Sarah Price's Blog, page 15

For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving… 1 Timothy 4:4 NIV

This is the week! Thanksgiving! Gobble gobble!

I’m sure many of you are preparing your Thanksgiving table, much in the same way as the Amish do. I talked about their table yesterday. Today I want to talk about your table. Today’s verse is interesting to me. When you first read it, especially if you read it in different Bibles, you might scratch your head and think “Huh?”

All of us certainly agree that everything God created is good. Well, I admit that I don’t particularly enjoy that one lingering fly that keeps pestering me in my kitchen, but it serves some purpose, I’m sure. But it is the second half of this verse that is perplexing. Two words: rejected and received.

“…nothing is to be rejected…” God’s gifts to us should not be rejected. Usually we reject things that we do not like. Perhaps it is an illness, a financial crisis, or just a downright yucky situation. We do not welcome these things. In fact, we often fight against these situations. But Timothy is telling us that all of God’s gifts are good and we dare not reject them. That means we have to take the good with the bad.

“…if it is received with thanksgiving…” And here we are told that not only do we have to accept the yuckies, we have to be thankful for them. Say what????

When I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2013, that was yucky. Unbeknownst to me, I lived this verse. I did not reject my diagnosis and I even thanked God that it was me who had it and not my mother, my daughter, other family members, and friends. I know that God chose me for this gift (and it was a gift) because A. I could handle it and B. I need to change my life.

I was working to hard for a horrible college that treated me and other faculty rather badly. It was a shame because I really loved the students and loved the other faculty…in fact, I loved my job!…but I did not care for the brothers who owned the college (nepotism at its worse) and how the upper tier of administrators did just a wee bit too much butt kissing and backstabbing. My breast cancer liberated me. Marc agreed that I didn’t have to go back to work after they terminated me for being ill too long. I have been able to write full-time and spend much more time with my children. And, so far, I’m still healthy.

Most people reacted strangely when I would say that breast cancer was the greatest thing to happen to me. I think they thought I was joking. I wasn’t. What most people would gladly reject, I received with thanksgiving. Even during my treatment, when things were rocky and not going so hot, I said,

“Whatever happens, it’s God’s will and I’m a-OK with that.”

We need to approach everything in life with the same attitude. We need to express our thanks to God for the good and the bad. When bad things happen, perhaps God has another plan for you. We cannot lose faith during the bleak periods. That is the exact moment when we need God the most. Give thanks for everything. Reject nothing. And know that, like me, you can handle anything God gives to you. You just have to trust his higher plan for us. Practicing that will make us prudent, indeed.

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Dear Sarah,

How do the Amish celebrate Thanksgiving?

Pam S.

Hi Pam,

Thanks for writing! With Thanksgiving just a few days away, this is a great question! Can you believe that it’s here? I can’t. It seems like summer just ended.

Anyway, the Amish do recognize Thanksgiving, although it is not with as much fanfare as we do. They tend to gather with friends and family for Thanksgiving. It’s a day that is set aside for giving thanks to God for all of their blessings.

The day starts with regular chores, the men taking care of barn chores while the women begin preparing for the meal which is usually held at midday, not the evening. Younger sons will help with bringing in extra chairs and folding tables while the daughters will focus on setting the table or assisting their mother.

The dinner will include a lot of the regular food that they eat for large gatherings: turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, pasta (egg noodles, usually), cold salads (cole slaw, pickled cabbage, chow chow), vegetables (usually canned from their own garden), and homemade dinner rolls.

During the gathering, there will be a lot of devotions and some families will sing hymns, both German from the Ausbund and English hymns. After the meal, the women will clean up while the men enjoy coffee, possibly gathering outside if the weather is suitable. The children will play and, when all of the work is done, the women will enjoy time together to talk, possibly while knitting or quilting.

One thing that surprised me about the Amish was that widowed or single women often gather together for the Thanksgiving meal. I had always thought that extended family or even neighbors would extend invitations to the people who do not have immediate family. However, that does not seem to be something that is frequently done…at least in my first-hand experience.

Thanks again for your question and I encourage other people to send their questions to me at [email protected].

Hugs and blessings,

Sarah Price

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“Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.” – Ecclesiastes 4:12

I want to continue with the marriage discussion.

