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    Always Beautiful: An Amish Miracle Novella
    Always Beautiful: An Amish Miracle Novella
    Always Beautiful: An Amish Miracle Novella
    Ebook139 pages2 hours

    Always Beautiful: An Amish Miracle Novella

    By Beth Wiseman, Ruth Reid and Mary Ellis

    4.5/5

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    About this ebook

    Becky Byler is eighteen and overweight. She is overwhelmed by the embarrassment she feels when comparing herself to other girls her age. Having lost all hope, she considers taking her own life. As she stands before rushing water, unable to swim, Becky begs God for a miracle. In just several months, Becky sees her prayers answered as food and temptation lose their hold over her. She’s finally pleased with how she looks, but does she like the person she has become? And has the man she has dreamed of been right beside her all along, loving her exactly as she is?

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherThomas Nelson
    Release dateDec 10, 2013
    ISBN9781401690168
    Always Beautiful: An Amish Miracle Novella
    Author

    Beth Wiseman

    Bestselling and award-winning author Beth Wiseman has sold over two million books. She is the recipient of the coveted Holt Medallion, is a two-time Carol Award winner, and has won the Inspirational Reader's Choice Award three times. Her books have been on various bestseller lists, including CBA, ECPA, Christianbook, and Publishers Weekly. Beth and her husband are empty nesters enjoying country life in south-central Texas. Visit her online at BethWiseman.com; Facebook: @AuthorBethWiseman; Twitter: @BethWiseman; Instagram: @bethwisemanauthor

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    Reviews for Always Beautiful

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    • 5/5
      Always Beautiful I wonderful story about how to deal with someone that overweight and the it does not matter what you look like on the outside of the body but what matter is how you act on the inside. Though she ask god for help. She get her wish or not. Doe she find love just being herself. She does not know what to do or change herself to get all she wants and dreams. Will she like herself or not?

      Rosa has a hard time accepting help from her community. Will she survive or will she love everything she owns? She does not want to be a widow or take from it. She sells eggs but will that be enough. Friends and Neighbors want to help but she refuses their help for she seem scared. When really happens to threaten her only way of income will she then ask for help? You will need to read to find out.

      Always in my heart is sweet loving story. Hope thinks that she is being punished for giving up her son. She yet to tell her husband and daughter about her secret. They love there daughter. But she longs for a son with husband. She ask god to help. Soon she get surprise visit from someone that she so wanted. Thing get to a point that she wants to adopt him. Her husband and her need to do some things and you should read it to find out how it ends.
    • 5/5
      An Amish MiracleBeth Wiseman, Ruth Reid, and Mary EllisBook Review: Always Beautiful by Beth WisemanBecky Byler is eighteen and overweight. She is overwhelmed by the embarrassment she feels when comparing herself to other girls her age. Having lost all hope, she considers taking her own life. As she stands before rushing water, unable to swim, Becky begs God for a miracle. In just several months, Becky sees her prayers answered as food and temptation lose their hold over her. She's finally pleased with how she looks, but does she like the person she has become? And has the man she has dreamed of been right beside her all along, loving her exactly as she is?Always His Providence by Ruth ReidWidow Rosa Hostetler has one month to pay her delinquent taxes before the county auctions her farm. She's prepared to sell whatever is necessary to pay the lien, but she isn't willing to request money from the community's widow fund. She's embarrassed and refuses to admit she needs help. Rosa depends on income from selling eggs, but when that income is threatened, only a miracle can help Rosa accept the kindness of a neighbor.Always in My Heart by Mary EllisHope Bowman believes God is punishing her for giving up her firstborn son when she was a teenager. She's hidden this secret from her husband, who is thankful for their daughters but longs for a son. Hope prays desperately, but the son God sends her isn't a new baby but the fifteen-year-old boy she gave up years ago.Includes Reading Group Guide and Old-Order Amish RecipesBook Review: I really love these kind of books. They go by so fast. I really like visiting with all the new characters and as the stories progress you get to know these characters more and more. I really liked the start of this book with Hope. It set a wonderful tone for all the other stories. I could to wait to keep going. I look forward to many more of these stories. The over all tone of this series was so timely for me as a Christian because it is a season of trials and testing. It was especially meaningful to me.I would like to thank Booksneeze and Thomas Nelson for allowing me to read and review this book in return for a free copy and I was never asked to write a favorable review by anyone.
    • 3/5

      Three short Amish Miracle stories that intertwine.

      The first story is by Mary Ellis and is about Hope. Hope has been keeping a secret from everyone for almost 16 years, she decides it time to share that secret and this that story. I have a hard time believing that it could happen that way but but this was a fiction story.

