Here's to Friends
Page 27
“Here’s to you, Marley,” she said. “May your marriage be as blessed and beautiful as you are!”
The others made similar toasts. And finally Marley lifted her glass. “And here’s to us,” she told them. “Here’s to friends!”
“To the bright future of our friendship,” Janie said.
“To the Four Lindas!” Caroline shouted.
“Friends forever,” Abby declared.
Marley grinned at them. As much as she was looking forward to this big event—her wedding and her honeymoon and her marriage—she was also looking forward to the continued friendship of these women … her dear friends!
… a little more …
When a delightful concert comes to an end,
the orchestra might offer an encore.
When a fine meal comes to an end,
it’s always nice to savor a bit of dessert.
When a great story comes to an end,
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• Discussion Questions
Discussion Questions
1.Marley feels insecure in Jack’s love because of the hurtful experiences in her first marriage. Is it possible for a person to fully shed the worries attached to painful life events? Why or why not?
2. Is Marley’s avoidance of Jack between Christmas and the New Year mostly understandable or mostly selfish? Explain.
3. Have you ever spent a holiday alone? What was the experience like for you? Did any good come out of it?
4. Janie questions the best way to handle Lisa’s drug-addiction issues. What does she do well or poorly? What do you wish she had done differently? How might the outcome have been different without the involvement of Janie’s friends?
5. Why is it so difficult for Janie to surrender Lisa to God? What does “surrender” mean to you when you think about children, spouses, careers, crises, and so on?
6. How does Caroline arrive at a place of such contentment even though she has no career and her romance with Mitch seems to be a thing of the past? How is her house a symbol of the transformation taking place in her own life? What is required for a person to be truly content?
7.What does Abby believe about Paul, her marriage, and herself that informs her behavior? Which of Abby’s beliefs might be rooted in untrue perceptions? Is it possible for a married person to correct false perceptions of his or her spouse? How?
8.If you were Paul and Abby’s marriage counselor, what would you have advised them to do to work on their relationship? When can a separation be healthy for a couple? In what circumstances might it be damaging or unwise?
9.What did each of the Lindas gain during their separation from Clifden and from loved ones on the cruise? How does “getting away” inform one’s perspectives of a situation? How does it foster an ability to “let go”?
10.What qualities and experiences do the Four Lindas share that allow their friendship to endure? What is most important for friends to have in common (such as shared experiences, shared values)? What is most inspiring or hopeful to you about the way these women interact with each other?
www.MelodyCarlson.com
www.DavidCCook.com
www.MelodyCarlson.com
www.DavidCCook.com
Melody Carlson is the best-selling and award-winning author of more than 150 books for adults, children, and teens—including the previous Four Lindas titles: As Young as We Feel, Hometown Ties, and All for One. She and her husband, Chris, live in the Pacific Northwest near their two grown sons and granddaughter.
Photo by Ruettgers Photography