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Amish Values for Your Family: What We Can Learn from the Simple Life
For readers who long for strong families that know how to truly enjoy life together, there is much to learn from the Amish. Values like community, forgiveness, simple living, obedience, and more can be your family legacy without selling your car, changing your wardrobe, or moving out to farm country. In Amish Values for Your Family, bestselling author Suzanne Woods Fisher shows how you can adopt the wisdom of the Amish when it comes to family matters. In this inspiring and practical book readers will find charming true stories interlaced with solid, biblical advice about parenting, marriage, and all aspects of family life. As readers get an intimate glimpse into the everyday lives of real Amish families, they will learn to prioritize what's truly important, simplify decision making, slow down as a family, safeguard time together, and let go when the time comes.
192 pages, Paperback
First published August 1, 2011
39 people are currently reading
873 people want to read
About the author
Suzanne Woods Fisher
73 books3,971 followersSuzanne Woods Fisher is the bestselling, award winning author of fiction and non-fiction books about the Old Order Amish for Revell Books, host of the radio-show-turned-blog Amish Wisdom, a columnist for Christian Post and Cooking & Such magazine.
Her interest in the Amish began with her grandfather, who was raised Plain. A theme in her books (her life!) is that you don’t have to “go Amish” to incorporate the principles of simple living.
Suzanne lives in California with her family and raises puppies for Guide Dogs for the Blind. To her way of thinking, you just can't life too seriously when a puppy is tearing through your house with someone's underwear in its mouth.
Suzanne can be found on-line at: www.suzannewoodsfisher.com
Her interest in the Amish began with her grandfather, who was raised Plain. A theme in her books (her life!) is that you don’t have to “go Amish” to incorporate the principles of simple living.
Suzanne lives in California with her family and raises puppies for Guide Dogs for the Blind. To her way of thinking, you just can't life too seriously when a puppy is tearing through your house with someone's underwear in its mouth.
Suzanne can be found on-line at: www.suzannewoodsfisher.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 78 reviews
January 28, 2012
Simple book, just a compilation of stories of Amish families and how you can incorporate it into your non-amish life. I especially liked when a mother turned down getting a hand crank washing machine because when she would wash by hand it gave her time to pray for the child who wore the article of clothing she was washing. I could pray for each little foot as I fold socks and make a mundane, never ending chore much more meaningful.
September 4, 2018
The author discusses the family values of the Amish and how they relate to their children. It is about a more self-reliant lifestyle that works on simplicity, conservation, and caring. A good read for todays throw away society.
August 25, 2011
I loved Amish Values for Your Family. We are expecting our second child come January so I was excited to review this book. What surprised me was how much the Amish and my own family have in common. I tend to read a lot of Amish fiction and enjoy it. After reading this book I realized why. The Amish value family and faith the way my own family does.
One chapter in particular that I really enjoyed was Laundry Day. Suzanne tells a story of twin daughters and their mother and how much work went into wash day. It took all day and was a ton of work that took the three of them working all day by hand. Then one day their father decides to buy a washing machine for Christmas and the mother says no. The father asks “But why? It would save you so much time! It would cut the job in half.” The mother responds, “As I wash those clothes, I use the time to pray for each one of my children. That’s not time I want cut in half.”
This story really blew me away. As a stay at home mom in the modern world I am constantly doing what appears to be meaningless tasks. I am glad that I now have a different perspective on how my day is spent and even in doing the tasks that feel meaningless I can be using my time to do so much more than that simple task. I really loved this book and it was perfect timing for me. Sometime it’s easy to forget what is important and for me that is my family. When I am home with my son that is the most important thing I can be doing and this book helped me to see that. I give this book 4 out of 5 stars!
*I received a copy of this book for my participation in this blog tour. This review is my own.
One chapter in particular that I really enjoyed was Laundry Day. Suzanne tells a story of twin daughters and their mother and how much work went into wash day. It took all day and was a ton of work that took the three of them working all day by hand. Then one day their father decides to buy a washing machine for Christmas and the mother says no. The father asks “But why? It would save you so much time! It would cut the job in half.” The mother responds, “As I wash those clothes, I use the time to pray for each one of my children. That’s not time I want cut in half.”
This story really blew me away. As a stay at home mom in the modern world I am constantly doing what appears to be meaningless tasks. I am glad that I now have a different perspective on how my day is spent and even in doing the tasks that feel meaningless I can be using my time to do so much more than that simple task. I really loved this book and it was perfect timing for me. Sometime it’s easy to forget what is important and for me that is my family. When I am home with my son that is the most important thing I can be doing and this book helped me to see that. I give this book 4 out of 5 stars!
