Great Is Thy Faithfulness: An Amish Singing Story

By Amy Clipston

An Amish Singing story from bestselling author Amy Clipston.

Darlene Bender’s mother has been battling cancer, and Darlene can’t understand why God would allow someone so wonderful to go through such a terrible time. She finds strength in her singing group and friends, and when Andrew Detweiler senses that Darlene needs a confidant, he approaches and befriends her. As love blossoms between them, Darlene might soon realize that God was with her all along. 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Zondervan
• Release date: Sep 1, 2020
• ISBN: 9780310360414

Amy Clipston

Amy Clipston is the award-winning and bestselling author of the Kauffman Amish Bakery, Hearts of Lancaster Grand Hotel, Amish Heirloom, Amish Homestead, and Amish Marketplace series. Her novels have hit multiple bestseller lists including Christianbook, CBA, and ECPA. Amy holds a degree in communication from Virginia Wesleyan University and works full-time for the City of Charlotte, NC. Amy lives in North Carolina with her husband, two sons, and five spoiled rotten cats. Visit her online at AmyClipston.com; Facebook: @AmyClipstonBooks; Twitter: @AmyClipston; Instagram: @amy_clipston; BookBub: @AmyClipston.

Book preview

Chapter One

Darlene Bender stood at the kitchen sink and scrubbed a handful of utensils as she glanced out the window and spotted her father disappearing into the barn.

The early-morning sun lit up the clear blue sky, and a cardinal happily ate at the bird feeder near her mother’s cheerful garden and its colorful summer flowers. She sighed. The problem was it was filled with clumps of pesky green weeds too. How she loved working in the garden. If only she had more time to tackle those weeds.

Still, Darlene smiled at the bird as she rinsed the utensils and set them on the drying rack.

I need to go open the store. Biena set three drinking glasses on the counter. Can you finish cleaning up alone?

Darlene turned. "Ya. Of course."

Biena turned toward the doorway to the mudroom. I’ll see you later.

As Darlene watched her go, she recalled how often strangers asked them if they were twins because they shared the same golden-blond hair and deep-brown eyes, and they were the same—and average—height. But her sister was two years older.

Biena! Mamm’s hoarse voice barely sounded in the hallway before the bathroom door slammed.

"Ach, no. I thought she was feeling better when she woke up. Biena started for the bathroom, but then she spun around. It’s almost eight. Can you go open the store?"

"But it’s my turn to take care of Mamm," Darlene said, drying her hands with a paper towel.

"I’ll take care of her today. Go open the store while Dat’s feeding the animals. Biena made a sweeping gesture. Go on! Then she hurried off. I’m here, Mamm. I’ll get some towels."

Darlene closed her eyes and leaned forward on the sink as the sounds of her mother’s sickness filled the kitchen. This latest round of chemo seemed to be the worst.

Please, God. Please heal her. Take away her pain.

Biting back tears, Darlene straightened. She had to be strong for Mamm. She had to be strong for the whole family.

She quickly finished cleaning up and then hurried to the mudroom, grabbing the key to the store before she rushed outside and headed down the porch steps.

The August sun warmed her neck as she strode down the short path to the large building that housed Bird-in-Hand Dry Goods, the store her father opened nearly twenty-five years ago. The one-story, white, cinder block structure sat on the busy Old Philadelphia Pike in the heart of Bird-in-Hand, Pennsylvania.

Darlene unlocked the front door and turned the sign from Closed to Open. Then she made her way down the main aisle to the counter at the back, where the battery-operated cash register sat along with plastic bags and other supplies. She breathed in the familiar smells she’d grown up with as she prepared for the first sales of the day.

Then she straightened the items on the counter before checking the displays of greeting cards, books, and small gifts. In the next aisle, she straightened the toys and games. She continued on, checking racks with sewing notions or cleaning supplies, all the while trying to chase thoughts of her mother’s illness out of her mind. Yet over and over, they returned.

It was a nightmare watching Mamm suffer with ovarian cancer, first with the aftermath of surgery and now with chemo. Ever since her mother was diagnosed, Darlene had prayed daily for her suffering to end and her strength to return.

If only Darlene had someone to talk to about this struggle, someone who would understand what she was going through. But she didn’t want to burden her friends—not even her best friends, Sharon Lambert and Alice Blank.

For the past several months, Darlene and her tight group of friends—including Sharon’s boyfriend, Jay Smoker; Alice’s boyfriend, Dave Esh; Andrew Detweiler, and Cal King—had been singing for members of their church district as well as for Englishers who paid to attend suppers at Sharon’s or Alice’s home to learn more about the Amish culture. The suppers started with the Lancaster Inn and Sharon’s mother, but now the managers of several local hotels and tour companies frequently asked both Feenie Lambert and Dorothy Blank to host them. It was a way for them to earn extra income for their families.

During the meals, the mothers answered questions about their culture, and then Darlene and her friends sang. Darlene enjoyed spending time with her friends, but she especially enjoyed the opportunity to share the gospel through the hymns they chose.

Even though I’m struggling with my faith. Another burden I can’t share.

Darlene pushed that thought aside.

Although she’d told her mother how their singings had seemed to help others in the community who were struggling with illness, Mamm continued to refuse to allow anyone to visit. She’d always been rather private, but not like this. She said she didn’t want visitors to see how the chemotherapy treatments had ravished her body and strength. She even refused Darlene’s friends, who so often offered to bring food, help with chores, or sing for her.

So Darlene, Biena, and Dat pushed on alone, running the store and caring for the house, animals, and her mother. The only living relative they had in the area was her uncle, Merv, but he was a widower and much older than Mamm, and not in any physical condition to help. Darlene didn’t want to add to anyone’s burden by confessing how alone she felt, even when surrounded by her precious group of friends and her family.

Darlene finished straightening another display and then moved to the gardening supplies. She was rearranging watering cans when the bell on the front door sounded, announcing a customer.

Good morning, Darlene sang, trying her best to sound cheerful despite her dark mood.

Dat appeared at the end of the aisle. I thought Biena was going to run the store today.

Although he was in his early fifties, Dat seemed to have aged nearly a decade since Mamm’s diagnosis. His own light-brown hair was now threaded with gray, and wrinkles had taken up permanent residency under his tired, deep-brown eyes. A constant frown lined his lips, and Darlene missed his bright smile and easy sense of humor. She hadn’t seen him happy for months, and her heart ached at the sadness she found in his handsome face.

"Mamm is having a bad morning after all, and Biena asked me to open the store." Darlene fingered the end of a cool, metal shelf.

Oh. Dat rubbed his beard and looked down at the floor.

When do you think she’ll feel better? She leaned forward, holding her breath while she waited for her father to say the words she longed to hear—that her mother would be well and back to normal soon.

Dat met her gaze. I don’t know. We just have to pray and have faith. The Lord will take care of her. He loves her—and us—very much.

Right. Darlene stood up straight and forced a smile. But inside, her soul was shattering. How could she have faith when her mother suffered so?

Dat pointed toward the front door. I’m going to go see if Biena needs any help. Will you be okay here?

Of course. Darlene pushed the ties from her prayer covering off her shoulders. I know how to run the store.

Danki. Dat touched her shoulder. "We’ll be

Reviews for Great Is Thy Faithfulness

[virginia51-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is a set of four stories that are all linked together through a group of Amish friends. In each story there is a bit of romance and a lot of inspiration. I love the characters and each story. I love the idea of the friends getting together to sing to some of their friends or relatives that are feeling down. I received a copy of this book from the author for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.