Reader's Guide for FOREVER FRIENDS

1. Peggy DuVaughn’s grandson is in jail. She reluctantly shares this information and asks for help from her pastor. How comfortable would you be in confessing that someone in your family had been arrested? What are the emotions you think this grandmother was experiencing?
2. Jessie requested communion before her trip. What rituals are important to you before you travel? Do you travel with good-luck charms, saints, tokens, photographs, or other items to feel more secure?
3. Margaret tries to talk to Lana about marriage. What words might you have shared with her? What’s your advice for a young married couple or for an unsatisfied married person?
4. Charlotte has dreams about her father. What do you think of the dreams you have? Do they reveal anything about you? Do you have recurring dreams?
5. Lamont discusses feeling ashamed for what he has done. How does a person overcome shame? How do friends help in this process?
6. Dick tells the story of his brother’s past. He feels disappointed because his hero has fallen. Have you ever set a person on a pedestal and then been disappointed by them? How does it feel to discover that a hero is human and makes mistakes?
7. Charlotte confesses that she wishes she had peace. The older women discuss how they finally found their peace. Do you have the kind of peace they claim to have?
8. How important is sharing a meal when trying to create community? What is it about eating together that is disarming and intimate?