*I received a copy of this book for my participation in this blog tour. This review is my own.
August 28, 2013
Blessedly, this book is not a preachy book of do’s and don’ts. It also doesn’t suggest that we all sell our cars and become farmers. It is instead a series of anecdotes preceded by Amish proverbs followed by real world applications and wisdom. We can learn a lot from the Amish who value family, faith and community above worldly possessions. As a result they are less stressed, have a much lower rate of depression and an almost zero rate of divorce. Through stories of Amish families, the author shows the reader valuable insight in how to live a less complicated and happier existence by applying a little Amish wisdom to our own lives. “The Amish have a saying: ‘The best thing you can spend on your children is time.’ Just…time” (p.18). Other sage advice includes a willingness to serve others, make family memories, keep a sense of humor, and be open to unexpected interruptions in your plans (God’s plan for your day just might be better than the plan that you had). A recommended read for anyone who longs to put family, faith and community first in their life.
December 28, 2011
Although this book is obviously intended for a Christian audience, I still enjoyed reading it and learning about how the Amish do what they do. It definitely made me more curious about their culture... One photographer declared that in his 30 years working with the Amish, he never heard a parent raise their voice to a child. However, another writer, one of the few young people who defected from the Amish church, said that his dad "ruled his house with an iron fist". I'm sure every house, every settlement, is different, but I love the idea of a culture that is uniformly loving to their children. How true this is of the Amish, I'm just not sure.
Anyway, reading this reminded me to worry less, enjoy my family more, and do what I can to help my neighbors.
Anyway, reading this reminded me to worry less, enjoy my family more, and do what I can to help my neighbors.
February 1, 2013
I know there are many reviewers that loved this book, but though I found the snippets of Amish life easy to read (and in some cases interesting), I didn't ever long to get back to the book to read more. I pushed myself to finish it so I could mark it as "read" and I like my motivation to read a book because I'm compelled to get to the end by the book itself, not my desire to check something off on my "to-do" list.
December 24, 2012
who ancestors will be vs were, loved and not adored, of God, rely on imagination, best gift is time, humor like grease for wheels of life, best things not things, snow waves, no hollering, birds as natural insecticide, 230 species, to be vs to do, div, care what know till know you care, let God manage fears, kindness vs reality tv.
March 25, 2014
This book is an excellent read for anyone but especially for those who have children in their lives. We could all take some lessons from the lifestyle of the Amish and that is what this book helps us to do, after each chapter there are practical suggestions for those who are non-Amish to incorporate some of the lessons into their lives.
July 15, 2013
There are some great nuggets in here. My favorite is the chapter on the gas cans.
May 17, 2018
Amish Values For Your Family is the second book on the list this month about the Amish. As an Ohioan who sees the Amish in my own community from time to time, I greatly enjoyed this book. Clear and to the point, Suzanne Woods Fisher answers many questions about the Amish family and why they have such overwhelming success in passing on their faith to their children. In the modern day Christian Church we are only passing on our faith with a 20 -40 percent success rate depending on the stats you use. If you are a Christian Parent who is concerned about making sure your children are growing in their faith you may want to purchase this superior book and learn how and why the Amish have been so successful in family life!
October 16, 2020
Meh. Really meh. This reads like a devotional, I guess? I think the target audience is Evangelical protestant women with children still living in the home who feel harried by "modern life."
There are four sections with nine mini chapters for each - each little chapter begins with an "amish proverb", followed by a vignette from Amish life, and maybe a bible verse, then a quick sentence or two on how to connect the "life lesson" to contemporary life.
It isn't a good book, but it was short.
There are four sections with nine mini chapters for each - each little chapter begins with an "amish proverb", followed by a vignette from Amish life, and maybe a bible verse, then a quick sentence or two on how to connect the "life lesson" to contemporary life.
It isn't a good book, but it was short.
September 28, 2020
Pioneer Book: book on religion other than your own
I enjoy reading and learning about other cultures and religions, and this one was no exception. Except for obviously different lifestyle choices, I felt that I related to the Amish in many ways. They value hard work and family, and prioritize God. I appreciated listening to a fair recounting of another religion that left judgements behind.