      The second story by Ruth Reid is about a widow, who again has a secret but once she unloads her burden things change. (this was my least favorite of the three).

      The third story written by Beth Wiseman is about Becky (we meet Becky in the first story), who is overweight but has a beautiful face. This is Becky's story - she asks God for a miracle (well...) and he provides but it doesn't turn out the way she wants it too - isn't that the truth for a lot of us when we decide we know what God is doing before he shows us what he is doing?
      LOVE THE GOATS!

      One of the things I liked it there wasn't too many extra characters brought in just for fluff purpose although I am still trying to understand the whole Lena thing, unless we will have a book about her in the future.

    • 5/5
      Great book in this series. Will read others in the series
    • 4/5
      ALWAYS IN MY HEART by Mary EllisHope Bowman believes God is punishing her for giving up her firstborn son when she was a teenager. She’s hidden this secret from her husband, who is thankful for their daughters but longs for a son. Hope prays desperately, but the son God sends her isn’t a new baby but the fifteen-year-old boy she gave up years ago.Good story about facing your past. Hope has spent years wishing that she could have a son for her husband, but so far has had four daughters. She believes she is being punished because she gave up her firstborn for adoption. She had been sixteen when she was assaulted by a drunk Englischer, and her father believed the entire family was shamed by the event. He gave her no choice in the matter, and even forbid her to tell the man she eventually married. She has never gotten over the guilty feelings for not raising him herself.She finally decides that the only way to make things right is to confess to her husband and then try to find her son. She had no idea how he would react, but hoped for his understanding and forgiveness for keeping such a secret. The reaction was not what she expected at first, but I loved seeing how their love and faith helped get through it quickly. The timing turned out to be very good because it wasn't long after that her son showed up at their house, wanting to find out about his birth mother.I ached for Hope as she discovered that he wasn't adopted as she had been told, but has spent his entire life in a series of foster homes. This made her feel even more guilty. I also hurt for James, who had felt unwanted, and wanted to know why he had been "given away". It was very sweet to see how the Englischer boy was exposed to the Amish way of life, and the family's attempt to understand someone so very different. I loved the immediate acceptance they showed for him, and James's willingness to live by their rules while he was there.Of course, he was only able to stay for a visit and had to go back to his foster family. But seeing James only strengthened Hope's desire to keep him in her life. I loved seeing her determination to make it happen and the support she got from her husband. I also liked that it wasn't resolved quickly and neatly, but had realistic obstacles to overcome. Hope also had to deal with her feelings of resentment toward her father and his part in the situation. His attitude was very harsh and I wasn't sure how things would work out with him. I thought that James had a very mature attitude toward him, and handled himself very well.ALWAYS HIS PROVIDENCE by Ruth ReidWidow Rosa Hostetler has one month to pay her delinquent taxes before the county auctions her farm. She’s prepared to sell whatever is necessary to pay the lien, but she isn’t willing to request money from the community’s widow fund. She’s embarrassed and refuses to admit she needs help. Rosa depends on income from selling eggs, but when that income is threatened, only a miracle can help Rosa accept the kindness of a neighbor.Good story about not letting pride keep you from getting the help you need. Rosa's husband died in a fire that destroyed a neighbor's barn. At the time, she didn't know that he hadn't paid the property taxes on their farm. She supports herself by raising chickens and selling eggs, but getting enough to pay the taxes just isn't happening. If she doesn't come up with it soon, the county will take her land and sell it. Her neighbor Adam, who had been her husband's best friend, has been trying to watch out for her, but he doesn't know the trouble she's in.Adam had also been in love with Rosa for years, but she had fallen for her husband first. Now Adam is also fighting guilty feelings, because his friend had died while saving Adam from the barn fire. Adam would really like to marry her, but is certain that she holds him responsible for her husband''s death. He senses that something has Rosa very worried, but he can't get her to tell him what it is. When a dog starts attacking and killing her chickens, it threatens what little income she has. Suddenly her chances of paying the taxes are severely diminished.I got very frustrated with Rosa's refusal to let anyone know that she was in trouble. The Amish community is very good at taking care of their own, but her pride wouldn't let her ask for help. She also had to deal with the neighbor on the other side, the Englischer whose dog is responsible for the deaths of her chickens. I understood her frustration at his uncooperative attitude. When she finally confessed her problem to Adam, he was determined to find a way to help her. I loved seeing how he was able to get her to allow him to help her, by getting her to participate in what he was doing. It also gave him the chance to spend more time with her and start giving her an idea of his feelings. There was a lot of tension as they raced to find the funds to save the farm. The resolution was not what I expected, and assistance came from an unexpected source.ALWAYS BEAUTIFUL by Beth Wiseman Becky Byler is eighteen and overweight. She is overwhelmed by the embarrassment she feels when comparing herself to other girls her age. Having lost all hope, she considers taking her own life. As she stands before rushing water, unable to swim, Becky begs God for a miracle. In just several months, Becky sees her prayers answered as food and temptation lose their hold over her. She’s finally pleased with how she looks, but does she like the person she has become? And has the man she has dreamed of been right beside her all along, loving her exactly as she is?Good story about learning to like yourself. Becky has been a character in the previous stories. She is always spoken of as being sweet and