No idea what this means, but it caught my eye.
The Amish sincerely attempt to adhere to the Bible’s teaching. If caught in a lie, an Amish church member might hear a minister or bishop rapping on the door, and later find themselves in kneeling confession before the congregation. Of course, the Amish struggle with living a righteous life, as most of us do. But they dwell in communities of fellow believers.
Amish Farmer in Lancaster County
In the Bible there are numerous admonitions to be honest. Here are but a few:
- “The Lord detests lying lips …” Proverbs 12:22 (NIV)
- “There are six things that the Lord hates, seven that are an abomination to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue …” Proverbs 6:16 ( NKJV)
- One of my favorites is Matthew 5:37, “Simply let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ be ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.” (NKJV)
What do you think? Is honesty always the best policy? Several times recently people have asked, “How are you?” and I answered, “Fine.” Which was basically true, but not completely honest. I sometimes fudge just a bit to spare the person’s sensibility. Do they really want to be burdened with 30 minutes of information?
What about White Lies? Do you think they can be an act of kindness? I’m not above fudging the truth, but I’m not smart enough to continue the charade. My memory isn’t that good; each lie hangs like a stone around my neck. Conversely, I’d rather people were honest with me. I like to know where I stand — on solid ground even if barefoot.
Many lies have catastrophic results, while some are of little consequence. Or are they? Are we lying when we tell our children about the Tooth Fairy? Yet, when I ask my doctor for a prognosis I expect the absolute truth. No need to inquire if I’m having a bad-hair day.
Aisle of temptation.
How can you tell if someone’s lying to you? If you’re a parent, have siblings, a teacher, practice medicine or are in law enforcement, you may be an expert at watching body gestures.
Has this whole country become so politically correct that we are no longer honest with our friends and neighbors? Or ourselves? I think about the Amish. Would you be more likely to believe an Amish church member over an English person (non-Amish)?
Amish-made potholder from Lancaster County
Please leave a short comment to enter to win this lovely Amish-made potholder and a copy of one signed book from The Legacy of Lancaster Trilogy. USA and Canada. Winner has three days to respond. Chosen at random.
Good luck, everyone, and thanks for visiting my blog!
beautiful would love to win
Thanks for entering the giveaway, Joan!
Good morning Kate! I personally think you should try and tell the truth whenever you can, but I do admit to lying & White Lies from time to time. I especially do the “I’m fine” lie when I’m definitely NOT fine sometimes, as I don’t like to open up about how I’m truly feeling. But sometimes White Lies and small lies are needed in certain situations to prevent people from getting hurt. I really hope I can win this time, and God bless!
Yes, with White Lies there does seem to be a fine line, Mallory! But I so appreciate honesty. Thanks for writing and good luck!
I would think that an Amish person would be less likely to lie
I agree, Sharrie, for a number of reasons, but I know they are only human. Thanks for entering the giveaway!
Lying to me never benefits anyone in the end. I would more than likely believe an Amish person over a non Amish. The Amish are very faithful and trustworthy.
Love your contest!
You are so right, Donna! Lying benefits no one, and it takes a long time for people to regain trust after they’ve been lied to. Thanks for entering the giveaway. Good luck!
I love thnga all amish, i live and work closely with the few families we have here. Would love to add to my collection.
Thanks for writing, Marylar! How wonderful to live and work near Amish families! Good luck in the giveaway!
I think I would be more likely to believe the Amish person over the non-Amish simply because of reputation.
I agree, Betty, but realize an Amish person can also falter. They do have an excellent reputation because they adhere to the teachings of the Bible. Good luck in the giveaway!
I can see telling a white lie to make it easier on a person but I dont like to do it
God bless you
Chris
I often say “I’d rather not talk about this” instead of telling a white lie, Chris. However I do tell people I’m fine … so I guess what I just wrote is a white lie. Thanks for writing and entering the giveaway! God bless you.
Why lie?? In the end, it cause more trouble. Even little “white lies” can grow into big snowballs!!!
Isn’t that the truth, Mary? Huge snowballs! Thanks for writing and entering the giveaway!
What a pretty potholder. I would love to win it along with a book.
Thanks for answering the giveaway, Angela! Good luck!
Would love to win. Have admired the Amish for several years. I highly respect their choice in life. When living in a small town in Ky. I used to frequent the little Amish stores a lot. My grandson, being the big city boy, when he was small would come stay. The first Amish with their horse and buggy he saw made him so excited. He ran to papaw when we got home telling him he saw “pioneers”…so then I started teaching him. I would love to win the beautiful pot holder and book. Grandson now has his own home and would frame the pot holder in memory of his “pioneers” and give it to him……
Thanks for sharing your story about your delightful grandson, Judy! And thank you for entering the giveaway. Good luck!
Would love to have this—I love the Amish and read every book I can get—Thanks for the chance to win
Thanks for stopping by my blog and entering the giveaway, Betty! Wishing you the best of luck!
Would like to have both 🙂
Thanks for answering the giveaway, Loretta! Good luck!
Beautifully stated…THANK YOU!!
Thank you so much, Robin! Good luck in the giveaway!
