The Heart of the Amish by Suzanne Woods Fisher - REVIEWED

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.

My Thoughts:

“Forgiveness can straighten what failures have made crooked.   -  Amish Proverb”  (p.32)

I must say, that this book has become a devotional guide for me.  The short chapters are thought provoking, and each of them end with even more thought-provoking questions to consider.  This book and its contents can change the direction of your life!  I mean, you are able to really see grace in action in a practical day to day fashion.

I’ve read a lot of Suzanne Woods Fisher’s Amish Fiction, but she has created something new in this book that really fills a need in my life – especially now.   I am walking through the end of decades of marriage. Forgiveness is HUGE in this process!!  HUGE!!  And though I have read multiple books on the subject, poured over Scripture, this book is speaking to me in a new and deeper way.  Yes, there is Scripture that is referenced.  But these people have developed a lifestyle of forgiveness that just changes everything!!

So read this book slowly, thoughtfully and prayerfully.  Thank God for the people who agreed to make this book possible.  Thank God for Suzanne’s ability to capture such a vulnerable place in the human heart and flesh it out with practical application.  This is a gem!  And this totally works as a devotional guide for folks like me who need some daily interaction with God in a formatted way that allows me to take small but deeply transformational looks at the truths of God’s word and be able to apply them to my daily life.

I HIGHLY recommend this book to everyone!! 

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, includingAmish 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 andCooking & Such magazines. She lives in California. Learn more at www.suzannewoodsfisher.com and connect with Suzanne on Twitter @suzannewfisher.