A Time to Gather (39 page)
“Claire, what do you think? Thirty-three more years?”
She kissed his cheek. “At least.”
A
lthough San Diego County is the setting for this series, I’ve taken liberty in fictionalizing several aspects of the area. In particular, Channel 3 News, Santa Reina, the Hacienda Hideaway, and the Rolando Bluff Fire exist only in my imagination.
M
any people have come alongside during the writing of this story. They enriched the characters with their expertise and real-life experience. I claim responsibility for mistakes. My deep appreciation goes to:
Gary Smalley: for his definitive work in relationships, most especially in his books
I Promise
and
Change Your Heart, Change Your Life
.
Elizabeth, Tracy, and Patti John; Rhonda Cox, Trish Owens, Cheryl Paris, Janet Fyfe, and Carrie Younce: for all kinds of stuff.
Kaiya John: for helping Nonna with special words.
Karlie Garcia: for the Spanish.
Nancy Standard: for the art lessons.
Kelly Paige Standard: for technical information and an insider’s view of the artist’s life.
Katie Gesto: for her book
Hunger for Freedom
.
Ami McConnell, Leslie Peterson, Lee Hough, and the folks at Thomas Nelson: for being the professional “bookends” who brought it all together.
Tim: for everything else.
1. Lexi and Erik are stuck in ruts in terms of their coping mechanisms. To a certain extent we all cope with life situations, we all need to protect ourselves from pain, we all need comfort. Can you identify ways in which you, too, might make use of coping mechanisms?
2. Why don’t Lexi and Erik want to seek help early in the story? How did that affect them?
3. Lexi and Erik eventually see ways in which their dad, Max, unintentionally hurt them when they were children. It took many years for them to realize this and take steps toward healing. How did your parents unintentionally hurt you? What steps did you take—or what steps do you need to take—in order for healing to occur?
4. If you are a parent, how have you unintentionally hurt your children? Have you, like Claire and Max, asked for their forgiveness? What was the response?
5. What things have been sown in your heart? What has been reaped? Identify the flowers and weeds.
6. What do you think about forgiveness and forgetting? Is it hard for you? Easy? Why?
7. Do you believe God wants to heal our deep wounds? How has He healed yours?
8. In the first book in this series,
A Time to Mend,
Claire and Max had to overcome some deep personal issues in order to heal their marriage and relationship. What progress do you see in Claire since then? In Max?
9. Like the Beaumont family members, the Hacienda Hideaway is still under construction. What would your ideal retreat center be like?
Reader comments are always welcome.
Please write in care of Thomas Nelson
or send an e-mail to [email protected].