1. The young, pregnant mother of a three-year-old, Alyssa was overwhelmed by her husband's sudden death and unable to take care of her son. Have you ever been in a situation that demanded more from you than you had to give? Explain. What did you do?
2. Alyssa is very grateful for people who helped her through her ordeal. But now she feels she must get away from their help to heal completely. Can you understand her feelings? Have you ever felt this way? How did you deal with it?
3. Alyssa started a chimney fire because of nests or food stashed in the chimney by small animals. Would you make the same mistake? Why or why not?
4. What does Alyssa do with her parents' checks? What would you do with them?
5. What traits do you think make Ben Cooper irresistible to Alyssa? Why is he exactly the man to test her resolve to stand on her own? Does Alyssa have traits that make her his perfect match?
6. Can you understand why Hope will not accept Alyssa? Why is she worried about her dad? Is there anything Alyssa could have done to help the girl? Could Ben have done more to help his daughter?
7. Why do you think Joey was immediately comfortable with Ben? Which interactions between the man and boy paved the way?
8. Who is Ben's mentor? Why? How has his mentor influenced him? Who is Alyssa's mentor? Why? How has her mentor shaped her?
9. Alyssa and her parents have a complicated relationship. Can you understand her parents' concern for their daughter and their grandsons? Can you understand Alyssa's need to become her own person?
10. Did Ben go above and beyond the norm when he adopted Hope? Have you ever known somebody who amazed you with his or her capacity to love? Did this person have a close relationship with God? Are you one of those people?
11. Alyssa dearly loves Joey, but she can't help blaming herself for disappointing her parents, her boyfriend and herself with an unplanned pregnancy. Have you ever had mixed feelings surrounding a choice you made when you were young and inexperienced? Do you understand why you made the choice you did? Are you cautious about making choices as a result?
12. Do you think Ben's mother leaving when he was eight has had a bearing on his avoidance of a serious relationship with a woman? What reason does he give for it?
13. Do you understand why Alyssa finds helping others so rewarding? What do you think it represents to her?
14. Alyssa feels that having a purpose will help her cope with the anniversary of her husband's death. Have you ever faced a difficult anniversary? How did you cope with it?
15. "In as much as ye have done it unto the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me." ~Matthew 25:40, King James Version. Have you ever found it difficult to live by these words? Why or why not?
2. Alyssa is very grateful for people who helped her through her ordeal. But now she feels she must get away from their help to heal completely. Can you understand her feelings? Have you ever felt this way? How did you deal with it?
3. Alyssa started a chimney fire because of nests or food stashed in the chimney by small animals. Would you make the same mistake? Why or why not?
4. What does Alyssa do with her parents' checks? What would you do with them?
5. What traits do you think make Ben Cooper irresistible to Alyssa? Why is he exactly the man to test her resolve to stand on her own? Does Alyssa have traits that make her his perfect match?
6. Can you understand why Hope will not accept Alyssa? Why is she worried about her dad? Is there anything Alyssa could have done to help the girl? Could Ben have done more to help his daughter?
7. Why do you think Joey was immediately comfortable with Ben? Which interactions between the man and boy paved the way?
8. Who is Ben's mentor? Why? How has his mentor influenced him? Who is Alyssa's mentor? Why? How has her mentor shaped her?
9. Alyssa and her parents have a complicated relationship. Can you understand her parents' concern for their daughter and their grandsons? Can you understand Alyssa's need to become her own person?
10. Did Ben go above and beyond the norm when he adopted Hope? Have you ever known somebody who amazed you with his or her capacity to love? Did this person have a close relationship with God? Are you one of those people?
11. Alyssa dearly loves Joey, but she can't help blaming herself for disappointing her parents, her boyfriend and herself with an unplanned pregnancy. Have you ever had mixed feelings surrounding a choice you made when you were young and inexperienced? Do you understand why you made the choice you did? Are you cautious about making choices as a result?
12. Do you think Ben's mother leaving when he was eight has had a bearing on his avoidance of a serious relationship with a woman? What reason does he give for it?
13. Do you understand why Alyssa finds helping others so rewarding? What do you think it represents to her?
14. Alyssa feels that having a purpose will help her cope with the anniversary of her husband's death. Have you ever faced a difficult anniversary? How did you cope with it?
15. "In as much as ye have done it unto the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me." ~Matthew 25:40, King James Version. Have you ever found it difficult to live by these words? Why or why not?