Both challenging and moving: "The Heart of the Amish" by Suzanne Woods Fisher
about the book....
We have all been hurt and we all have someone we need to forgive. But sometimes it's hard to let go of our hurt and anger in order to truly forgive and move on.
For the Amish, forgiving others in order to live at peace is woven into the very fabric of their faith. From daily annoyances to heartbreaking tragedy, they exhibit an incredible capacity for forgiveness that often baffles us. How do they do it? And how can we have the same attitude and ability to forgive?
Through true stories gathered from a variety of Amish communities, bestselling author Suzanne Woods Fisher shows you how the Amish are able to release their pain and desire for revenge, and live at peace with others. Her in-depth, personal research uncovers the astounding yet fundamental way the Amish can forgive anyone from the angry customer at the grocery store to the shooter at Nickel Mines. You'll learn how to invite God into your story, apply lessons from the Amish to your own circumstances, and find the freedom that comes with true forgiveness.
For the Amish, forgiving others in order to live at peace is woven into the very fabric of their faith. From daily annoyances to heartbreaking tragedy, they exhibit an incredible capacity for forgiveness that often baffles us. How do they do it? And how can we have the same attitude and ability to forgive?
Through true stories gathered from a variety of Amish communities, bestselling author Suzanne Woods Fisher shows you how the Amish are able to release their pain and desire for revenge, and live at peace with others. Her in-depth, personal research uncovers the astounding yet fundamental way the Amish can forgive anyone from the angry customer at the grocery store to the shooter at Nickel Mines. You'll learn how to invite God into your story, apply lessons from the Amish to your own circumstances, and find the freedom that comes with true forgiveness.
my review....
"The Heart of the Amish" was both an enjoyable, well-written book, and very challenging at the same time. Story after story of forgiveness, of often instantaneous forgiveness for even the most heinous of crimes, had me reflecting on the state of my own heart. As I read of parents forgiving the killer who murdered and raped their daughter, I wondered could I respond in that way? Or as I read of an adult daughter who has forgiven the father who molested her as a child, I was challenged whether I could offer such forgiveness if I were in her shoes. Fisher has done a wonderful job at compiling all of the different stories in this book, and I appreciated how each story is accompanied by the "Reflections on Peacemaking" sections which provide questions to help you truly think through and internalize the life lesson contained in these stories. This is a great book to not only read on your own but perhaps share with your family by reading chapters out loud, or work through with someone who is really struggling with offering forgiveness for something that has occurred in their own life. As you read through the stories, you will be reminded of the incredible gift that offering forgiveness is, not just for the person that you are forgiving, but for the freedom it offers each of us to release us from bitterness and the poisoning of our own souls.
Like always, Fisher has written a book that has earned a permanent place on my shelf. And, I am already planning to pull this book down in the future to again spend some time learning from the real life examples included in this book. They are powerful indeed! 4.5 out of 5 stars.
Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.
Like always, Fisher has written a book that has earned a permanent place on my shelf. And, I am already planning to pull this book down in the future to again spend some time learning from the real life examples included in this book. They are powerful indeed! 4.5 out of 5 stars.
Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.
about the author....
Suzanne Woods Fisher is the bestselling author of The Letters, The Calling, the Lancaster County Secrets series, and the Stoney Ridge Seasons series, as well as nonfiction books about the Amish, including Amish Peace. She is also the coauthor of an Amish children's series, The Adventures of Lily Lapp. Suzanne is a Carol Award winner for The Search, a Carol Award finalist for The Choice, and a Christy Award finalist for The Waiting. She is also a columnist for Christian Post and Cooking & Such magazines. She lives in California. Learn more at www.suzannewoodsfisher.com and connect with Suzanne on Twitter @suzannewfisher.
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