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Sitting by My Laughing Fire
This is a wonderful book on the poetry of Ruth Bell Graham. They are collections from all her phases and periods in her life. There are many wonderful photos of her family also taken over the years. This is a grand book of memories of the life of Ruth Graham.
245 pages, Paperback
First published August 1, 1977
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About the author
Ruth Bell Graham
57 books79 followersRuth Graham was born in China; her parents were American medical missionaries at the Presbyterian Hospital 300 miles north of Shanghai. Ruth was a Christian from an early age. She graduated from Wheaton College, Illinois, where she met her future husband Billy Graham. They were married on August 13, 1943 in Montreat, NC when she was 23. Her husband became a full time evangelist preaching the gospel all over the world. She loved to move behind the scenes, away from the spotlight, and helped him craft and research sermons and even books. She wrote as an emotional release, while her husband was so often on the road. Ruth convinced Billy to move the family to Montreat, near her parents, when their first child was on the way. Her ministry flourished in the mountains of western North Carolina, where she built the family homestead and raised five children. Ruth and Billy were married over 65 years and had 19 grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren. Ruth Graham died at the age of 87.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
October 20, 2010
Ruth Bell Graham, Sitting by My Laughing Fire... (World Wide Publications, 1977)
I picked this up at a library book sale for a quarter, not realizing that Ruth Bell Graham was the wife of Billy, the original televangelist and one of the most terrifying human beings ever to walk the planet. Once I realized that, and that “World Wide Publications” was essentially a Billy Graham vanity press, I dug into this with the express purpose of making fun of it. But the more I read, the more I realized there was actually something here worth reading. Now, I don't expect you to feel the same way, because most people don't go searching out the dregs of vanity-published poetry in the way I do; you don't have experience with the T. P. Minas and Sue Doros of this world, so you're probably going to look at this and say “yeah, this is bad Hallmark card material.” And it is, but when you're used to reading stuff that the Hallmark company would toss into the shredder while laughing hysterically, you gain an appreciation for someone who understands the basics of craft. This is someone who has obviously read a large amount of poetry, and has internalized at least parts of the process of crafting poetry.
“Is the tree that's pruned
preoccupied with pain?
—standing with its wound
in the wind and rain;
shrouded in cool mist,
kissed by the dew,
chosen for a nest
by a bird or two;
enveloped by fragrance
of rainwahsed air,
bloodroots and violets
clustered round it there...”
(untitled, as are all the poems in the book)
It's got a sense of rhythm without that four-on-the-floor overbearingness one gets from some rhythmic poets, and for the most part she knows how to make language flow without having to stuff words in or use them in awkward constructions. Given that those are two of the three major pitfalls of metrical poets today (the third, of course, being simply having no sense of rhythm at all, viz. my recent review of Donna Dissauer's A Young Woman's Thoughts), that she manages to avoid them throughout most of the book is praiseworthy. She does have something of an overfondness for artificial caesurae, ellipses and em-dashes, but that's minor given everything she gets right craftwise.
The subject matter is a different story, and entirely dependent on how you feel about the tenets of Christianity. As a woman who was born to missionaries in China and grew up to wed Billy Graham, you would be right to assume that she's a tad fixated on said tenets. Aside from the odd nature poem here and there, in fact, this reads a lot like a religious tract. I would imagine that would get overbearing for a while no matter how devout you are, and if you're a non-Christian, it gets pretty old pretty quick. Still, it's not the worst thing I've ever read. It's not even the worst thing I've read this month. * ½
I picked this up at a library book sale for a quarter, not realizing that Ruth Bell Graham was the wife of Billy, the original televangelist and one of the most terrifying human beings ever to walk the planet. Once I realized that, and that “World Wide Publications” was essentially a Billy Graham vanity press, I dug into this with the express purpose of making fun of it. But the more I read, the more I realized there was actually something here worth reading. Now, I don't expect you to feel the same way, because most people don't go searching out the dregs of vanity-published poetry in the way I do; you don't have experience with the T. P. Minas and Sue Doros of this world, so you're probably going to look at this and say “yeah, this is bad Hallmark card material.” And it is, but when you're used to reading stuff that the Hallmark company would toss into the shredder while laughing hysterically, you gain an appreciation for someone who understands the basics of craft. This is someone who has obviously read a large amount of poetry, and has internalized at least parts of the process of crafting poetry.
“Is the tree that's pruned
preoccupied with pain?
—standing with its wound
in the wind and rain;
shrouded in cool mist,
kissed by the dew,
chosen for a nest
by a bird or two;
enveloped by fragrance
of rainwahsed air,
bloodroots and violets
clustered round it there...”
