That's (Not Exactly) Amore
Page 25
I learned a lot from Laini Sullivan. She is so much like me in so many ways. I have big dreams. Dreams of some things I’m really good at and some things I’m not. During my lifetime I’ve dreamed of being a writer, a singer, an artist, a fireman, a cop, a soldier in the army, a teacher, a doctor, and a lawyer—and these were all things I dreamed of doing as an adult. But not every idea is a God idea. For me, the trick was finding the thing that God had already placed in my hand—writing—and doing my best to make it better and use it for His glory. That’s sort of what Laini had to do with cooking. She loved it, but she couldn’t quite believe she could use that particular gift as a career.
God has planted desires and goals in each of us. Plans that He would like us to fulfill. Sometimes we struggle so hard with finding that path. . . . But all we really have to do is search for the thing we’re the best at and then ask Him to give us a plan to use that talent for His purposes. Then we can enjoy our labor as we work to make a living.
If there’s one big thing I’m grateful for, it’s that God showed me I could be a writer. An elusive dream that no one thought made sense. But it made sense to me and to God. And the rest is history.
So don’t stop short of the goal. Keep searching until you know you’re positioned where God wants you. Daniel 11:32 states, “The people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits.” It takes strength to step out of the status quo and follow a dream. But those who do are able to walk into God’s plan, His purpose, His best for them.
Thanks to everyone who read and loved the Drama Queens. You bless me in more ways than I can say.
God bless you and keep you.
Sincerely,
Tracey Bateman
READING GROUP GUIDE
1. Laini is sort of a jack-of-all-trades, master of none. She has a lot of different interests and isn’t quite sure what she should do with her life. Why do you think she is so unsure of herself?
2. Have you ever had a passion for one thing but an aptitude for something else? Laini is a fabulous cook, but she seems to see it as nothing more than a hobby. Why doesn’t she consider it a viable option for a career?
3. Dancy and Tabby encourage Laini to go for the interior design school even though it’s obvious she isn’t that great at it. Are they wrong to encourage her? Would she have listened if they hadn’t supported her?
4. Laini feels deeply responsible for her mother and wants her to move on, but then resents it when her mom does just that. What do you think about that? How much is Laini’s mother at fault for the way Laini feels?
5. Laini resents when Tabby tells her, “Your time will come.” It seems patronizing and makes Laini feel put down as a single woman. As married women, do you walk on eggshells around your single friends so as not to offend them? And if you’re single, how can you convey to your married friends that you don’t need them to constantly try to reassure you about singleness and marriage?
6. Laini is lonely and ready to get married. She’s pretty and smart and not at all closed off. Why do you think it took so long for her to find the right guy?
7. Mark initially appears to be everything Laini’s looking for. Why do you think it takes so long for her to get the picture that he isn’t the one?
8. Joe’s family is morally iffy at best, and Laini has hesitations about him because of that. Is it fair to look at a person’s family and judge the potential for a relationship based on that?
9. Laini’s relationship with God grows as she returns to church and begins to fellowship each week. How important is it to a Christian’s spiritual growth to hook into a body of believers?
10. After years of looking for Mr. Right, what is it about Joe that convinces Laini he’s the man for her?
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Tracey Bateman lives in Missouri with her husband and four children. She has been a member of American Christian Fiction Writers since the early days of its inception and served as vice president and president of the organization. Her hobbies include reading, watching the Lifetime Movie Network, hanging out with family, helping out in her church, and listening to music.
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