Last week, I spent a lot of time on Facebook talking about my book, Cowgirl Cat. However, I know that many of you might not follow me on my Facebook page so you are not watching my daily live stream videos.

Not following me on Facebook? Click here and LIKE my page so that you will see my daily inspirational videos.

Clearly, this book is not Amish. Many of my regular readers might wonder why I wrote this book which, clearly, strays from my regular Amish novels.

Let me start off by saying this: I love writing about the Amish and will continue to do so. However, as a creative thinker, I like to challenge myself. I am interested in so many things that I simply cannot limit myself to just one genre.

I began writing this novel two years ago while in the midst of breast cancer treatment. My family was in turmoil…my daughter and son in particular. Cat was extremely sad and depressed. Without doubt, she is a mini-me. We are best friends and share everything. So, at twelve years of age, it is understandable that she was scared. I tried to cheer her up and took her on a few fangirling trips…to Freehold, NJ, Miami, FL, New York, NY, and even Los Angeles, CA. She liked social media “guys” at the time and the idea for the book originally focused on that. Over time, however, it changed to incorporate her love for horses as well as talented young people who train horses. As Cat said in my live stream video on November 12th, it was a much better fit.

Writing from Cat’s voice was easy for me. In fact, I think I can write “her” better than she can actually live her. It was fun, light, and enjoyable. But there was something much more about the book that made me persevere to finish it, despite conflicts about the story, characters, and other issues that crept up.

You see, young girls today struggle with so many conflicts when it comes to expectations from society and family. In some cases, society tells them to behave in a certain way and believe in certain things while their families direct them in a different way. Can you imagine how hard it is to grow up with your peers telling you to dress or behave a certain way, to support certain beliefs and ideals just because everyone else does? Half of the time, these young people don’t really understand what they are saying or believing in!

When parents try to instill different values in the lives of their children, daughters in particular, this can create a huge conflict. Some young girls will fight their parents while others will fight society. It’s the latter who do so at their own peril. When people are determined to march to the beat of their own drum…to stand by their own convictions and beliefs that differ from their peer group…something terrible tends to happen: bullying.

OK, maybe I’m simplifying the situation, but bullying is a real problem. And it’s not just children doing it. It’s also adults.

Think about it. There’s a lot of pressure on children to be the best. And it’s not just ‘be the best at something’ but ‘be the best at everything.’ And when they are not the best at something, many parents will either belittle the child or complain to whoever is in charge, be it the teacher, coach, etc. It’s the mentality of “If you have it, I want it, and then I don’t want you to have it.” Think of the star-belly Sneetches from Dr. Seuss. If you have no idea what I’m referencing, here’s a link to the video.

No wonder so many young people rebelled about the election results!! Most of them were never taught how to lose graciously. Instead, they were taught that you always win, even if it’s at the expense of others.

But not everyone can be a winner all the time.

Cowgirl Cat explores some of these issues. It’s a humorous book, not too heavy. But it dives into the issues of self-esteem in the wake of bullying, especially over social media. It examines the way so many people place an emphasis on earthly success and, in the process, lose sight of what got them there in the first place. It’s a reminder about humility, staying true to yourself, and persistence, even when faced with the impossible. This is not a book just for young teenagers and girls. It’s a book for their mothers, too. It’s a chance to read together and discuss the underlying themes in what is, otherwise, an enjoyable, funny book about a thirteen-year-old with a big dream and a lot of tenacity.

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Houses and wealth are inherited from parents, but a prudent wife is from the LORD. Proverbs 19:14 NIV

Yesterday I wrote about weddings among the Amish. I thought that I would spend more time on this subject. After all, most of us are married or, if not, know people who are married.

In today’s world, marriage is not always a forever thing. It’s not guaranteed that, when you say “I do” that you will really stick together in sickness and health until death do you part. Full disclosure: I am divorced. And I struggled for a very, very long time with this. In my family, people do not get divorced. It’s just not done. I couldn’t face the inevitable while my dear best friend, my grandmother, was still alive. But shortly after she passed, I took that jump.

Today, I am happily remarried. Oh, there are days that are not so “happily ever after” but that is true in any marriage. I believe that God forgives me for not having been a prudent wife and has afforded me a second chance.

