I was not too seriously surprised when the news came on the death of Betty Ford. She was a great lady who did allot to bring addiction as well as breast cancer to the forefront of our society. However as I began to recall my memories of her and her husband former President Gerald Ford something struck me that made my thoughts turn to a whole new direction. Lets take a walk down memory lane for some of us and a history lesson for some. Gerald Ford was in a word left holding the bag once President Nixon left office. He had replaced Spiro Agnew as Vice-President as the stories of corruption and bribery and robbery began to unfold. Many as they were watching person after person being grilled on television during the Watergate hearings began not only to hate President Nixon but every Republican that walked the earth. This was shown as Democrats rolled up huge wins in every level of government elections.
Gerald Ford was heralded the unelected President and was the punch line for almost every television show due to some unfortunate falls. He then gave Richard Nixon a pardon and the dust really began to fly as the public and the Democrats wanted his hide. Through these 2 to 3 years there was one person by his side Betty Ford. As he began to weaken she was there to be supportive and a point of strength to her Husband. Were they a perfect family? no. Were they without problems? no.
But as Gerald Ford attempted to run the country while facing a backlash of epic proportions she stood by him and in the gale force storms that just kept coming she was his support second only to God. Yes Gerald Ford was a Christian and the cross he bore was in essence heavier than we shall ever see God was there to make sure he could bear it and Betty Ford was there to lend him strength and the will to go through this drama.
In a Catholic home the Husband is responsible to God for the family as he has the final word in the decisions made. Now this does NOT mean that the wife has no say, in fact it could not be further from the truth. She is his partner and his help within the family unit. The only difference being he has to when no agreement can be reached he must make the decision. I apologize if I do not explain this well but it is such a tricky subject in today's world. Man faces God over decisions made on account of the family. If the children do not grow up to pray. He is responsible for that fault. If the Family misses Mass he faces the music. It is not a great position to be in trust me. Is your family perfect? Well Mr. Husband you are responsible for getting it back on track and teaching Junior that we don't miss Mass because the Cowboys are playing in the early game this Sunday. His wife is there as a helper beyond measure. Often her wisdom far exceeds the Husbands when it comes to a budget because. well men like their toy. Be it Xbox,Wii or a new Droid 4x super HD 3D cooks dinner while you watch television. It is her wisdom that often intervenes and says " no honey we don't have the money for this right now. Like I say her wisdom is like gold.
The Bible fully supports this as it is noted that "a good wife is a jewel in her husbands crown". When men go off on a flight of unrealistic want or desire it is the wife who keeps him at ground level. This is perhaps the hardest job of all. Dealing with kids and their schedules,housework if she does not work,work if she does not stay home. Add a husband and their capabilities to make a mess where ever they may roam (yes I am one of them) and a wife has her hands full. Betty Ford dealt with little of the issues we do daily. I am sure a maid and chef prepared menus and about everything else they needed. However she also had to watch daily (where we don't have to) her husband beat to the ground by the public.the media as well as other politicians. Yet there she stood and for this I believe she was a tribute to a husbands best friend and confidant his wife.
I have been blessed by Christ with a marriage now that is going on it's 24th year. You may not believe it but we have never argued or had a major fight in the entire years of our marriage. This is not that I have tried to put her through the ringer. When I lost myself to sin and became tangled in it's webs tighter and tighter it was her that was still there and waiting for me when I came to myself. She is the closest person in the world to me and had I not been forgiven for the Hell on Earth I put her through I might have gone crazy. Since the day I came to myself and asked forgiveness she has never mentioned that time in our lives together and today we are closer that ever. I know in my life there is much I will have to atone for before God and this is a deep weight upon my soul. If Saint Pio worried for his eternal soul then by comparison I am lost. However I am thankful for the forgiveness and mercy of Christ that has released me from this sin.
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