Jennifer Beckstrand > Quotes

“I cannot give up chasing after happiness simply because there might be pain down the road.”
― Jennifer Beckstrand, Kate's Song

“Grief is a stern teacher, but I am confident I could not have learned some lessons in any other way. For that, I am grateful. Grateful to God for loving me enough to stretch me and push me and crush me, to refine me in the furnace of affliction, to force me to stretch my faith beyond what I could see.
God loves me more than I can possible comprehend. He watches over me. He watches over all of us. But if the way were easy, how could we grow into who He wants us to be? How could our faith become unshakable?”
― Jennifer Beckstrand, Kate's Song

“Every choice involves some kind of pain. Choosing one path means rejecting another along with everything down it.”
― Jennifer Beckstrand, Kate's Song

“I thanked Him for my sorrow because it brought me closer to Him and the memory of His Son on the cross.”
― Jennifer Beckstrand, Huckleberry Hill

“If everything in life could be as utterly lovely as newly washed hand towels and daintily perfumed soaps.”
― Jennifer Beckstrand, Kate's Song

“He said all things are possible to him who believes. My faith is so weak.” “Nae,” Dawdi said, shaking his head vigorously. “If it’s not God’s will, it’s not God’s will. If He didn’t see fit to deliver you, it’s not because your faith is lacking. It’s because there is a higher purpose in your trial yet.” “If there is a higher purpose, I don’t understand what it is.” “Neither do I. But I know even the blessed Lord Jesus asked God to remove the bitter cup, and God said no. That ‘no’ meant the salvation of all mankind.” “I definitely don’t have anywhere near that high a purpose.” “There is always purpose in suffering,” Dawdi said, “some of which we won’t understand until we get to heaven. The uncertainty can feel confusing and dismal. Our only hope for peace is through Jesus.” “I know,” said Ben. “But sometimes I can’t find any comfort in knowing it.” Dawdi nodded. “That’s okay. So long as you know it’s there for you, you can reach out and take Jesus’s comfort when you’re ready.”
― Jennifer Beckstrand, Huckleberry Spring

“Understanding what I give up and knowing that I choose freely makes my choice more precious to me.”
― Jennifer Beckstrand, Kate's Song

“But why will God not speak to me?...I think when God is silent, He wants us to prove in our hearts that we are willing to follow Him no matter the cost. If all answers were crystal-clear, how could we show our devotion to Him?”
― Jennifer Beckstrand, Kate's Song

“For as long as I am your mother and you are my only child, i will worry and hope and pray for you. Do not ask the impossible.”
― Jennifer Beckstrand, Kate's Song

“Their lips met with a tenderness Kate had not dreamed possible. The weeks of heart-break and uncertainty, the pain of wasted days, and the despair of unfulfilled dreams released her like winter surrenders its ruthless grip on the frozen earth in early spring. Did every kiss hold such promise?”
― Jennifer Beckstrand, Kate's Song

“He should talk to her - not on the phone where so much could be hidden, but face to face. He wanted to see her. Look into her eyes, no matter how painful, and find the truth.”
― Jennifer Beckstrand, Kate's Song

“there is so much injustice in the world.” “And you do not believe God can fix it. So you see people starve puppies or cut down trees, and you take over the job you think God should be doing. This is not our way. Outsiders disagree with us, but we have always believed that we belong to the kingdom of heaven, not the kingdoms of men. It’s the reason we don’t vote or fight in wars. Puppy mills and new roads are the affairs of men. We concern ourselves with the things of God. We believe in submitting our will to the will of Heavenly Father. Gelassenheit.” “And let evil men go unpunished?” Dawdi raised a finger to the sky. “‘Vengeance is mine, saith the Lord.’ God allows people and animals to suffer at the hands of wicked men so that His judgments will be just at the last day. The wicked will have their reward, even as the righteous will. Do not rob anyone of the reward God has in store for them.” Aden swallowed the lump in his throat. “Dawdi, do you remember when I had that accident at the lake?” “Your mamm wrote us six pages about it.” “The car filled with water, and we couldn’t get out.” He ran a hand across his forehead and shivered. He still felt the ice in his bones. “I thought I was going to die. I’ve never told anyone this before, but someone grabbed my hand and pulled me to the surface.” “An angel?” “I heard a voice urging me to choose the good part.” Nothing seemed to surprise Dawdi. “That’s wonderful gute.” “Not really. I mean, it is wonderful gute that an angel saved my life, but I have been so confused. I feel like God is calling my number, but I can’t answer Him because I don’t have a phone.” “I’ve never needed a phone to talk to God,” Dawdi said. “But it would be much easier if I knew exactly what He wants to tell me.” “If God made it easy, we would not grow from the struggle.” “I know.”
― Jennifer Beckstrand, Huckleberry Summer

“Did she look different? She felt different, as if she had traveled a thousand miles and a hundred lifetimes in a few short minutes.”
― Jennifer Beckstrand, Kate's Song

“The world around them ceased to exist, and they stared at each other accross the tumult, communicating thoughts that could not be put into words. His eyes never strayed from her face, as if he were trying to read every line to understand what he saw there. She held her breath, almost unable to bear the intesne rush of ecstasy she felt when his eyes were upon her. "I love you." Her lips formed the words she was too overjoyed to speak.”
― Jennifer Beckstrand, Kate's Song

“The measure of a man isn’t how popular he is with his friends, but how he treats those who have nothing to give him.”
― Jennifer Beckstrand, Return to Huckleberry Hill

“How could I understand my weaknesses if my strength had not been tested?”
― Jennifer Beckstrand, Kate's Song

“God will make known to you how He wants you to use this gift.”
― Jennifer Beckstrand, Kate's Song

“People will let you down. Only God’s love is certain.”
― Jennifer Beckstrand, Huckleberry Christmas

“Try to stay calm. The four most useless words in the English language.”
― Jennifer Beckstrand, Huckleberry Summer

“Gotte does His best work with someone who is already moving forward. The woman who sits and waits for Gotte to talk to her will be waiting a long time. Action is Gotte’s best tool.”
― Jennifer Beckstrand, The Amish Quiltmaker's Unexpected Baby

“Jah”
― Jennifer Beckstrand, Huckleberry Christmas

“For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
― Jennifer Beckstrand, Huckleberry Summer

“Even when we sin, even when our trouble is of our own making, Jesus doesn’t abandon us.”
― Jennifer Beckstrand, Huckleberry Harvest

“Choose that good part, which shall not be taken away from you.” “Be still, and know that I am God.”
― Jennifer Beckstrand, Kate's Song