Be Sweet (39 page)
To my daughter-in-law, Megan, who shares my love for books.
To Garry and Nancy Sink for sharing their valuable time with me and explaining the sugaring process. The syrup was delicious!! Thank you!
To my brainstorming buddies: Kristin Billerbeck, Colleen Coble, and Denise Hunter, whose writing inspires me to greater heights.
To my fantastic agent and friend, Karen Solem. Thank you for believing in me and pushing me to keep learning and growing in the craft.
To my genius editor, Ami McConnell, who sees things in story like no one else can, and Natalie Gillespie for her support and expertise!
To the creative Thomas Nelson team who brings story to life: Allen Arnold, Lisa Young, Jennifer Deshler, Natalie Hanemann, Carrie Wagner, Mark Ross, the copyeditors, and the sales reps. We did this together! Thank you!
And finally, to those of you who curl up on the sofa with a cup of coffee, a box of chocolates (you know who you are) and my bookâthank you for allowing me to share my story with you.
Until next time, God bless you all!
If your book club has ten or more members and you choose to read
one of my books, I would be happy to “visit” your group (free of
charge) by telephone and discuss the book. If you're interested, drop
me a line at [email protected] to schedule a date! I will also
send you free autographed bookmarks!
1. Charlene thought she had her life all together, but once she arrived at her childhood home, she realized she had merely moved away from the problems. Have you ever felt as though you had worked through something only to have it crop up later when you least expected it?
2. When Charlene saw people from her past, it brought back bitter memories. She had to move beyond her past and forgive those who hurt her. Is there someone in your life who has hurt you that you need to forgive? If you haven't forgiven them, what is holding you back?
3. Charlene has issues with her mother, and yet she still wants her approval. No matter how old we are, we never outgrow the need for our parents' approval. Have you experienced that? How do you handle it when you feel you don't measure up to their expectations?
4. Charlene and Janni were as different as night and day, as are many sis-ters. Charlene always saw Janni as the saintly one, and when she dis-covered Janni's crown was a tad off-kilter, Charlene was shocked to the core. Have you ever put anyone on a pedestal only to have them fail you with their human weaknesses? Did that help you grow stronger in your own determination to do what's right, or did you want to give up? Could someone be watching you?
5. Charlene's mom struggled with a few insecurities of her own. She misjudged her husband's behavior and things got a little crazy. Have you ever misjudged someone and said things you wish you hadn't? Do you make it a rule to always apologize?
6. Has anyone ever misjudged you? How did it make you feel? Did you confront them with the truth or let it go? Did it help you be more compassionate toward others whose situation you don't understand?
7. Gail Campbell was the town gossip. As we know, the Bible warns against gossip, and for a good reason. It can divide the closest of friends. Has your life ever been affected by gossip? What did you do? If you know someone who gossips, would you consider telling them that what they're doing can hurt people and break up relationships?
8. Charlene seemed to have it allâa seaside cottage, a lucrative career, and all the amenities that they bring. Still, she longed for something more. Being with family made her realize just how much she had missed by being away. Do you struggle with trying to balance what's important in life? Are there some steps you can take to remedy that problem?
9. Charlene not only had to deal with her husband's betrayal, but also her one chance to have a child was forever gone while the “other woman” bore Charlene's husband's child. Sometimes there's just no way around it, life can be unfair. Have you had situations in your life where you've said, “Life is hard, but God is good”? Explain.
10. Ultimately, Charlene realized she didn't always “feel” sweet, but as she learned to let go of her past and trust God with her future, then she could experience the true joy and peace that Jesus gives. Have you gone through a similar experience that eventually brought you to this same place?
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