I enjoy reading and learning about other cultures and religions, and this one was no exception. Except for obviously different lifestyle choices, I felt that I related to the Amish in many ways. They value hard work and family, and prioritize God. I appreciated listening to a fair recounting of another religion that left judgements behind.
June 17, 2021
What a load of non-sense. All the author did was praise the Amish and put the “English” down - apparently we have no redeeming qualities. We raise our children wrong, farm wrong, cook wrong, do marriage incorrectly- etc. this wasn’t about learning how to implement some simpler ways of life. This was about becoming Amish.
March 25, 2022
Wholesome and enjoyable.
This was a wonderful, down to earth book. Sliced into 5 minute stories, this wholesome read felt like a daily devotional sprinkled with humor and simple wisdom. Would recommend to anyone interested in the Amish was of life or someone simply looking for a relaxing, easily digestible book.
This was a wonderful, down to earth book. Sliced into 5 minute stories, this wholesome read felt like a daily devotional sprinkled with humor and simple wisdom. Would recommend to anyone interested in the Amish was of life or someone simply looking for a relaxing, easily digestible book.
February 24, 2021
I've had this book in my collection for several yrs, and I finally got around to reading it. I really enjoyed it, and thought it offered some sage advice on how to put some Amish practices into our own day-to-day "English" lives.
September 16, 2017
very interesting book
January 4, 2020
Delightful stories. I would like to read more by this author.
March 30, 2020
beautiful, simple family values lost to modern society but can be brought back and still live in modern society. will be on the reread list
October 22, 2020
Lot of looking at how good things used to be. Using the Amish as template
December 17, 2023
I've listened to this a handful of times. It's comforting.
March 13, 2024
Interesting & wholesome
May 23, 2024
This book was very gentle and soothing. I know it definitely romanticized the Amish and smoothed over the challenges that they face, but it was really a nice read anyway.
February 12, 2025
A pleasant, rose tinted look into the Amish way of life.
March 16, 2017
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It ring true with my personal value system of a simple life. About halfway through the book it made me want to see about becoming amish. After a little more research into the life I decided it's probably not the life I want while I still think they have a better daily life and value balance. The book was well written and easy to read. It was built around short stories so it flowed quickly. I don't think the book is for everyone but is definitely a window into a world where family and faith are the center of their lives and actions.
August 22, 2011
I like to joke around with my kids when they don’t have something that their peers have, like a cell phone for example, “Just tell your friends that your parents are Amish”! Oh I admire the values and character of the Amish people, the simplicity and the family dynamics that we so much seem to miss in the rest of America.
As I began to read Suzanne Woods Fisher’s book I saw many ways that we can easily take the simplicity and apply it to our own lives, without becoming Amish and giving up electricity and higher education. Aside from religious preference, we can be very Amish in character and learn from their example.
Suzanne frames each value with a Amish proverb that sets the tone for the story to follow. She then provides a real life example from an Amish family. Her next section is the ‘Road Map, Getting There from Here’ which shows how we can take the value learned and apply it to our own lifestyles. She then has quotes from the Amish in their own words. I love how she has organized the book, you can read a page or two at a time, and spend some time reflecting on each value. It doesn’t need to be read in one sitting, though you can if you want to be submerged in Amish values.
I found when reading that many of the values that the Amish hold, were similar ones we took on when we moved out to the country. I think the country feel lends itself easily to the ‘simple’ life. And in simple, I don’t by any means say ‘easy’. The simple living is actually much more work involved than the ‘easy’ way of living. Raising your own animals, eggs, crops, baking your own homemade meals without convenience, sewing clothing and repairing things that break.. there is an easier way to do it, but the simple way seems to be developing more character in my family.
Suzanne breaks the book down in to 4 sections. Section 1 Children are loved but Not adored. Now don’t read that and think the Amish don’t love their kids like the rest of the world, not at all. They don’t put the kids on the pedestal that we typically tend to do. Learn from each other, admit mistakes to one another, and embrace the extended family together. Make it about the family as a whole, not what best serves the children.
Section 2 titled Great Expectations provides examples of values that ready children for mature living. The Amish provide a working example of sharing the household and farm responsibilities as a family, and on the job training that many youngsters aren’t getting today.
In section 3 Daily Bread, the Amish Proverb “If God is not first in our thoughts in the morning, he will be last in our thoughts all day”, truly sums up what the section is about. They are putting God first in your day, and keeping Him in the forefront throughout. Draw on the characteristics of God, humility, forgiveness, joy and let them anchor each of your days.
