As she looked at each of the kids, she was sad for a second as she thought of Tangee. She had no idea what had become of her. She had tried to call her mother several times, but she always hung up on her. Shara was disappointed Tangee hadn’t tried to contact her. She thought she would have at least tried to write.
Shara smiled as she saw Pastor Kendrick and Jenell making eyes at each other at their table. Jenell was glowing and her nose was already spreading. She still joked it was Shara’s fault she was now four months pregnant. Shara had insisted on babysitting the kids on Valentine’s Day weekend so they could get away. Jenell was just starting to show. She kept teasing that Shara would be the next one in the church to get pregnant. Shara and Quinton both decided they wanted to wait at least two years before even thinking about thinking about starting a family. They already had a lot of children.
Shara smiled as Quinton tapped her father on the shoulder to indicate it was his turn to dance with Shara.
“Hey.” Quinton grinned, biting his lower lip.
“Hey.” Shara grinned, biting her upper one.
He stroked her cheek softly and kissed her gently.
“Ummmm. You have the sweetest lips in the world.”
“Unh uh, you do.” She kissed him back.
“Unh uh, you do.” He kissed her again and held her close.
They danced in blissful silence for a few minutes.
“How long do we have to stay here?” Shara asked impatiently.
“Shara, this is your wedding reception.” Quinton laughed. “You can’t leave early. All these people came all this way just to be with us.” He kissed her on the nose. “Soon enough baby, soon enough.”
She snuggled into his chest. She couldn’t have ever dreamed she could ever be this happy in life. They had a late morning flight planned for tomorrow morning to Aruba where they would spend seven blissful days. Shara had fussed that she didn’t see the point of going that far and spending that much money when she had no intention of leaving their suite, but Quinton had insisted nothing was too good for her. He said, “Woman, I plan to spoil you for as long as I live, so you might as well get used to it.”
“What was that for?” Quinton kissed her neck.
“What?”
“That long sigh you just gave.” He grinned.
“I don’t know. Beautiful day, good food, good music, family and friends . . .”
“That’s it?” He pretended to be hurt.
“Oh yeah, the company’s not too bad either.”
He laughed and kissed her. “I love you, Shara Mercer.”
She smiled. “Ummmm, I love the sound of that.” She kissed him back. “I love you, too, Quinton Mercer.”
He pulled her close again and they danced for the rest of the song, as if no one else was in the room with them, dreaming of their future and destiny together.
Reader’s Group Guide
1. Keeva has made decisions about her career and future based on her parents’ and society’s expectations. How does that affect her ability to perform in school and her pursuit of that career? Shara challenges her to decide on her future based on God’s purpose for her life. How can people discover God’s purpose for their lives? How are people affected by living without a sense of purpose and destiny?
2. Shara has a great sense of purpose and an intimate relationship with God, but she has no social life. Mother Hobbs stresses to her the importance of balance in her life. What do you think is responsible for Shara’s lack of balance? How can Christians maintain balance in their Christian walk?
3. Shara often uses the terms relationship with God and intimacy with God. What do these terms mean and how does one develop a relationship and intimacy with God?
4. Shara often speaks of how her super-religious upbringing affected her ability to have a true relationship with God. She describes “churchianity” as opposed to Christianity and how it makes the power of God of no effect. How do religious rules and church rituals affect our relationship with God? What are some examples of “churchianity” that affect one’s relationship with God?
5. Shara keeps a “vision notebook” of the dreams God has given her. When she meets with Pastor Kendrick about the ideas God has given her, he pulls out a notebook with his written vision for the church. Why is it important to “write the vision down”?
6. Keeva is attracted to Shara’s Christianity because she doesn’t act religious and doesn’t try to push God down her throat. Shara was concerned that she wasn’t doing enough to bring Keeva to Christ. What do you think is the proper way to minister to the unsaved?
7. How does Shara’s father’s attitude toward boys in her early years and her experience with her first boyfriend affect her building a relationship with Quinton? Why do you think she was able to overcome her past to develop a relationship with him?
8. Shara talks about the divorce rate in this country as 50% and attributes it to the fact that many people form relationships based on surface attributes only such as physical appearance and sexual attraction. What are the most important foundations for relationship building? What is the importance of factoring in purpose and destiny when picking a mate? Keeva says she thinks Shara and Quinton are so happy because Shara had a strong relationship with God before meeting him. How can our relationship with God affect our relationship with a potential mate?
9. Quinton describes his former Pastor’s criticism of his “methods” in dealing with youths. In reaching out to minister to young people, do you think Christians compromise when adapting so called “worldly” styles of music and entertainment to reach out to them?
10. Quinton talks with Pastor Kendrick about proper guidelines for Christian dating. What do you think is appropriate for Christian singles where dating is concerned? Should Christians date? What are guidelines for showing affection? How should Christian singles “keep things safe” as Quinton asked?
11. Keeva has experiences with Mother Hobbs, Pastor Kendrick and the pastor of the church she visited with Shara saying things to her or about her that they knew without knowing her. How can the active operation of the gifts of the Spirit lead people to salvation and toward knowing and fulfilling the purpose and destiny?
12. How does Quinton’s brother’s death affect his work ethic and his relationship with his “boys”? How does unresolved grief affect people’s relationships with others?
Urban Books, LLC
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Copyright © 2008 Sherri L. Lewis
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means without prior consent of the Publisher, excepting brief quotes used in reviews.
ISBN: 978-1-6016-2847-3
This is a work of fiction. Any references or similarities to actual events, real people, living or dead, or to real locales are intended to give the novel a sense of reality. Any similarity in other names, characters, places, and incidents is entirely coincidental.
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