A Man of His Word (41 page)
W
riting a novel set in an Amish community and featuring Amish characters was a challenge, one I wouldn’t have been able to meet without the help of some very generous people. I’d like to thank Maria Byler and her family for their friendship and willingness to answer my many, many questions about the Middlefield Amish. I also thank Nick Fagan, head of Adult Services at the Middlefield Library for being so helpful and pointing me in the right direction for my research.
A special thank you to my editors, Natalie Hanemann and Jenny Baumgartner. Their invaluable expertise, encouragement, and patience played such a vital part in writing this book. Thanks to my agent, Tamela Hancock Murray, for being my cheerleader for so many years—thanks for not giving up on me! And a big thank you to my friends and fellow authors—Jill Eileen Smith, Tamera Alexander, Maureen Lang, Diana Urban, Edwina Columbia, Deb Raney, and Meredith Efken. Their support and encouragement means so much to me.
Above all, I thank my family—my husband James, my son Mathew and my daughters Sydney and Zoie. I love you all very much.
1. When we meet Gabriel, he is struggling to hide his love for his new sister-in-law, Moriah. He also deals with the guilt of coveting his brother’s wife. Have you ever wanted something you couldn’t have? How did you handle those feelings?
2. Although Levi grew up in a community that values self-denial and loyalty, he has difficulty denying his impulses. Think back to a time when you were tempted. Did you give into that temptation? What was the result? If not, how did God help you overcome the temptation?
3. When Levi leaves Moriah, she blames herself for his abandonment. Why does she choose to believe she’s at fault, instead of Levi? Is there such a thing as a “right” way for her to respond?
4. Rachel resents her brother Aaron. Is it justified? Why or why not?
5. After Levi’s death, Gabe believes he gave up on his brother too soon. Do you agree? Is there anything Gabe could have done to convince his twin to come back to Moriah and the Amish?
6. Throughout the story, it’s clear that Tobias and Rachel have feelings for each other. Besides Rachel dating Christian, are there any other reasons they didn’t reveal how they felt?
7. Gabe loves Moriah, but he isn’t honest with her. He doesn’t tell her he loves her before she marries Levi, and he doesn’t divulge the real reason Levi left. Gabe believes he is protecting Moriah by keeping these secrets. Can you think of some circumstances where hiding the truth might be for the best? Would God approve of that choice?
8. Gabe starts to think that if he had told Moriah he loved her before her marriage, Levi would still be alive. Do you agree with his assumption? Why or why not?
9. As a man of his word, Gabe vows to standby Moriah, even though she pushes him away. How does Gabe’s patient faithfulness to Moriah mirror God’s faithfulness to us?
10. Romans 7:18 says: “. . . I want to do what is good, but I can’t” (
NIRV
). Despite being a woman of deep faith, in her darkest moment Moriah chooses to drown her misery in work instead of prayer. Why do we often choose the opposite of what’s best for us, especially when it comes to seeking God?
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Anna has a secret she can’t reveal
for fear of losing the man she loves.
COMING MARCH 2010