And that’s the key word here: prudence.

Prudent: acting with or showing care and thought for the future

If you consider that definition and re-read the Scripture above, it helps to explain the true meaning of the verse. You see, in today’s world, most people think that about their future in terms of wealth and the accumulation of “things”: second homes, vacations, retirement, country clubs, etc. But Proverbs 19:14 says that these things…materialistic things…are inherited from parents. Back in the days of King Solomon, this was very true. A father’s wealth and acquisitions passed to his son(s).

King Solomon is very clear that earthly possessions are inherited from earthly parents.

So what about this word “prudent”?

The key is in the definition of the word: thought for the future. You see, King Solomon understood that earthly possessions mean nothing if you do not have your eye on the future: salvation. A prudent wife does not insist upon earthly treasures. Instead, she focuses on faith and worship of the Lord. She focuses on what is truly important and not constantly keeping up with the Joneses.

I see this so much in today’s world. Young people who are “entitled” to everything (or so they think). When I taught college, students would baulk that they did not get an A on a paper because “I was always an A student.” They would retaliate by complaining to administration. One student failed my class and should not have graduated. He complained. His parents complained. And the school changed his grade without alerting me so that he could graduate. I was shocked when I saw him saunter across the stage to accept his diploma. What lesson did this teach him? Clearly his eye was on the material things (and he truly was “gifted” that diploma for it was not earned).

I believe that we all need to be prudent “wives”…and not just to our husbands. We need to be prudent to our children, our friends, and our community. It does no one any good to focus on material acquisitions that are undeserved and, frankly, not very important in the big picture of life. We need to teach our children that the future is not ten years, twenty years, or even thirty years. It is eternity. By teaching them this very important lesson, we will teach an entire generation to be prudent and not spend time trying to demonstrate socio-economic superiority over others.

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Dear Sarah,

Is it true that most couples get married in November and December?

Tina H.

Dear Tina,

In our world, May and June seem to be the stereotypical months for weddings. However, non-Amish couples get married throughout the year. This is not the case with the Amish.

Traditionally, Amish couples married during the months of November and December for one very important reason: the harvest is finished and there is little work on the farm for farmers and their families. Of course, times are changing and today, Amish couples might get married during other months.

Weddings are usually held on Tuesdays and Thursdays, again for a very practical reason. Weekends are avoided so that the worship services are not disrupted. Additionally, it would be hard for families to prepare on for a Monday wedding since they cannot work on Sundays. By dedicating Tuesdays and Thursdays for weddings, that allows families a day in-between weddings to travel, if needed to attend multiple weddings during the month.

Some communities are also seeing an upsurge in early spring weddings, while others might see weddings in autumn. However, the beginning of October is usually not going filled with weddings as Amish communities have Council Meetings, Baptism, and Communion—all on different weeks. With so much going on, you can understand why Amish couples try to avoid those weeks…although it is not unheard of.

Thanks again for your question and I encourage other people to send their questions to me at [email protected].

Hugs and blessings,

Sarah Price

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It’s Plain Christmas Release Day! Will Amanda persuade Alejandro that a plain Christmas is exactly what the Diaz family needs? I am so excited for everyone to get their copy and cannot wait to find out what you think of it. Let me know by leaving a review!

Fun news: This morning I traveled Harrisburg, PA for a live TV interview on ABC News to chat about my books! You can watch my segment by clicking HERE.

Click HERE to buy your copy of PLAIN CHRISTMAS!

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It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas. In Miami, Florida, anyway.

Eight years after they were married, that’s where Amanda and Alejandro live. And their lives have changed from that first day they met on the street corner in Manhattan when Amanda stepped off the curb and was struck by Alejandro’s limo.

So what does Christmas look like for our love-struck couple?

In Miami, it is full of paparazzi, parties, and people. But something is tugging at Amanda’s heart. She watches as her older daughter, Isabella, is becoming engrossed with the family’s celebrity status and how her other two children are quickly following in Isabella’s footsteps.

What Amanda longs for is to show her children how she celebrated Christmas when she was growing up on her parents’ farm.

