A Legacy of Faith: Things I Learned from My Father [Hardcover]

Ruth Graham (Author), Stacy Mattingly (Contributor)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 18, 2006

Ruth Graham---third child and youngest daughter of Billy and Ruth Bell Graham---offers a rare, inside look at the twentieth century's most influential evangelist. In this substantive portrait, Ruth reflects on several different subjects, including her father's love for the world, his humility, grace, and loyalty. She concludes the book with a chapter on authenticity, written just after Dr. Graham's final crusade, which was held in New York in June 2005. Includes many previously unpublished Graham family photos and excerpts from personal letters.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Just in time for Father's Day comes this small inspirational hardcover gift book, a memoir by the youngest daughter of Billy and Ruth Bell Graham (whom she similarly honored in her previous book A Legacy of Love: Things I Learned from My Mother). While the author does concede that Billy Graham's evangelistic commitments took him away much of the time—almost 60% of his life, she guesses—and that this took a toll on the family, this is hardly a Daddy Dearest tell-all. It is in fact a love song to her father, who comes across in these pages as wise, caring, determined and steadfast in his faith ("I have never seen my father waver in his purpose," she declares). Ruth Graham draws freely upon letters, her father's memoir and her own memories of childhood; the well-designed layout also features intimate family photos of the Grahams at home, adding to the book's behind-the-scenes feel. Ruth Graham has not had an easy adult life: in the book she shares the pain of her failed marriages and the fact that she didn't graduate from college until she was a middle-aged divorcée. (Her proud 80-something parents attended her commencement despite failing health.) Regardless of these trials, she looks back to a loving and almost magical childhood. (May)
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From Booklist

Evangelist Billy Graham's third child admits to making some bad mistakes, but this lovely looking book (every page without a photo is visually textured) isn't about her, so she neither explains them nor blames anyone for them. Rather, she recalls them in the service of appreciating her father's teaching to her by example and with advice that was characteristically short, for out of the pulpit he is a man of few words, and genuinely sweet, for he knows what Christian faith is, that it rests in the assurance of God's grace, and that "we all live under grace and do the best we can." In chapters entitled "Love for the World," "A Father's Heart" (i.e., parental love), "Humility," "Grace," "Loyalty," and "Authenticity," she relates how he embodied and how he thinks about qualities that she eventually realized were invaluable in her own life. With Mattingly's warmly acknowledged help, Graham renders what she has to say with beautifully pitched, unforced, unsentimental sincerity. All Christian inspirational writing should be this accomplished. Ray Olson
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 18 and up
  
• Hardcover: 144 pages
• Publisher: Zondervan (April 18, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0310812186
• ISBN-13: 978-0310812180
• Product Dimensions: 6.6 x 5.6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #229,792 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #10 in Books > Biographies & Memoirs > People, A-Z > ( G ) > Graham, Billy

More About the Author

Ruth is a mother of three, grandmother to seven adorable children from 13 years to 2 months. She is the stepmother of 3 young boys, sons of her husband, Greg. She is the president and founder of Ruth Graham & Friends and author of best-selling book, In Every Pew Sits a Broken Heart and award winning, Step Into the Bible. Her latest book, Fear Not tomorrow God is Already There was just published by Simon & Schuster. The middle child born to Evangelist Billy and Ruth Graham Ruth says that being the daughter of Billy Graham is part of what she is but not who she is. She has had her own faith journey that has been messy. She has known heartache, depression, betrayal, rejection, stubborn willfulness, anxiety and fear. Through it all she has seen the faithfulness and grace of God. She says that she is qualified to speak to various groups because she is flawed - a sinner saved by grace. Her life verse is John 1:16, "Of His fullness have we all received, grace upon grace." (NAS)

As a result of her life experience their family, community, and even their church dedicate her life to reaching those people who have been marginalized. Many of these people believe they have out sinned God's love and grace for them and are in a place of sadness, hopelessness and despair. She brings a message of hope.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A well-written and honest book about the importance of family in religion, June 1, 2006

By 

FaithfulReader.com (New York, New York) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Legacy of Faith: Things I Learned from My Father (Hardcover)

In this delightful book, A LEGACY OF FAITH: Things I Learned From My Father, Ruth Graham honestly and tenderly shares what it was like growing up as the daughter of Billy Graham. Ruth, the third and youngest daughter, talks about what it was like to have a world-famous, traveling evangelist as a dad and the lengths to which her parents went to give their children a normal upbringing.