Finally section 4 is titled Letting Go. I love what Suzanne says in the intro to this section “If we’ve done our job and prepared our children to the best of our ability, we can let them have a little age-appropriate breathing room to practice decision making, to spread their winds, and learn from mistakes.” So true! This section not only talks about letting go in the teen years, but as toddlers, marriage and even death.
Fantastic book full of wisdom that you can truly apply to your own family and you don’t even have to give up electricity to do it! Suzanne has done a great job taking the Amish values and helping us get from there to here, to a place where we can use the wisdom and make changes in our own families that hopefully will result in some of the characteristics we admire in the Amish.
As I began to read Suzanne Woods Fisher’s book I saw many ways that we can easily take the simplicity and apply it to our own lives, without becoming Amish and giving up electricity and higher education. Aside from religious preference, we can be very Amish in character and learn from their example.
Suzanne frames each value with a Amish proverb that sets the tone for the story to follow. She then provides a real life example from an Amish family. Her next section is the ‘Road Map, Getting There from Here’ which shows how we can take the value learned and apply it to our own lifestyles. She then has quotes from the Amish in their own words. I love how she has organized the book, you can read a page or two at a time, and spend some time reflecting on each value. It doesn’t need to be read in one sitting, though you can if you want to be submerged in Amish values.
I found when reading that many of the values that the Amish hold, were similar ones we took on when we moved out to the country. I think the country feel lends itself easily to the ‘simple’ life. And in simple, I don’t by any means say ‘easy’. The simple living is actually much more work involved than the ‘easy’ way of living. Raising your own animals, eggs, crops, baking your own homemade meals without convenience, sewing clothing and repairing things that break.. there is an easier way to do it, but the simple way seems to be developing more character in my family.
Suzanne breaks the book down in to 4 sections. Section 1 Children are loved but Not adored. Now don’t read that and think the Amish don’t love their kids like the rest of the world, not at all. They don’t put the kids on the pedestal that we typically tend to do. Learn from each other, admit mistakes to one another, and embrace the extended family together. Make it about the family as a whole, not what best serves the children.
Section 2 titled Great Expectations provides examples of values that ready children for mature living. The Amish provide a working example of sharing the household and farm responsibilities as a family, and on the job training that many youngsters aren’t getting today.
In section 3 Daily Bread, the Amish Proverb “If God is not first in our thoughts in the morning, he will be last in our thoughts all day”, truly sums up what the section is about. They are putting God first in your day, and keeping Him in the forefront throughout. Draw on the characteristics of God, humility, forgiveness, joy and let them anchor each of your days.
Finally section 4 is titled Letting Go. I love what Suzanne says in the intro to this section “If we’ve done our job and prepared our children to the best of our ability, we can let them have a little age-appropriate breathing room to practice decision making, to spread their winds, and learn from mistakes.” So true! This section not only talks about letting go in the teen years, but as toddlers, marriage and even death.
Fantastic book full of wisdom that you can truly apply to your own family and you don’t even have to give up electricity to do it! Suzanne has done a great job taking the Amish values and helping us get from there to here, to a place where we can use the wisdom and make changes in our own families that hopefully will result in some of the characteristics we admire in the Amish.
August 29, 2011
I think the one thing I love most about their lifestyle over anything is their love for the community. Whenever anyone is in need, they don't turn the the government, they turn to their neighbors and no one is too busy to say no! They all work together to make their communities better, they don't believe they are owed anything except to be great stewards of the land God has given them. They are self sufficient and work hard. They don't have the issues we have in our society with our children being disrespectful or lazy, and they are up when most of us are still asleep to begin their days.
So when I was asked to review the book, Amish Values for Your Family by Suzanne Woods Fisher, I jumped at the chance. We were asked to go through the book and find one simple value in the book and share how it has impacted my family. It was difficult, not because I couldn't find anything to share, but because I had to pick only one, but it's the one profound one my family would say is one that stays on our mind all the time.
It's to put God first in our lives and I love the Amish proverb that accompanies the section titled, Our Daily Bread.
If God is not first in our thoughts each morning, he will be last in our thoughts all day.
How true, and how simple this truth is. Too often we have a tendency to bargain away our time with God over pressing daily issues, like our kids, chores, work, making dinner, dealing with issues with family and friends, that so often we only take the time for God when we are in crisis mode. We fail to thank him in the most simple of times, for the rising of the sun, the hot water for our showers, clean water to drink, a roof over our heads, because we are simply too busy.