helpful, but also heavy. There were times when she was obviously unhappy. In this story, we see that her weight has affected the way she feels about herself, to the point where she is thinking about ending it all. Fortunately she doesn't take that step, but she finds the motivation to take control of her eating habits and starts losing weight.She has always felt that her weight kept her from having any boyfriends. The only young man in her life is her friend Elam, with whom she spends quite a bit of time. But she looks at him just as a friend. As she begins to lose the weight, she gains the attention of a handsome young man that she has had a crush on. Matt has been interested in Becky for awhile, but she never seemed interested in him. He has dated other girls, but nothing really stuck with him. He liked the fact that Becky seemed to be different than the others, not always so concerned with her appearance. As they started going out together and she continued to lose weight, the changes in her attitude began to bother him.Becky's friend Elam is also interested in her as more than a friend, and is disappointed when she only wants to be friends. He had always liked her just as she was and tried to tell her that often. It hurts him to see her going out with Matt. He spends time with other girls, but really misses being with Becky.Becky had a lesson to learn. She lost the weight she thought she had to, which gave her the confidence to believe that someone like Matt would want to date her. As she continued to lose weight, and her relationship with Matt went on, she discovered that it didn't make her as happy as she thought it would. It was interesting to see the reactions of the people around her and the effects it had on the way she felt. I liked the way that she began to realize that being happy with herself is what made her most appealing to others. She had quite a wake up call at the end when she realized that her insecurity may have lost her the one she really loved.
    • 5/5
      I never wanted this book to end. I wanted to stay right here and keep absorbing their lives. There are three separate stories here, and each blends into the next author's story.We begin with Always in My Heart by Mary Ellis. A story of tragedy brought full circle. Book Blurb: Hope Bowman believes God is punishing her for giving up her firstborn son when she was a teenager. She’s hidden this secret from her husband, who is thankful for their daughters but longs for a son. Hope prays desperately, but the son God sends her isn’t a new baby but the fifteen-year-old boy she gave up years ago.I can just imagine how Hope felt, the missing piece of her life. Will she ever be able to tell her husband?? Will she be able to forgive her Dad? Strong feelings of emotion on all of the people in this story.The next story is Always His Providence by Ruth Reid and the blurb about this book: Widow Rosa Hostetler has one month to pay her delinquent taxes before the county auctions her farm. She’s prepared to sell whatever is necessary to pay the lien, but she isn’t willing to request money from the community’s widow fund. She’s embarrassed and refuses to admit she needs help. Rosa depends on income from selling eggs, but when that income is threatened, only a miracle can help Rosa accept the kindness of a neighbor.We find Rosa is such a proud woman, and she is still protecting the reputation of her late husband, and she is doing this to the point of possibly loosing her farm. There are so many surprises and lots of action in this read. There is even a bit of romance. Again we are with people who we met in the first book, and continue with their story.The third and last story is Always Beautiful by Beth Wiseman: Becky Byler is eighteen and overweight. She is overwhelmed by the embarrassment she feels when comparing herself to other girls her age. Having lost all hope, she considers taking her own life. As she stands before rushing water, unable to swim, Becky begs God for a miracle. In just several months, Becky sees her prayers answered as food and temptation lose their hold over her. She’s finally pleased with how she looks, but does she like the person she has become? And has the man she has dreamed of been right beside her all along, loving her exactly as she is?We met Becky in the first story, and now we are going to focus on her. A novelette of not seeing really what is in front of you. Having your prayers answered by God, but not really seeing his answer, because one is focused on what we want.These are really get reads all by them selves, but especially great as they are a continuation into the lives of these beloved people, that will feel like family, by the time you finish!I received this book through NetGalley, and the Publisher Thomas Nelson, and was not required to give a positive review.
    • 5/5
      WOW. What a fabulous novel! Miracles are all around us...from conception (which is a miracle in itself) and all through life. The successful surgery? Yep. Even successful diagnosis. The sun rising. Flowers bursting into bloom. Yes and yes.An Amish Miracle highlights three different miracles, but as I read these novellas my heart expanded and I thought of so many other miracles I see each day. These stories take place in an Amish setting, and though that causes some obstacles we might not face in today's society, it does not take away from the miracles of life.All three authors have done a fantastic work to place the reader in the settings, and I did not see the conclusion coming, which made the miracles so much more miraculous. Vivid imagery had me not only working beside the women as they struggled with their issues, but I found myself praying for their miracle! In my own life, the miracles came after a dark moment, which is, I suppose, the definition of miracle! Those that have actually lived a miracle, or those who long for one in their own life or for their loved ones, will gain fresh insight, a fresh breath of life when they read this book! I read this in an Ebook, but will be buying the paperback in order to share with friends and family!
    • 5/5
      I generally don’t like books that have to put a glossary or character reference guide at the beginning of the book, but the glossary feels necessary here and not trite. These aren’t made-up terms. The phrases are true to the purpose of the book and much needed to allow the reader to fully enjoy the stories. I liked these three novellas and thought they went well together. They were easy-to-read and engaging. This book would be great for a lazy day in the summer reading outside.

