by Hope White
“I… It’s beautiful.”
“To remind you of the sunrise. I was going to get you something else, but didn’t want to be presumptuous.”
“You mean…?”
“It’s time to finally embrace the plan God has for us—to be together.”
He leaned forward and kissed her. Her body flooded with love and her eyes welled with tears of joy. After a few seconds he broke the kiss and whispered in her ear.
“I love you, Jules. Always have, always will.”
Dear Reader,
How many of us have made a decision in our lives that seemed like a good one at the time, but as the years passed we wondered if it had been the right one? Living with regret can be frustrating and can hold us back from reaching our full potential.
Julie’s story is about making a decision based on guilt, and discovering the beauty of self-forgiveness. It’s also about believing in the grace of God, and opening your heart to His love.
This book holds a special place in my heart since it’s about putting the past where it belongs—in the past—and embracing the possibilities and the wonders of love, friendship and God. As Julie and her high-school sweetheart, Morgan, evade danger, they make peace with their past and learn that through forgiveness anything is possible.
Thanks for giving me the chance to share this story with you.
Blessings,
Hope White
QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION
Did you agree with Julie’s decision to flee danger by running back to Port Whisper? Why or why not?
Did you respect Julie for leaving her high-school sweetheart to pursue a career counseling runaways? Why or why not?
Have you ever known someone who carried the guilt burden? If so, how did you help open her/his heart to self-forgiveness?
Regarding Sketch, what do you think is the best way to help a troubled teen?
Have you known someone who had difficulty taking help from friends? If so, how did you get through to her/him?
Have you known someone who had a tendency to bury himself or herself in work? Why do you think this is?
Do you think Julie moved to the city out of guilt (because she couldn’t save her friend) or because she wanted to help teenagers? Or was it a combination of both?
Have you known someone who, in their effort to help others, got into trouble themselves? How did they reconcile their efforts?
Do you think Julie was selfish when she left Port Whisper after high school? Why or why not?
Did you feel that Morgan and his father were at peace in this story? Why or why not?
Should Morgan have worked through his heartbreak and totally given up on Julie?
Was Morgan’s resentment of Julie in the first part of the book justified?
Did you feel hopeful that Morgan would be able to help Sketch find his way?
Did you understand Julie’s desire to leave Port Whisper—and Morgan—at the end of the story? Do you think it was a selfish or selfless decision?
ISBN: 978-1-4592-1628-0
CHRISTMAS HAVEN
Copyright © 2011 by Pat White
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This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental.
This edition published by arrangement with Love Inspired Books.
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