Get a glimpse into the life of one of the greatest men from the past century-Billy Graham-from an insider's view that only his daughter, Ruth Graham, can provide. Featuring letters never seen by the public and photographs that chronicle a life of faith, you'll see the elements that shaped a life of leadership, humility and ultimately godliness.

What is Billy Graham really like? In these pages, Ruth Graham—his third daughter—offers an inside look at one of the twentieth century’s greatest men. Using memories, personal insights, unpublished letters, and photographs, Ruth presents a rich, dimensional portrait of her father, while sharing the legacy he has passed on to her—lessons in love, humility, grace, loyalty, and authenticity.

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 divorc e. (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) Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.

What was it like to grow up as the daughter of worldwide evangelist Billy Graham? Ruth, nicknamed Bunny, is the middle of Ruth and Billy Graham's five children and this is the story of her father through her eyes.

A Legacy of Faith: Things I Learned from My Father is a smallish book from Zondervan's gift imprint, Inspirio. But don't let the size fool you. Each of the nearly 200 pages is packed with memories and insights about Billy Graham and his relationship with his daughter. Lovely family photos enhance the conversational text.

As an author who has written about families with a frequently-absent spouse, I was interested in the affect Billy Graham's recurrent absences had on his family. The author described, "On some level, too, I think, the distance in my relationship with my father caused me to see God, my heavenly Father, as being similarly removed from my day-to-day life and intimate needs…It took years of purposeful effort to change my view of God as One who loved me from a distance."

Ruth learned several important truths from her father that she shares including: (1) the need for trust and dependence on God to make an impact on the world, (2) do your part and let God do His part, (3) we are all under grace, and (4) since we don't know a person's heart or motives, don't criticize.

Occasionally when life is lined with bumps, challenges, and disappointments, I wonder if I'd have done better with parents as spiritual as the Grahams. Ruth Graham's story reminds me that all people share two common denominators: pain, and the need for our Savior, Jesus Christ.

There are a number of admirable characteristics of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA). Humility is one. Loyalty and friendship is another. The Grahams have enjoyed deep, lifetime relationships with a circle of quality people. Billy Graham, Beverly Shea, and Cliff Barrows have served God faithfully together for over 60 years, held together by four core values: integrity, accountability, purity of lifestyle, and humility.

Lovingly written, A Legacy of Faith is a vulnerable and poignant book that inspired me to read my Bible, trust God more, depend more on God, and step up my prayer life. The Graham family continues to impact our world for Christ. PeggySue Wells, Christian Book Previews.com

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