While browsing through my favorite Amish grocery store, I came across an adorable little book that I couldn’t resist buying. To my surprise and delight, it turned out to be so much more than just canning recipes and home remedies.
Hidden within its pages were poems, quotes, and words of wisdom from incredibly smart and wise Amish women!
My favorite saying from the “Amish Sayings and Quotes” collection is the very first one—it’s so undeniably true! It reminds me of the classic adage, “If I knew then what I know now!”
As for my favorite poem, it’s “Bless This Mess.” It offers a glimpse into how Amish women manage the same daily challenges I face! I always thought they had it all figured out and never stressed about laundry, dishes, or dirty windows, as they make it all seem so effortless.
I hope these bring you as much joy as they brought me. Let me know which ones resonate with you and why.
AMISH SAYINGS AND QUOTES
– It is less painful to learn in our youth, than it is to be ignorant in our old age! – You catch more flies with honey than with vinegar, but who wants a bunch of flies? An Amish friend Lobelville, TN
– It is less painful to learn in our youth, than it is to be ignorant in our old age! – You catch more flies with honey than with vinegar, but who wants a bunch of flies? An Amish friend Lobelville, TN
The Farmer’s Love Letter
My sweet potato, do you carrot all for me? You are the apple of my eye.With radish hair and your turnip nose,My heart beets for youMy love for you is strong as onions.If we cantaloupe, lettuce marry,and we will be a happy pear! Mrs. Robert Gingerich East Rochester, OH A LITTLE AMISH POEM Come, let’s clean out the garden,carry in everything that we find.Stuff everything in jars,with shapes of every kind. When winter comes a howling,along the shelves we’ll snoop,and serve our hungry family,with vegetables and soup. AN AMISH POEM Weary mother mixing dough,don’t you wish the food would grow?Your lips would smile, I know, to see,a cookie bush or donut tree! BLESS THIS MESS I look in the kitchen, and what do I see?But a great pile of dishes, just waiting for me.I glance through the window; my view is all bleary.The prints of small children, make it look very smeary. My glance falls on laundry, hanging over chairs,some of it folded, and some at me stares.With a basket of ironing, and another of mending,I find that my tasks, are almost unending. But the toys of the floor, and the rugs disarranged,show healthy children in this house have played.And the dishes and laundry, are proof that we’re blessed,with food and with raiment, so why get distressed? I’ve health and I’m privileged, to work with my best.So up and at, Thank God for this mess! An Amish friend, Sugarcreek, OH AN AMISH POEM I would rather have a little rose,from the garden of a friend,than flowers strewn around my casket,when my days on earth are ended. I would rather have a loving smile,from one I know is true,than tears shed ’round my casket,when the world I bid adieu. Bring me all my flowers today,and the true smile as I said, now!I’d rather have a smile or rose,than a truckload when I’m dead! TABLE RULESIn silence I must take my seat,and give God thanks before I eat.Must for my food, in patience wait,till I am asked to hand my plate. I must not scold, nor whine, nor pout,nor move my chair or plate about.With knife or fork or napkin ring,I must not play, nor must I sing. I must not speak a useless word,For children must be seen, not heard!I must not talk about my food,nor fret if I don’t think it’s good. I must not say, “The bread is cold,”“The tea is hot,” “The coffee cold.”I must not cry for this or that,nor murmur if my meat is fat. My mouth with food, I must not crowd,nor while I’m eating, speak aloud.Must turn my head to cough or sneeze,and when I ask, say “If you please.” The tablecloth, I must not spoil,nor with my food, my fingers soil.Must keep my seat till I am done,nor round the table, sport and run. When told to rise, then I must putmy chair away with noiseless foot.And lift my heart to God above,in praise for all His wondrous love. An Amish friend HOW TO PRESERVE A HUSBAND Some insist on keeping them in a pickle,while others are constantly them in hot water.Even the poor varieties can be made sweet and tenderby garnishing with patience, well sweetened with smiles and flavoredwith kisses. Wrap well in a mantle of charity and keep warm withsteady fire of devotion. Thus prepared, they’ll keep for years! RECIPE FOR LIFE One cup full of good thoughts1 cup of kind deeds1 cup consideration for others2 cups well beaten faults3 cups forgiveness Mix thoroughly and add tears of joy, sorrow and sympathy for others.Fold in 4 cups of prayer and faith to lighten other ingredients, and letrise to great heights of Christian living. After pouring all of this into your family life, bake well with warmth and human kindness.Serve with a smile.Lydia Ann SchwartzBerne, IN A COMMUNITY GARDEN Three rows squash1. Squash grudges2. Squash criticism3. Squash gossip Four rows of turnips1. Turn up for visits2. Turn up with a smile3. Turn up with a helping hand4. Turn up on time Five rows of lettuce1. Let us love one another2. Let us welcome strangers3. Let us be faithful to God’s duty4. Let us worship God together5. Let us pray often for one another Mrs. Robert GingerichThanks for dropping in! I hope you enjoyed reading these as much as I enjoyed sharing them!
Dana
Southern Gals Cook 