But the first thing the Amish do before starting their days and ending their days is giving thanks to God for everything. For blessing their meals before they eat, to praying for a great harvest, for healing over sick friends and family and the best example of all, is even in accidents involving the Amish buggy's that claim the life of one of their children, they simply say it's God's will.
They don't sue the drunk driver that hit them because he shouldn't be driving, hoping it will at least compensate them for the loss of the child. They gather together as a family, as neighbors and as a community and work together to heal. That's what I respect the most and what my family is been doing differently these past weeks. The change has been extraordinary! By starting our day off with a simple Bible devotion and prayer, our days are more peaceful, less fighting, less stress and best of all, we are doing what is right and it shows.
We are laying down a solid foundation for our kids that is working. They can see the results. I would encourage you to go back to a more simple life. A life where neighbors unite, where communities are working together instead of simply waiting for what you feel you deserve.
This book is filled with amazing ideas to get back to simple basics and a much more peaceful life. I received this book compliments of Litfuse Publicity for my honest review and I refer to it each day along with my Bible to simplify my own life and set an example I hope my family will follow! Hands down this is an exceptional book and one I highly recommend! I award it 5 out of 5 stars!
December 5, 2014
The kind of ancestors you have is not as important as the ones your children have.
Noticing that the modern American puts excessive pressure on early-childhood success (in other parts of the world, as well), and families spend less time together than previous generations, Fisher contrasts these destructive trends with the Amish—one of the strongest and most stable family systems in America. The Amish seem to be doing something right, and as the introduction states, “there is much we can learn from these gentle people about raising our families well: To help prioritize what’s truly important, to simplify decision making, to slow down as a family, to safeguard time together, and when age-appropriate, to let go. Amish Values for Your Family invites you into Amish farmhouses for a hearty meal, to explore the topic of rearing children who are in the world but not of it.”
Contents:
Acknowledgements, Introduction: The Disappearing Childhood
Section One: Children are Loved but Not Adored (The Rabbit Hutch, The Mud Hole, Workshop Raising, Family Vacations, Too Much Money, Christmas Day, Bill Coleman and a Quilt, Mothers-in-Law, The Christmas Bird Count)
Section Two: Great Expectations (August Pies, Laundry Day, How to Make a Marriage Last, A Teacher’s Viewpoint, Snow Day!, Little Boys and Eggs, The Do-Over Boys, The Girdle, Amish in the City, Read Read Read)
Interlude: A Year in an Amish Family
Section Three: Daily Bread (God Doesn’t Make Mistakes, Gas Thieves, Sitting on the Front Bench, Calvin and Goliath, Widow Maker, Northern Lights, A Rare Bird, Seventy Times Seven, The Miracle of the Neighbor)
Section Four: Letting Go (Bear!, Chain Saws and Worries, Pastimes, A Dog’s Life, Chuck and Henry and Two Eagles, Rumspringa, Singing to Cora, Wedding Season, An Early Good-bye, A Circle of Life)
Epilogue: An Evening of Trivial Pursuit with the Amish, Recommended Reading, Notes
Each are vignettes into various aspects of Amish life. Fisher points out that, interviewing her (both currently and formerly) Amish friends, she asked, “What made your childhood so special?” Their responses helped her to define this simple—not simplistic—lifestyle. And each includes an “In their own words…” current snippets from The Budget, a countrywide Amish weekly published in Sugarcreek, Ohio, since 1890.
But these are not mere voyeuristic glimpses into a forgotten way of living. Fisher invites us to consider how her reader might incorporate simple changes that can greatly affect life choices. The Amish Proverbs in each lesson are amusing, yet thought-provoking…and sweet nostalgia from my own childhood church bulletins.
The layout is plain and simple, and the A5 size is rather like a Bible study, perhaps hinting at the meditative nature of its contents. I found the typeset a bit small, so it wasn’t very easy to read by lamplight. No, but really, it could do for a starker contrast between paper and letters. The gray “In their own words…” boxes were very hard to read after sunset.
Naturally, this book is more suited to those who want more of God in their lives, but even for those who wonder why we care, this is a respectful documentation of our humanity. Who doesn’t want more love and honor in his life? Here’s a good place to start.
