"He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak."
~ Isaiah 40:29
It was a beastly hot afternoon, and I was busy answering cyber fan mail from my readers when Boom! With a sick feeling, I recognized the sound of a bird hitting our living room window.
Sadly, this has happened before, and we’ve lost two large robins over the years.
Promptly, I stood up to look, and lying there on the deck was a beautiful male hummingbird, stunned from the blow, its limp right wing splayed out from its trembling body. My heart fell at the sight, and I began to whisper a prayer for its recovery.
Ten or more minutes passed, and while I was beseeching God to let this helpless bird survive, I noticed what looked like white tears coming from its tiny eyes. Quickly, I headed outdoors and stood between the wounded hummingbird and the scorching sun, creating some shade with my own shadow.
After a time, I tiptoed over to the little creature and whispered a bit of encouragement—“You’re all right, little guy,” I said softly. “God sees you.” Faith-filled words like a mother might say to her little child.
Then, reaching out my pointer finger, I ever so delicately stroked the iridescent blue and green back feathers, still praying softly, surprised I could get so close. And as I did, I remembered the year my dear dad came to live with us, and how fond he was of the hummingbirds at our feeder . . . even giving them names. Dad liked to wear his bright-colored shirts to attract them, and they did, coming right up to his outstretched hand at times.
What would Dad do? I wondered as I peered closer at the suffering bird.
After a moment, I returned inside the house to find my husband, Dave, searching online to see how to care for a hummingbird’s broken wing. “Do we have a small box where it can recover?” he asked.
“We’ll find something,” I replied.
Turning back to the window, I checked again on the little bird and noticed his tiny, thin beak was moving rapidly. “I think he needs sugar water,” I told Dave. And quickly, we created a little feeder, which Dave carried outside and held near the quivering beak. I hovered near, holding my breath and watching.
Would the poor thing accept it? Would it help?
The first sip was miniscule. I wasn’t sure I’d seen a swallow just maybe.
Then came another sip, slowly, almost painstakingly so. And a second wee swallow.
“Please help this bird,” I whispered, believing with all my heart that God cared as much as we did. “He has a growing family nearby over in that bush,” I told the Lord, as if He didn’t know all things.
The bird’s third swallow was more obvious, and Dave and I waited, eyes locked on the tiny bird’s body, our hearts filled with hope.
“Flutter,” I whispered. “Just a little.”
More waiting.
Then it happened. What I’d thought was a broken wing moved slightly, and next, a single flutter. Then . . . miraculously, the once vulnerable, stunned hummingbird flew away . . . straight toward the feeder on the other side of the deck.
Thinking back on the incident now, a kind of sweetness lingers in my mind. My faith had certainly swelled with the end result—God’s answer to prayer for one of His tiniest creatures.
I do realize, of course, that the verse in Isaiah above was meant for people, not necessarily for hummingbirds. But I know that our heavenly Father also cares about His entire creation, fragile and delicate though it may be.
I pray this glimpse from one very special afternoon this summer will also give you hope, friend, and even an eagerness to cling to faith in any given situation.
August blessings,
—Beverly Lewis
1) Only two months until my beautiful, updated Amish cookbook The Beverly Lewis Amish Heritage Cookbook, 20th Anniversary edition is released. You can preorder from the following retailers.
2) I'm delighted to share that my handcrafted "Butterfly Blessings" cards (6-pack) are available to order at www.amishcheer.com. These are so pretty, I keep them at the ready to send out as encouragements to friends and family all year long. Your recipients will love them, too!
3) Thanks for your many sweet comments to me on social media and for posting reviews at www.amazon.com, friends. You are truly appreciated!
". . . So God has put the body together such that extra honor and care are given to those parts that have less dignity. This makes for harmony among the members, so that all the members care for each other. If one suffers, all the parts suffer with it, and if one part is honored, all the parts are glad."
~ 1 Corinthians 12:24-26
As a young girl growing up near Amish farmland, I loved to ride my bike down long, narrow Weaver Road in midsummer past tall cornfields and grain. I remember seeing for the first time a crop of oats being threshed the old way. I was fascinated, watching as the tan shocks were handfed into a large, heavy cylinder--the thresher (Amish often call it the “thrasher”)--separating the grain from the seed heads or chaff, leaving the seed coverings and stalks. The July day was miserably hot and sultry, but the Amish men continued, rarely pausing to rest.
My pastor father had often referred to the biblical accounts of separating the wheat from the chaff, but seeing this labor-intensive process with my own eyes made those sermons all the more vivid.
The threshing crew itself also captured my attention: the threshing “ring” where Amish men, and sometimes women, took turns threshing each other’s fields. I learned more about this later in life, that the workers were really like a close-knit club as year after year they shared the task and the responsibility of the grain harvest for their particular community.
Just think of having this kind of strong camaraderie between your family members and the people in your own neighborhood. “Many hands make light work,” my mother used to say. Who wants to attempt a monumental task such as harvesting and threshing grain alone, right? Especially with antiquated equipment!
Thinking of community reminds me of our city mayor’s recent initiative, 1000 Neighborhood Gatherings This Summer. “Leave the pollen, politics, and yardwork behind to enjoy a day at the park with your neighbors,” he suggested. Yes, what a good way to reaffirm relationships after the quiet COVID years and even make new friends!
The Amish have been enjoying such gatherings—often in the form of work frolics—for more than three hundred years now, and yet again this summer in Lancaster County, the few Amish farmers who do still grow small grain will benefit greatly from the community of threshing rings/crews working together in harmony.
