Limitless Love

Mending Fences by Suzanne Woods Fisher is a delightful contemporary Amish novel about healing and new beginnings. It is the first book in a new series, The Deacon’s Family and I cannot wait for the subsequent books.

Broken people are at the heart of the story. Some are broken due to poor choices, others have been broken and shaped by childhood. “God does His best work with messes.” Events have coloured our view of ourselves. We need others to point out our true worth. “You’re not just a girl on the streets. You’re a child of God… a pearl of great price.” We need to turn to God and believe what He tells us. God loves us and His love “wasn’t finite… It was limitless.”

There are some huge hearts for people in the novel that believe that we all deserve second chances. She saw “troubled people… as if she could see the diamond inside.” Kindness, patience and even tough love can all help to transform the troubled soul. Once transformed, hearts want to pay it forward and help others in need.

The novel shows the destructive power of addiction. We need help to overcome and there needs to be a desire for change.

Every action has a consequence. So called pranks may have devastating effects. A misspent youth sees a character hoping to make amends.

We all carry burdens we were not made to carry. “There is no burden so great as that which is self-made.” We are our own worst critic. We need to hand our burdens to God and live in the freedom for which He has made us.

Baptism is important. It is an outward sign of an inner transformation. We need to check our motives for baptism, to make sure it is because we want to know God more.

The novel has a lightness of spirit. There are some highly amusing moments involving a cunning racoon. There are serious lessons to be learnt but in a very personable way.

I loved Mending Fences. I always enjoy Suzanne Woods Fisher’s stories. They entertain and amuse as well as pointing us to God.

I received this book for free. A favourable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.

JULIA WILSON