Resigned to Love

Robertson McQuilkin proposed to his love Muriel on Valentine's Day in 1948. They married in August the same year. The next two decades were filled with raising six kids and serving God in the miss ion field. In 1968 McQuilkin became the third president of Columbia Bible College. In 1981 he noticed his wife's memory wasn't quite what is should be. After a series of test it was confirmed she had Alzheimer's Disease. In 1990 Muriel's condition was much worse and she needed full time assistance. Robertson made his decision. This is his resignation speech to the college:

"I haven't in my life experienced easy decision making on major decisions. But one of the simplest and clearest decisions I've had to make is this one. Muriel now in the last couple of months seems to be almost happy when with me, and never happy when not with me. In fact she seems to feel trapped, becomes very fearful, sometimes almost terror, and when she can't get to me there is anger, she is in distress. But when I am with her she is happy and contented. And so I must be with her at all times. And you see, it's not only that I promised in sickness and in health till death do us part, and I am a man of my word, but as I have said, I don't know with this group, but I've said publicly, 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 is 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 is a delight. It's a great honor to care for such a wonderful person."

He kept his promise. He cared for Muriel 14 years until her death.

August 13, 2008