In six well-written chapters, Graham explores different lessons she learned from her father, including love for the world, grace and loyalty. From an early age all of the Graham children were schooled in the business of giving. One of her first Christmas memories is putting boxes together for the needy within the surrounding area. In fact, any gifts sent to the family were immediately given to those in need. Graham recounts a time when a generous patron sent the family a beautiful soda fountain and admits that was a hard gift to give away!

She also describes her mother's efforts to create a normal life for the children when their father was gone so much of the time. She talks about the excitement of her father's homecomings and the gifts he always brought back from his various trips. While home, Billy Graham spent long hours in his study reading, researching and preparing for the next set of meetings. While always welcome to interrupt, Ruth admits she limited any interruptions to a minimum --- not only during those times of study but throughout her growing up years. This was done with some regret.

Graham writes, "My father has set a high standard in giving himself wholeheartedly; I have sought more of a balance and tend to be more restrained. It may be that seeing my father give so much to others when I was a child caused me to become reserved in loving. I think I felt that he gave away so much of what was mine --- attention, concern, love and time --- that I became protective of my heart. I was not willing to give everything away."

In these tender moments, Graham acknowledges some of the pain that accompanied being the daughter of an evangelist to the world. She says there were certain times when she felt she needed her daddy but he simply wasn't there. Yet she acknowledges that it must have been just as difficult, if not more difficult, on him as he prayerfully handed over his family to the care of God time and time again.

Yet Ruth doesn't just reminisce about her father and mother. She also shares glimpses into her own life, which includes two marriages that ended in divorce. She talks about the shame she felt, but also the unwavering sense of love and support she received from her parents.

Overall, A LEGACY OF FAITH: Things I Learned from My Father is a wonderful keepsake book. The layout and design make it an enjoyable afternoon read or even a book to keep out for guests. It's filled with a rich assortment of photos from Ruth's childhood as well as from her father's years in ministry. This is the first time a Graham child has ever shared personal thoughts about growing up with Billy Graham as a father, and it's a book you won't want to miss.

--- Reviewed by Margaret A. Feinberg

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A DAUGHTER LEARNS ABOUT FAITH AND HOPE, May 17, 2006

By 

TOM CHASTAIN "TOM CHASTAIN" (TAMPA FLORIDA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Legacy of Faith: Things I Learned from My Father (Hardcover)

THIS IS A VERY SPECIAL BOOK AND THE LIFE LESSONS THAT RUTH GRAHAM SHARES IN THIS VERY INSPIRATIONAL PUBLICATION HAVE BEEN A REAL BLEESSING IN MY LIFE AND ARE TRULY LIFE CHANGING.THIS IS VERY FAST READING AND THERE IS ALOT OF NEW INFORMATION AND PHOTOS SHARED FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME BUT MORE IMPORTANT ARE THE VERY SPECIAL PRINCIPLES THAT THIS SPECIAL FAMILY MEMBER HAS PASSED DOWN FROM HER DAD(BILLY GRAHAM)THIS BOOK OFFERS ALOT OF HOPE AND COURAGE AND WILL OFFER ALOT OF STORMS. THIS WILL MAKE A WONDERFUL BOOK FOR A FRIEND, FAMILY MEMBER, A PASTOR, AND A SOLDIER SERVING OVER SEAS. THIS WOULD MAKE A WONDERFUL DEVOTIONAL GUIDE FOR A BIBLE STUDY FOR THIS BOOK AT MY CHURCH.

4.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable Read, May 19, 2009

By 

Lu Jean Bedard - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Legacy of Faith: Things I Learned from My Father (Hardcover)

For Billy Graham fans this book is interesting and an easy read. If you ever wondered how Billy Graham prepared for the large crusades he preached, this book will provide insight.

Because the book is written by his youngest daughter, it also contains glimpses of how Billy Graham bridged the distance between his children and himself with all the time he spent in crusades out of town and country.