Noticing that the modern American puts excessive pressure on early-childhood success (in other parts of the world, as well), and families spend less time together than previous generations, Fisher contrasts these destructive trends with the Amish—one of the strongest and most stable family systems in America. The Amish seem to be doing something right, and as the introduction states, “there is much we can learn from these gentle people about raising our families well: To help prioritize what’s truly important, to simplify decision making, to slow down as a family, to safeguard time together, and when age-appropriate, to let go. Amish Values for Your Family invites you into Amish farmhouses for a hearty meal, to explore the topic of rearing children who are in the world but not of it.”
Contents:
Acknowledgements, Introduction: The Disappearing Childhood
Section One: Children are Loved but Not Adored (The Rabbit Hutch, The Mud Hole, Workshop Raising, Family Vacations, Too Much Money, Christmas Day, Bill Coleman and a Quilt, Mothers-in-Law, The Christmas Bird Count)
Section Two: Great Expectations (August Pies, Laundry Day, How to Make a Marriage Last, A Teacher’s Viewpoint, Snow Day!, Little Boys and Eggs, The Do-Over Boys, The Girdle, Amish in the City, Read Read Read)
Interlude: A Year in an Amish Family
Section Three: Daily Bread (God Doesn’t Make Mistakes, Gas Thieves, Sitting on the Front Bench, Calvin and Goliath, Widow Maker, Northern Lights, A Rare Bird, Seventy Times Seven, The Miracle of the Neighbor)
Section Four: Letting Go (Bear!, Chain Saws and Worries, Pastimes, A Dog’s Life, Chuck and Henry and Two Eagles, Rumspringa, Singing to Cora, Wedding Season, An Early Good-bye, A Circle of Life)
Epilogue: An Evening of Trivial Pursuit with the Amish, Recommended Reading, Notes
Each are vignettes into various aspects of Amish life. Fisher points out that, interviewing her (both currently and formerly) Amish friends, she asked, “What made your childhood so special?” Their responses helped her to define this simple—not simplistic—lifestyle. And each includes an “In their own words…” current snippets from The Budget, a countrywide Amish weekly published in Sugarcreek, Ohio, since 1890.
But these are not mere voyeuristic glimpses into a forgotten way of living. Fisher invites us to consider how her reader might incorporate simple changes that can greatly affect life choices. The Amish Proverbs in each lesson are amusing, yet thought-provoking…and sweet nostalgia from my own childhood church bulletins.
The layout is plain and simple, and the A5 size is rather like a Bible study, perhaps hinting at the meditative nature of its contents. I found the typeset a bit small, so it wasn’t very easy to read by lamplight. No, but really, it could do for a starker contrast between paper and letters. The gray “In their own words…” boxes were very hard to read after sunset.
Naturally, this book is more suited to those who want more of God in their lives, but even for those who wonder why we care, this is a respectful documentation of our humanity. Who doesn’t want more love and honor in his life? Here’s a good place to start.
March 2, 2017
quick and easy read. I'm always looking for ways to simplify life and bring more joy. I related with many suggestions in this book. agree on many levels with the Amish way of life. I've had a handful of opportunities to spend time at a few different Amish farms eating dinner in their homes and I'll be honest, they are some of the kindest, welcoming and most joyful people. I always leave feeling uplifted and a wish for a more simplistic life.
August 24, 2011
Suzanne Woods Fisher in her new book, "Amish Values for Your Family" published by Revell teaches us what we can learn from the simple life.
Some individuals can look at the Amish and see buggies drawn by horses, a particular style of clothes and no use of electricity. However those individuals have missed the best part and that is family and how they work together. The Amish have a belief in God and a deep faith that gets them through some tough situations. Suzanne Woods Fisher doesn't want us to drop all that we do and adopt their lifestyle what she wants for us is to learn what their values are and adopt them to ourselves.
"Amish Values for Your Family" is divided up into four sections: Children are loved but not adored, Great expectations, Daily bread, Letting go. However this does not give you the flavor of the book. What would you do if some kid on a school bus threw a rock at your son hitting him causing a night in Emergency and many stitches for your boy? I would have my lawyer draw up lawsuits for the school district, the bus driver, the school and each and every kid on that bus. However that is not what this family did. They just forgave and moved on. What would we do if we had a few families over for Trivial Pursuit? Well things would be very competitive and insults and sarcasm would abound. Not so with the Amish they all laugh and enjoy their time together with kindness ruling the night. There is much we can learn from the Amish and this book has many values to teach us. I recommend this book highly.
If you would like to listen to interviews with other authors and professionals please go to www.kingdomhighlights.org where they are available On Demand.