May you cherish the warmth and closeness of community, as well.
Happy Fourth!
—Beverly Lewis
1) The Beverly Lewis Amish Heritage Cookbook, 20th Anniversary edition is available for preorder at:
2) I've completed my revisions for The Christmas House, and waiting for the edit in September. More about the book cover, synopsis, etc. coming soon.
3) The "Quilt Sale at the Barn" greeting card from www.Amishcheer.com is still available in the online shop, friends. It's so whimsical and authentic to Amish culture, and perfect for any occasion. Thanks very much for your amazing response to our Amish-themed cards with my sister, Barbara.
"The LORD replied, ‘My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest."
~ Exodus 33:14
Recently, Dave and I took a vacation road trip across country. We stopped to visit dear relatives along the way and spent lots of time with our grown children, as well. We relaxed by going to a nearby zoo, taking photos of animals and the lush green flora, and picnicking near a waterfall and gurgling stream. We walked and talked, watched our adult kids have their faces and hands creatively painted, ate out, and, in general, had a delightful get-away from the routine of work.
I especially enjoyed showing my work-in-progress—a family heritage album—to our kids, who asked many questions, especially about my Old Order Mennonite great-grandparents and grandparents on my mother’s side. Having visited Lancaster County numerous times, they know the Plain culture well, of course, but talking about the shunning my grandmother Ada suffered has always been of keen interest through the years.
So, because of that, I had another opportunity to share the grace of God—how what was seemingly meant for harm ultimately became a blessing for Grandmother Ada, her future husband, and their children, grandchildren and beyond.
Taking time to simply be together has often led to curiosity and conversation during walks or by turning the pages of a family album together. Sometimes just being, without saying a word, is the closest two people who know and love each other well can be. And getting away from daily schedules and deadlines can also bring a measure of healing—a soothing of the mind and body. Going for long walks in the sunshine after days of clouds and rain, eating favorite Southern foods without the usual clean-up, enjoying live music with others, watching my grown children laugh and play together . . . this was the essence of a true vacation, indeed.
Now that my husband and I are home again, I’m ready to get back to reading through the revisions for The Christmas House, my next fiction work, coming in the fall of 2025.
But the restful days, and the joy they brought, still linger, reminding me that God’s Presence is ever with us, no matter where we are.
Blessings to you and to your family in the coming summer,
—Beverly Lewis
1) The Beverly Lewis Amish Heritage Cookbook, 20th Anniversary edition is available to preorder at:
Baker Book House (40% off + Free shipping)
2) NEW from my Amish Cheer card line! "Cherry on Top" and "Sweet Sprinkles" box cards are available for summertime cheer in our NOVELTY section! See all the views here: http://www.amishcheer.com/novelty
3) Thanks very much for your kind words and loyal support of my books and handcrafted Amish Cheer cards, friends. You bring me such joy!
"Honor your father and mother. Then you will live a long, full life in the land the LORD your God is giving you."
~ Exodus 20:12
In thinking of Mother’s Day this month, I recall our Amish friends’ supper invitation some years ago and, while there, observing the two older daughters as they cooked up a feast for Dave and me. Several times while they peeled potatoes, made meatloaf, and cooked snap beans, I heard the girls say, “Mamm, you just rest and visit,” as they worked in the kitchen on her behalf.
This reminded me of growing up with my younger sister, Barbara, as we liked to make our own mother’s chores lighter, especially on Mother’s Day. It was a special way to honor her and show gratitude for all the things she did for Dad and for us around the house—things besides cleaning and cooking, such as drilling us girls on our multiplication tables, listening to our book report presentations and pieces for piano lessons, or as we recited Bible verses from memory. So, why couldn’t every day be one to honor our mother? Even as young children, Barbara and I made our own beds, redded up our shared bedroom, carried laundry downstairs, set the table, and helped wash and dry dishes on a daily basis. After all, God was so good to give us a kind and loving mother, one devoted to the Lord and to her family and, as a pastor’s wife, a caring partner in the ministry of the church.
My Mother
My dear mother has been with the Lord now these 18 years, yet her spiritual example and legacy lives on. She certainly knew how to pray, believing in God’s sovereign will and putting her complete trust in that, no matter the outcome—answered prayers or not. She loved her heavenly Father and lived out her love in service to Him and to others, even during the darkest days of her life, suffering with cancer for years until her healing finally came. Miraculous healing, yes.
To this day, I am so thankful for her long life and for the way she honored her own mother and father, claiming the promise of “a long, full life,” as the verse in Exodus states.
What tangible and intangible things can we give to our mothers this year in their honor? In so doing, may we also please our heavenly Father.
A blessed Mother’s Day to all the moms!
—Beverly Lewis
1) I’m working on the few revisions for The Christmas House, my next book, which releases in the fall of 2025. The story is set in modern-day Hickory Hollow with some lovely appearances from fan-favorite, Ella Mae Zook. More in the coming months on this exciting way to celebrate all things Christmas in Lancaster County’s Amish country!
2) For its 20th anniversary, my beautiful Amish cookbook has been updated for modern cooks and is available to preorder for 40% off + Free shipping at Baker Book House. Also, wherever books are sold:
3) A NEW card for springtime encouragement, friends from my sister, Barbara, and me: "Treasured Tulips" is 3-D and just lovely. Order yours at: http://www.amishcheer.com.
4) Thank you so very much for being such devoted reader-friends. I truly treasure each of you!