    Book preview

    Always Beautiful - Beth Wiseman

    Chapter One

    Becky stood on the bank of the creek, her bare feet clutching the rocky ground beneath her, knowing that with one more step she’d plunge into the rushing rapids and be carried away from her troubles. Forever.

    As tears streamed down her cheeks, she wondered how different her life might have been if she hadn’t always been so fat. She knew what people said about her. She had heard it again just this afternoon when Annie Lapp and two other girls were standing at the counter of Byler’s Bakery.

    She’s huge, Annie whispered, but loud enough for Becky to hear. And she just keeps getting bigger and bigger. She’s never going to get a husband. Annie laughed. Maybe she needs to stop working at the family bakery and do something else.

    Everyone talked about her. It had started the first day of school. Fatty, fatty, two by four, Becky can’t get through the old barn door. Her mother had always said that Becky was just healthy, and during her younger years, she’d tried to ignore the finger-pointing and snickering. But now, at eighteen, she was as big as a house, and the whispering still hadn’t stopped.

    People were nice enough to her face, but she didn’t have any real friends. Only Elam. He was her best friend, and his self-image wasn’t any better than Becky’s. Elam wore thick, gold-rimmed glasses. His eyeballs rolled around all over the place, often making it hard to tell where he was looking. Becky was so used to it, she didn’t think that much about it, but Elam was self-conscious. The eye doctor had said he couldn’t have surgery on his eyes until they’d quit changing.

    Becky thought Elam was incredibly handsome, even though she’d never had a romantic interest in him. He was tall and thin with dark brown eyes and wavy black hair that curled on the ends when it got too long. She loved Elam—the same way she loved her brother. Besides, even Elam couldn’t possibly want to spend his life with someone who took up three times as much space as the average person.

    Trembling, she watched as each wave crashed against the boulders below. Occasionally a small limb or twig was carried by the current and over the steep drop-off, submersing for a few moments before popping up downstream. But the real threat was around the bend. Any time it rained more than a couple of inches, the creek filled and the rapids thrashed along a bank filled with jagged rocks. No one ever went near the rapids, and Becky usually avoided the creek altogether since she couldn’t swim.

    A part of her wanted to jump, to stop the pain that overwhelmed her these days. She was tired of standing out in a crowd, tired of people whispering about how big she was, tired of the painful reality that she was never going to have a husband. The bishop might preach against pride and vanity, but even Plain people were human like the rest of the world, and physical attraction was important.

    But taking the easy way out would destroy her parents—and Ruben and Lena. Her younger siblings loved her unconditionally, as did her parents, but Ruben and Lena had always been thin, and neither of her parents struggled with their weight either. She really couldn’t blame it on the family business, since Mamm and Lena both worked at the bakery with Becky.

    Why me? Why do I have to be so big?

    More tears fell as she shivered on the bank, feeling alone and hopeless. Taking her own life would be a great sin. But to jump and survive would be the greatest humiliation of all. She couldn’t possibly face the community, never mind facing herself in the mirror, knowing that she had failed even at this. And despite her suffering, she was sure she couldn’t do it.

    She looked up at the sky and lifted her arms. Please, Lord. I beg You. Make me thin. I don’t want to live like this anymore. Please, dear God . . . I want to be skinny and beautiful.

    As she spoke the words aloud, she could almost feel God frowning. It shouldn’t be important how she looked. Heaven knows everybody had told her enough times. But it was easy for folks who weren’t overweight to say it didn’t matter.

    Becky lowered her arms and in that split second of inattention, lost her footing. She teetered out over the edge, glimpsed the blur of the rushing water below her, and braced herself for the fall. Just when she knew she was doomed, she slipped backward and collapsed on the bank. She sat there for a long time, gasping for breath, terrified at how close she’d come to doing something stupid.

    God, help me, she whispered. Please.

    She sat there another few minutes until her tears dried up. Then sun rays eased through the clouds and lit the water below, glistening in a way that Becky hadn’t noticed before. A peaceful feeling settled over her.

    God had heard her plea. She wasn’t sure how she knew, but He was going to answer her prayer.

    She’d never been so certain of anything in her life.

    9781401688707_I_0019_002.jpg

    Elam ran full tilt toward Becky and slid up beside her. He cut it close, just short of accidentally pushing her into the water. But he could hardly be blamed for being distracted. Her beautiful face was aglow with a smile—the same smile he thought about even when she wasn’t around.

    He fought to catch his breath and struggled to focus as he stared at her.

    What are you doing out here? he asked What if you had fallen in and no one was out here to help you? He pulled off his hat and ran a hand across his forehead. Look at the water, the way it’s rushing. And the falls are just around the corner. I’m not sure I could have saved you if you’d fallen in.

    I’m fine, Elam. Becky clasped her hands in front of her and raised her shoulders, dropping them slowly. I’m actually better than fine. The warmth in her smile echoed in her voice. I’m great!

    "Ya, well, get away from the creek."

    Elam gently guided her a few feet from the water’s edge. He shuddered to think what would have happened if she’d fallen in. He’d already lost someone dear to him a few years ago. A car had slammed into his father’s buggy and killed him instantly. Becky Byler was the most special girl in the world, and he couldn’t bear losing her too. He’d loved her since they were kids. Someday he planned to marry her if she’d have him. But she’d been so depressed lately about her weight that Elam hadn’t considered encouraging anything more than friendship.

    Becky was gorgeous, but he wanted her to see that for herself. He didn’t know anyone who was better with children than she was. No one could cook as well. She grew the biggest, tastiest vegetables in their district. And he’d been told that she could sew circles around even the elderly women.

    For Elam, those were all just bonuses. Becky was a gentle soul who loved everyone, and more than once Elam had been pushed to come to her defense when someone poked fun at her weight. Fighting wasn’t their way, but twice Elam had gotten physical on the school grounds when they were young. Fortunately things didn’t turn violent these days, but the whispering behind Becky’s back continued, and Elam fought to control his temper when he could tell Becky’s feelings were hurt. He’d marry her today if he could.

    They started walking back to where both buggies were tied to the same tree.

    Becky turned to him, still smiling. How’d you know I was here?

    "I didn’t. I was on my way to Rosa Hostetler’s haus to get some eggs. Mamm says it’s easier to get ’em from her than to mess with chickens ourselves."

    Becky was quiet for a few moments, then she slowed down, stopped, and turned to him. "I know it’s hard—just being you and your mamm. I’ve told you a hundred times that mei family can help out more. She paused, sighing. I know you’re busy tending the fields by yourself, and with no other kinner, your mamm is bound to be plumb tired all the time."

    Elam forced a smile, knowing Becky was right. He often wondered how his mother would fare when Elam got married and moved out some day. We do all right, and going to get eggs ain’t no big deal.

    "Well, Rosa drops off eggs at the bakery every day. I can always get extra and cart them to your haus." Becky untied her horse from the tree.

    Maybe I’ll take you up on that offer. It would be a good excuse to see her.

    He offered her his hand and helped her into her buggy. I was worried about you being out here. I mean, it wondered me why you came out to the creek all by yourself like this. He paused, forced his eyes forward, and studied her face—her rosy cheeks, dark hair, and amazing deep brown eyes. She was still glowing and smiling, but Elam was worried about how depressed she’d been.

    "I’m gut now. I had a talk with God, and I know He heard my prayers. She pulled her dress inside the buggy, and Elam shut the door. I know you’ve been concerned about me, and I love you for that. But everything is going to be just fine."

    She picked up the reins, flicked them gently, and started away. Elam was still reeling.

    Did Becky Byler just say she loved him?

    Chapter Two

    Becky loaded the last tray of whoopee pies into the glass cabinet that ran the length of the bakery. Most of their

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