To listen to 24 hours a day non-stop Christian music please visit our internet radio station http://www.kingdomairwaves.org
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Revell. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
“Available August 2011 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.”
Some individuals can look at the Amish and see buggies drawn by horses, a particular style of clothes and no use of electricity. However those individuals have missed the best part and that is family and how they work together. The Amish have a belief in God and a deep faith that gets them through some tough situations. Suzanne Woods Fisher doesn't want us to drop all that we do and adopt their lifestyle what she wants for us is to learn what their values are and adopt them to ourselves.
"Amish Values for Your Family" is divided up into four sections: Children are loved but not adored, Great expectations, Daily bread, Letting go. However this does not give you the flavor of the book. What would you do if some kid on a school bus threw a rock at your son hitting him causing a night in Emergency and many stitches for your boy? I would have my lawyer draw up lawsuits for the school district, the bus driver, the school and each and every kid on that bus. However that is not what this family did. They just forgave and moved on. What would we do if we had a few families over for Trivial Pursuit? Well things would be very competitive and insults and sarcasm would abound. Not so with the Amish they all laugh and enjoy their time together with kindness ruling the night. There is much we can learn from the Amish and this book has many values to teach us. I recommend this book highly.
If you would like to listen to interviews with other authors and professionals please go to www.kingdomhighlights.org where they are available On Demand.
To listen to 24 hours a day non-stop Christian music please visit our internet radio station http://www.kingdomairwaves.org
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Revell. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
“Available August 2011 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.”
August 23, 2011
his is by far one of the neatest books on Amish values and beliefs. Although I have no desire to travel north and join an Amish community I do see the benefits of many of their beliefs regarding family structure. This book explores this through personal stories of the Amish. It is truly an insight to a people that are truly set apart from this world.
If you are seeking to simplify your life - to return to a seemingly easier and maybe old-fashioned lifestyle this is a great book. The Amish have managed through the years to keep their life simple by focusing on the important things in life. I appreciated the reminders to value family above earthly things. From cover to cover this story is filled with encouraging ways to embrace a simple life in this hectic world.
I especially enjoyed the Amish Proverbs at the top of each new chapter. One I particularly like is "We Pass on our convictions to our children by the things we tolerate." (page 69). In fact this was posted on my FaceBook wall. I don't think people think about how what we tolerate effects our children. I have adopted this as one of our Proverbs to counter the inevitable "Everyone else is doing it" or "So and So's mom doesn't care". I want my children to understand that we must be different and must stand for what the bible says - tolerating no iniquities in our life but being quick to repent and turn.
At the end of each chapter is a section called Road Map: Getting There From Here. This section tells more in depth why the Amish believe what they do and how we can adapt this into our own lives. There is then a section called In their Words that has quotes from different scribes from different Amish Communities. I thought these were often funny and extremely personal. One that made me giggle was I have learned to be careful how I write Oleo when I send my husband to the store or he comes back with Oreos.
I would recommend this book for anyone needing some encouragement that the simple life can be attained even in this hectic world.
I received this book from Revell as a review copy.
Available August 2011 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group
If you are seeking to simplify your life - to return to a seemingly easier and maybe old-fashioned lifestyle this is a great book. The Amish have managed through the years to keep their life simple by focusing on the important things in life. I appreciated the reminders to value family above earthly things. From cover to cover this story is filled with encouraging ways to embrace a simple life in this hectic world.
I especially enjoyed the Amish Proverbs at the top of each new chapter. One I particularly like is "We Pass on our convictions to our children by the things we tolerate." (page 69). In fact this was posted on my FaceBook wall. I don't think people think about how what we tolerate effects our children. I have adopted this as one of our Proverbs to counter the inevitable "Everyone else is doing it" or "So and So's mom doesn't care". I want my children to understand that we must be different and must stand for what the bible says - tolerating no iniquities in our life but being quick to repent and turn.
At the end of each chapter is a section called Road Map: Getting There From Here. This section tells more in depth why the Amish believe what they do and how we can adapt this into our own lives. There is then a section called In their Words that has quotes from different scribes from different Amish Communities. I thought these were often funny and extremely personal. One that made me giggle was I have learned to be careful how I write Oleo when I send my husband to the store or he comes back with Oreos.
I would recommend this book for anyone needing some encouragement that the simple life can be attained even in this hectic world.
I received this book from Revell as a review copy.
Available August 2011 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group
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