I would love to win. I so much enjoy reading Amish Books. Sometimes it is hard to put them down. The potholder is really nice looking.
I hope you get a chance to read one of my books, Joyce! Thanks for entering the giveaway. Good luck!
This would make a great gift for my birthday today and I would love to add another of your books to my collection. Have a blessed day!
Happy Birthday, Pam! I hope your day is blessed! Thank you for stopping by my blog and entering the giveaway!
As for little white lies, sometimes it seems prudent when it might be very hurtful to someone. I try not to tell them, but I don’t to make people very upset just because something is the truth. I think you need to use wisdom in all things.
Using wisdom in all things is essential, Sonja! I do know people whom I tend not to believe because they bend the truth … Thanks for entering the giveaway!
What a lovely potholder! I would love to win it!
Thanks for entering the giveaway, Hannah! Glad you like the potholder!
beautiful pot holder, lying never gets you any where once it starts it keep gets bigger best to always tell the truth .
You’re right, Brenda! Once you lie you’ll have to lie to cover it up. Fortunately, forgiveness is available. Thanks for entering the giveaway and good luck!
Love to win the potholder. I think honesty always best results in all cases. Your little white lies can build up to big lies.
You’re right, Alisa! Recently, when a man asked me a personal question, I told him to come up with his own answer because I wasn’t going to give him one. Okay, maybe a bit abrupt, but some people are too nosey. Thanks for writing! Good luck!
I think I would probably believe the Amish church member over someone I don’t know and over some that I do know. I would want to hear the truth rather than a white lie.
I’m with you, Jan! I’d rather hear the truth, particularly from an Amish church member. Thanks for entering the giveaway!
Beautiful colors in that potholder. Will be heading to Walnut Creek OH soon. Glory days 🙂
Thanks for writing, Carla! Have fun in Walnut Creek! (I know you will.) Good luck in the giveaway!
I love the potholder.
Thanks for entering the giveaway, Sandi! Glad you like it.
Honesty is always the best policy in my book. I try to teach my kids to always be honest, even if it means them getting in trouble for something they have done. After telling so many lies, it eventually becomes hard to keep up with what you told who and then a big spider web of a mess can spiral out of it. I love the pot holder and would love to win it and the book!
“Big spiderweb of a mess” is a terrific way to describe it, Christy! Thanks for writing and entering the giveaway. Good luck!
There is a “Amish” saying: Translated “Liars don’t get to heaven too quick. I have a lot of books, but don’t think I have any written by you.
Ooh, a great saying, Anna! Thanks for sharing it. Well, I’d love you to read one of my book, that’s for sure. Good luck in the giveaway!
Lieing will only get you in deeper, and have to keep lieing to cover up the first lie. Would love to win the potholder and book.
True, Kathy! To some lying becomes a way of life. So many secrets. Thanks for writing and entering the giveaway!
i’d want everyone to tell me the truth.it might hurt for awhile please don’t lie that ‘d be worse.love your books.i’d like to win
I’m with you, Debbie! I’d rather suffer through the sting of truth than later find out I’ve been lied to. Good luck in the giveaway!
Honesty won’t bite you where you sit, but it sure can hurt someones feelings, still it’s better not to lie. I try to word things differently and avoid a lie. I would believe an Amish person before an Englisher, they don’t seem to be concerned about political correctness. I agree a yes is a yes and a no is a no, keep it straight.
The truth shall set you free. A lie is a lie no matter what it is, God hates liers….The Amish live by telling the truth….Please enter me in the contest. It is a fantastic opportunity!!
I would think the Amish would be less likely to lie. That said, I’ve found it’s way to hard to keep the story straight if I lie. It’s way easier to tell the truth and take the consequences if there are any than to lie about something and lose a friend or spouse’s trust.
I think Amish or not there is times everyone tells a little white lie. But I don’t think anyone should tell a big lie
Thanks for a change to win.your a great writer.good luck everyone
Love the colors. Thanks.
I would love to read your books Kate about the Amish, I find them interesting
I live about 1 1/2 from Amish
Their baked goods are awesome, they still use horse&buggy
I love the potholder!!
I would trust the amish over the english any day!! English are to quick to go with the crowd instead of standing up for yourself, english are liars no matter who they are, but i would also assume the amish will tell the white lies to if they feel they need to protect
A lie is a lie. There isn’t any size or color as far as a lie. In Gods word He calls it a lie, no color or size given. If someone lies to you, what else might they do? I think Amish practice telling the truth from birth, so its much easier for them to do so.
What a great blog and so enlightening!
I feel that there is no such thing as a “white lie”. A lie is a lie. I admire that the Amish bishop will have a person who lies repent. I do ot know if I like it that the repentance is in front of the entire congregation. I think the fact that the bishop made a visit to the person who sinned is enough. Especially, since the bishop’s visit is seen by neighbors and friends, most likely.
Thank you for your wonderful books. And, thank you, also, for a chance to enter your giveaway.
I honestly don’t think I would knowingly lie to anyone. At least I hope not.
Excellent, Phyllis! Thanks for entering the giveaway and good luck!