(untitled, as are all the poems in the book)
It's got a sense of rhythm without that four-on-the-floor overbearingness one gets from some rhythmic poets, and for the most part she knows how to make language flow without having to stuff words in or use them in awkward constructions. Given that those are two of the three major pitfalls of metrical poets today (the third, of course, being simply having no sense of rhythm at all, viz. my recent review of Donna Dissauer's A Young Woman's Thoughts), that she manages to avoid them throughout most of the book is praiseworthy. She does have something of an overfondness for artificial caesurae, ellipses and em-dashes, but that's minor given everything she gets right craftwise.
The subject matter is a different story, and entirely dependent on how you feel about the tenets of Christianity. As a woman who was born to missionaries in China and grew up to wed Billy Graham, you would be right to assume that she's a tad fixated on said tenets. Aside from the odd nature poem here and there, in fact, this reads a lot like a religious tract. I would imagine that would get overbearing for a while no matter how devout you are, and if you're a non-Christian, it gets pretty old pretty quick. Still, it's not the worst thing I've ever read. It's not even the worst thing I've read this month. * ½
January 20, 2018
I simply love Ruth Bell Graham's poems--much like the writings of Elisabeth Elliot, she captures real moments of our days, as though she were sitting with me, by the laughing fire. A tremendous woman of strength, wit, courage, and, most importantly, of God.
March 31, 2020
These were poems written by Ruth Graham, over the entire span of her life. Very creative. Some I copied down to use again. Others were thought provoking and they all had underlining theme- God/Jesus/Holy Ghost.
The pictures were a great touch. Not short over 100 poems.
The pictures were a great touch. Not short over 100 poems.
August 25, 2025
Ruth has a way of capturing a moment and filling it with meaning in her poetry about her family, life in the mountains, and her daily walk with God.
February 6, 2008
I absolutely love this book!!! It is one of my very favorites! Ruth Bell Graham write so beautifully and warmly. I could read her poems over and over again! This is one book I will definitely have to own someday! :)
Read
June 28, 2008Precious book of honest poetry. The thoughts and moments shared by a mother and wife, but best of all, this book helped me see that though a woman fills those roles for a time or for a lifetime, she will always be a woman -- an individual -- experiencing life in many ways alone with her God.
November 29, 2010
I go back to this book of poems often. The pictures are lovely and the poems speak to daily life, doubts and hope. It is serenity itself to curl up with a cup of tea by the fireplace with these poems.
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May 8, 2008811
May 3, 2010
I so love this book! Checked it out from the library several times, received it as a gift this last birthday! Sensational poetry and faith building too!
August 16, 2011
Great book of poems by a very inspiring woman. Keeping this book for my collection, but if even of my friends would like to borrow book, I will be glad to lend it out. :)
June 19, 2012
I love reading the poems in the book over and over again. Ruth has amazing talent! I can feel her heart.
January 9, 2016
A beautiful book of poems that reflect the life and faith of Ruth. Her poems warm my heart and nurture my love for Christ.
April 23, 2025
This really is a timeless treasure from Ruth Bell Graham that is a part of my personal library. The pictures or photographs scattered throughout are fun and delightful including snapshots of the family at various stages of life. The poems, as she states in the beginning, were never written for publication. As she continues: "I wrote because, at times, I had to. It was write or develop an ulcer or forget. I chose to write. At times I even wrote for the sheer fun." The poetry reminds me of my grandmother. She wrote poetry from life experiences and about the people and animals in her life. They are treasured by me, past down from my mom as Ruth's are treasured, I am sure by her children and grandchildren and now we can enjoy some as well.
April 14, 2019
Beautiful.
I loved the honesty of these poems, and yet, they always ended back in praise. I also loved the poems about marriage, both the good and the difficult. This truly is an honest look at Ruth Graham Bell's heart.
I loved the honesty of these poems, and yet, they always ended back in praise. I also loved the poems about marriage, both the good and the difficult. This truly is an honest look at Ruth Graham Bell's heart.
July 10, 2021
Her poems are not Emily Dickenson or Robert Frost, but they are heartfelt and just as poignant. I was deeply moved, and inspired to start writing poems myself. My poetry too, will not win any awards, but it is important to me. This is one of those books that came along at just the right time.
October 21, 2020
I truly enjoyed this book and the lovely photographs in it. It's heartwarming.
September 10, 2021
A collection of lovely poems, heart-touching and life-affirming.
August 24, 2025
Did you know Billy Graham’s, Ruth was a gifted portress? Yes, she was and this book really shows the beauty of her faith and her intimate relationship with Christ. It’s a must read!
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews