Franklin Graham Shares Update Regarding Father Billy Graham: 'He Looks Forward to Seeing My Mother in Heaven'

Feb 16, 2016 11:43 AM EST

The Rev. Franklin Graham has revealed that his father, renowned evangelist Billy Graham, is in fairly good health, but longing for the day he can reunite with his wife, Ruth Graham, in Heaven.

In a Facebook post shared on Valentine's Day, the younger Graham revealed that he visited his father at his home in Montreat, North Carolina on February 13th.

"It was good to visit my father," he writes. "One thing's for sure, at 97 years old and almost 9 years after her death, my father still misses my mother-his Valentine-more than words can say. They were married for nearly 64 years!"

While he misses his wife, the elder Graham confidently looks forward to seeing her in Heaven someday soon, writes his son.

"That confidence of eternity in Heaven is something we all can have if we have surrendered our lives to Jesus Christ and received Him by faith as our Savior and Lord," Franklin Graham continues. "The Word of God tells us, 'But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself' (Philippians 3:20-21)."

According to the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, the preacher has spread the "good news of God's love to nearly 215 million people at hundreds of crusades" around the world over the past few decades.

In a 2015 interview with FCN, Franklin Graham revealed that his father  "still likes hamburgers" and -- for breakfast -- bacon and eggs. But he "doesn't speak much," and he hasn't been able to walk for about two years due to physical complications related to Parkinson's disease.

Franklin told the news outlet he believes God is leaving his father on earth as a comfort to believers, especially now the Christians are being attacked more and more.

"His desire is still there to tell the world about God's love for them and how God sent His Son, Jesus Christ from heaven to earth to take the sins of all mankind to the cross, die, and arise on the third day," Franklin Graham wrote in an earlier Facebook post. "My father's desire is that all men and women everywhere would come to know Jesus Christ as their personal Savior and trust Him and follow Him as their Lord."

Just before his birthday, Billy Graham released his final book: "Where I Am: Heaven, Eternity, and Our Life Beyond."

"Heaven seems a mystery to many people," the elder Graham writes. "They wonder if Heaven is above the lofty clouds, or if Heaven will come down to earth. When I am asked, 'Where is Heaven?' I simply answer: Heaven is where Jesus is."

Billy Graham testifies about his confidence in his salvation. "[Jesus] told His disciples, 'I go to prepare a place for you ... that where I am, there you may be also!' So when my earthly life has ended and you wonder where I've gone, this will be the answer: I will be with Jesus-that's where I am."