My heart is breaking right now, for I just learned that one of my special “English” friends has an incurable cancer. I would ask that you join me with prayers on her behalf, as well as for her dear husband. I found it especially touching to learn that a group of their Amish friends recently came to pay a call on them, even bringing a meal along. Before the Amish women left my friends’ home, they gathered around the wife who is ill, to give her a hug and a kiss, which let her know just how much they cared.

As I reflected on this, and said a prayer for them myself, I was reminded of how important it is for each of us to be sensitive to other’s needs — to pray for them and let them know how much we love them through our words and deeds. It seems that we often get too busy doing so many “things” that we sometimes forget to spend time with our friends or let them know how much we care.

None of us knows how long we have to live on this earth, which is why we need to live each day as if it’s our last.
Is there someone you know who needs a touch from God today? They can receive that touch by your act of love and kindness.

“Heavenly Father, may my heart always be sensitive to others in need, and may they see the love of Christ living in me. Amen.”

Two little words that we teach our children are “Thank you.” They’re important words, because they let someone know that something kind or special they have done or said is appreciated. If we do something a good deed for someone, and they don’t say thank you, we might assume that they either didn’t like what we did, or didn’t appreciate it, and that can be hurtful.

One thing I’ve noticed about my Amish friends, is their appreciative attitude. Whenever I, or someone else, does them a kindness, they always remember to say thank you.

As I was reflecting on this, I thought about our relationship to God. How often do we remember to tell Him thank you? In
I Thessalonians 5:18 it says, “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”

Psalms 100, verses 4 & 5, reminds us to: “Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. For the LORD is good, his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.” God wants His people to be grateful, too.

Is there someone you need to thank today? If it’s God, He’s only a prayer away.

Growing up, I learned many hymns, such as “The Old Rugged Cross,” “In the Garden,” “Amazing Grace,” and “Victory in Jesus.” The words to the songs spoke to my heart, just as the passages of Scripture I had committed to memory. The Bible verses, as well as the hymns, helped me survive a dysfunctional home life during my growing up years. In my adult life, scriptures, hymns, and choruses have sustained me through some difficult situations along the way.

Many of the hymns in the Amish Ausbund, as well as those hymns found in other denomination’s church hymnals, were written to help us understand the beliefs and suffering of those who wrote the hymns of old. These songs are a reminder of their faith, and were often written during times of suffering. They were also written to help us understand God and follow His ways.

The next time you sing a hymn, try to visualize the time period it was written, and the condition in which the writer of the hymn lived. Think about a favorite hymn and what it personally means to you.