The Amish do not celebrate Christmas in the same manner that we do. It’s simpler and the emphasis is on the birth of Jesus, not on Santa Claus and gifts and parties. Decorations are kept to a minimum…perhaps a few candles are set out and often there is a long string hung from one corner of the room to another for hanging Christmas cards.

Christmas is not spent in church. The worship service is usually the week before or after. But Christmas Day is always spent with family who gather to share big meals and to sing. Small gifts might be exchanged, but they are usually homemade and/or practical items.

Yes, Amanda longs for a simple Christmas. But with Alejandro’s crazy schedule, how can she arrange for her family to sneak away to spend time in Lancaster County? And, if she can get them to travel north, away from the palm trees and sunshine of Miami, how will the children adapt to giving up the commercialism of Christmas in exchange for gaining the true meaning of the holiday?

Plain Christmas releases on Tuesday, October 18th. I hope you pick up your copy to find out if Amanda can persuade Alejandro that a plain Christmas is exactly what the Diaz family needs this year.

Click HERE to buy your copy of PLAIN CHRISTMAS!

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I admit it. I’m a couch cushion cleaner. I have no problem lifting up my couch cushions and cleaning out the debris that is left there.

The problem is that this Couch Cushion Cleaning isn’t just limited to the sofas in my house. It is true of my life.

And it gets me in a lot of trouble.

Ever since I can remember, I always marched to a different beat of the drum as my mother would say. One of those “beats” was avoiding pretense in life. If something bothered me, I’d speak my mind. If someone was wronged, I’d stand up for them. If someone needed help, I’d offer my hand.

You’d think that would be a good thing, right?

But apparently it wasn’t. At least not in my world.

The problem is that I never was one who automatically conformed to the norm. Just because everyone else does it (or thinks it or wants it) does not mean that everyone should. And once you challenge the norm, you have lifted your couch cushion and invited problems into your life.

It seems that most people like leaving the dirt under the cushion as long as the exterior of the couch looks pristine. But once that dirt begins to show, abandonment quickly follows.

Nothing demonstrates this as much as my Christmas card story. Prior to my divorce, something I did not want for religious reasons but had to get in order to escape a very, very bad situation, Christmas was a wonderful time of year. We were invited to so many Christmas parties that it was almost impossible to keep up with our own schedule! ANd Christmas cards? WOW. We received well over a hundred each year. I kept them all, too. I love the photo cards so that I can look back to see how the families have changed.

But then…I was divorced.

That very year, guess how many Christmas parties I was invited to? Zero. Guess how many Christmas cards I received? Three.

It was an eye-opening experience and confirmation of my theory that most people like to sit on sofas but don’t clean under the cushions. Keeping up appearances just for the sake of conformity or, even worse, superiority, is a terrible strain on a person’s spiritual well-being. It’s not what God wants for us. We are supposed to love thy neighbor, not try to outdo our neighbor. We are supposed to do good because we genuinely want to (and should!), not just because it makes us look good in the eyes of our community.

And if things are not going properly in your life, if you are having issues, there is no shame in reaching out for help.

So many times I have lifted that couch cushion and talked about the “shameful” topics of divorce, domestic violence, depression, bullying, sexual abuse, psychological/emotional abuse, and drug/alcohol addiction that has touched my life for years…and still does unfortunately. Other people who are “close” to me have tried to shush me, telling me that it’s inappropriate to discuss these things. They’d prefer that I sit on the cushion, pretending that it’s not covering dirt and filth…that everything beneath the surface is perfectly clean and orderly.

Perhaps that is for their own safety. When I examine the issues in my life, it forces them to do the same. Perhaps they fear having to admit their own contribution to the dirt under my couch cushions.

Perhaps, however, they might learn from my example of admitting that my life is far from perfect and that I struggle with each of these issues. Perhaps they might learn that God sent Jesus for people like me…and only by admitting our own limitations can we let him into our lives. Perhaps they, too, might learn to lift their sofa cushion and face the hidden items that lurk beneath the surface.

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Dear Sarah,

Your emoji dress the other day was so adorable! You always seem to have something pretty to wear. I was wondering what you wear when you go to the Amish farms or church.

Love,

Beth R.

P.S. To answer your question, I’m the [