Amish Romance

Amish Romance

There are three things that amaze me—no, four things that I don’t understand: how an eagle glides through the sky, how a snake slithers on a rock, how a ship navigates the ocean, how a man loves a woman.

Proverbs 30:18-19

Amish romance novels have been on the bestsellers lists for years, but many Amish women I know chuckle over the fact that they cause such a stir. Like the rest of us, the Amish often get married and then wonder, Where’s the romance? It’s hard to be romantic when one is caring for a half dozen children, tending a farm, and doing all the household chores without the benefit of electricity. One Amish person wrote:

It is hard to look around the plain churches today and not get the feeling that we have far too much courtship before marriage, and not nearly enough after marriage. Young people who make every effort to win each other’s love before marriage, often do not put forth much effort after marriage. . . .

Ah, if only we could get a little more courtship into marriage, how much happier would be many of our homes.

Marriage, to be worthwhile, requires intelligent thought and continued effort. Good marriages do not just happen. They do not result from having married the “right” one as much as from the blessings of God, persistent work, and loving labor to make ourselves the “right” one.

If you are married, how are you doing in the romance department? What can you do to bring some courtship back into your relationship? God is the creator of men, of women, of love, and . . . of romance.

First John 3:16 says, “We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters.” God might not be asking you to literally give up your life for your spouse today, but could you give up part of what’s on your own list of tasks to care for the other person? Make this your goal.

Dear heavenly Father, forgive me for the times I’ve acted selfishly in my marriage. Pour Your love into me, and fill my mind and heart with ways I can bless my spouse.