Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow; but woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up. And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10

Author Suzanne Woods Fisher shares a story about the importance of the kitchen-family room in her book, Amish Peace.

Joe and Viola Byler live on a farm in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. On the first floor of their two-story Amish home is a kitchen-family room combination, warmed by wood stoves. “It’s the only room that’s heated,” Viola explains. ‘At night, the entire family gathers here. Everyone is together. The kids do their homework, Dad reads, I’ll be finishing up something in the kitchen.’ “

Suzanne asked, “Wouldn’t it be simple to heat the other rooms? Granted, I know most of the Amish don’t have central heating, but it couldn’t be that hard to lug a kerosene heater upstairs so the kids could study quietly. Would it?“

The answer comes swiftly….

“‘No!’ Viola says, eyes wide. ‘We love being together. It’s our way. Why, if the other rooms were heated, everyone would…well, they would scatter!'” She says this as certain as if to say, it were a sin.

Suzanne Woods Fisher tells this story to illustrate the Amish’s emphasis on community and belonging. Research, she says, indicates the Old Order Amish suffer far lower rates of major depression and heart disease than the general population.

“Perhaps, it is the emphasis on togetherness that contributes to their emotional and physical strength.”

Suzanne Woods Fisher

The point of this story is not to get you to turn off the heat to all but the kitchen and family room!

But to say that when it comes to experiencing good health – an aspect of peace – we have important choices to make. How can we keep our families & our friendships from becoming fragmented and scattered?

Ask God today to help you to make wise choices so you can experience the peace that comes from belonging to those who love Him.

Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – you are a community of love. Help me to be rooted and grounded in a loving community so I might know more of your peace.

hugs n’ blessings for all the opportunities we shall be given to share God’s peace!

PS – Dear Lord, Thank you for the gift of friendship. Thank you for the people who are in my life and are willing to walk through life with me. I pray my friendships would continue to grow and that we would become even closer. Remind me to give them permission to speak into my life. Show me how to love them and how to be a good friend to them. Use me to be a blessing to my friends and help me to see how they are blessing me in Jesus’ name. Amen.