.

Betty was the minister of healing on the grand ship.

And, she was also the Sunday school teacher in Alexandria, Virginia, where H. Coleman McGehee, Jr. was her pastor, who also attended her funeral Thursday sitting in the sixth pew behind Donald Rumsfeld and his wife, and, sitting in the seventh pew with me behind President Bill Clinton, First Lady Barbara Bush, and Vice President Dick and Lynn Cheney who also eulogized Betty Ford:

"She knew how hard women work in the home."

Mrs. Cheney seemed to want others to appreciate how weary and tired women can be in their toil that goes unappreciated.

Historian Richard Norton Smith said Betty Ford was a grand 'liberator." She was, and more.

Calling each person to be who he or she is made in the image of God. No denying who you are whether alcohol attached, breast cancer victim, or . . .

The Betty Ford Clinic, an addiction treatment center that bears her name in California, is another grand ship sailing with sucess stories of recovery.

The Ford's put all their trust in the Lord as Proverbs was read each night before the kids were put to bed.

After all, Betty was a Sunday school teacher after being a mom and a grand ship now sailing home at last fully, completely in the arms of the Healer God she loves.