Ruth Irene Garrett

Leaving my family behind was the hardest thing I ever did.

The Amish way was all I had ever known, and yet my heart yearned for something more.

Forgiveness is at the heart of our faith, but sometimes it is the hardest gift to give.

I missed the quiet mornings with my mother, kneading dough in the soft light of dawn.

Love is not just a feeling; it is a choice we make every single day.

Sometimes the rules that protect us also keep us from truly living.

I wondered if my leaving would ever be understood, or if it would always be seen as betrayal.

To cross over is to leave behind certainty and walk into the unknown.

The silence in our kitchen spoke louder than any words of disappointment.

I never realized how heavy tradition could be until I tried to set it down.

We are taught to forgive, but not always how to heal.

Every goodbye is stitched with hope for another hello.