That would make a beautiful quilt.
pmettert@yahoo.com
Love your books Kate, and I love reading Amish fiction. I live very close to the Amish and see them daily. They are always very polite, and kind. My daughter and I go to quite a few of their stores in the area. Thank you so much for the chance to win the pot holder and one of your books. Have a very Blessed Day.
May you have a very blessed day too, Deb! I won’t lie: I’m a little jealous of you for living so close to the Amish. I miss my Amish friends in PA so much. Fortunately many have the use of phones. And our prayers for each other span the universe. Thanks for entering the giveaway and good luck!
I love all of your books, Kate.
Thanks, Rachel! I appreciate your kind words. Good luck in the giveaway!
Everyone is human and is subject to telling a “fib” or “white lie” once in a while! My Mom always told me that a liar is worse than a thief, because a thief will not steal every single time, it is more on an as needed basis or when the opportunity arises, but once a liar tells a lie, they have to continue to lie, to tell more lies, to cover up the lie before that! I don’t think that everybody tells lies all the time, and people who say they are fine, are not meaning to keep it going or make it seem like the lie of the century, but to cover up that moment of sort of feeling inadequate!!! A lot of Amish people are definitely trustworthy, and loving and caring, even towards people who are not of their faith, I have seen this many times, as I lived very close to a large Amish community, near Punxatawney, Pa., which is northwestern Pa. But, just like any people, they are human, and are infallible, and make mistakes too! The only difference is that they mostly have a very strong faith and relationship with God, which makes most of them less likely to do things to hurt people, etc. Thanks so much for the opportunity to win the potholder! It would be an honor and a blessing to win! They, the Amish, make their items by hand, with lots of sweat, because they usually do not make things with electric equipment, plus they take a great deal of pride in making the things that they make! Such things are baked goods, quilts, household items like potholders, furniture, buggies and so much mote! They are made with good quality materials as well. They put a piece of them into every item that they make or create, and you can tell, and they look like that. Just like the potholder that you are giving away, it is really beautiful! These are things that I have seen with my own eyes, and of my own personal knowledge. Also, Dear Kate, God Bless You and Your Family! You are a wonderful writer! I love your books! Please keep up the good work!!! Amish books have been my absolute favorite for a long time, mostly since I had lived amongst them, and made friends, and dealt with the Amish on a business level as well! This makes each book very meaningful, like i can live in it, and could feel a part of it! Have a wonderful, blessed day!
cavallofrances@yahoo.com
Why is this still awaiting moderation? Is there something wrong with it?
I am referring to my comment, which I don’t think was inappropriate or anything. I spoke about how I thought that the Amish are very loyal and faithful, and their values usually make them the kind of people who don’t lie! Depending upon the people, I would believe either person. It was posted at 1/20/2015 at 10:55 am. Thanks again and God Bless You and Your Family! Have a wonderful, blessed day! Thanks for the opportunity to win!
I dearly love reading novels about the Amish. I look for any of them to purchase and add to my collection. In between publishing of new books to the series of ones I am reading, I reread some of the ones I already have. Always looking for new authors and new books to read! Thank you for chance to win one of yours.
I’d be delighted if you read one of my books, Linda! Thanks for writing and entering the giveaway!
Would be lovely to win.
It is lovely of you to enter the giveaway, Bonnie! Good luck!
For Christmas I had a Mennonite man in my area make my daughter a hope chest. It is beautiful. I also go to our local Amish market. If more people would take time to speak to each other, learn from each other, help each other what a great world we would be in; jah?
I agree, Tammy! The hope chest sounds marvelous, a wonderful gift. Fun that you have a local Amish market! Good luck in the giveaway!
I have heard an Amish proverb that states: “There are no degrees of honesty.” I agree, but English or Amish, we are all sinners and an imperfect people hopefully striving to be more like Him.
A fabulous proverb, Colleen! We are all sinners, but alas many are not striving to be more like Him. All the more reason to run the race with endurance. Good luck in the giveaway!
It is too easy to get caught up in telling little “white” lies and then one day every thing catches up with you. It is better to stick to the truth. I am guilty of telling them myself and I need to work in that area. I would love to win the book!
So far today I haven’t told any, but I could be fooling myself, Marilyn! Not easy to remain totally honest. Thanks for writing and entering the giveaway!
We can learn so much from our Amish brothers and sisters if we only listen. I think it takes more time and energy to lie,cheat,and steal than it does to open your heart to faith,hope,and love. God bless.
We certainly can, Kimberly! I imagine those who grew up being lied to have a more difficult time. God bless you and good luck in the giveaway.
Hello Kate, this potholder much too pretty to use. I think you must know a person well to be able to know if they are telling the truth. I find even the little white lies bother me and I usually end up with truth….
Thanks for sharing today.
Hi Pauline! Sometimes you can learn much from a stranger, even a politician, from their body language. If you end up with truth from those you know well, you’re doing something right. Thanks for entering the giveaway!
I can always tell when my son is lying (or stretching the truth)
Boys seem transparent when lying, don’t they, Sharon? Got to love them for it. Thanks for writing and entering the giveaway!