Being plain and experiencing pain did not define me, but it did shape me.
Anna Schwartz knew fear; it first grabbed her in its clutches on a hard church pew, then tightened its grip through a raging fire. But fear and sadness could not defeat her light.
As a young girl, her light shone brightly in her Amish community, catching the attention of Samuel Troyer. Seeing pain in his eyes, Anna was determined to mend it with her kindness.
But Anna soon learned that some choose to live in fear and darkness, and their darkness can threaten your light if you let it. Gripped once more in the throes of fear, Anna struggled to find her light. It only came in moments, like the moments when she marveled at the perfect toes and head full of hair in each of her eight children, or the moments of friendship with Amish, Mennonite, and Englisha women. Yet, by this time, Samuel no longer delighted in her light. His darkness often banished all light, with Anna feeling the blame.
But God spoke peace and truth to her heart, and she found her strength and her voice. Armed with the knowledge that "all things work together for good" and that God loved her just the way she was, Anna fought back. She once more breathed and walked in the light.
Plain Anna shows you just how not-plain and rather remarkable Anna really is. Through her heart-wrenching story, you will discover that peace is worth every encounter with fear and that pain never needs to be the end of your story.
