Excerpt

 My Heart Remembers Discussion Questions: by Kim Vogel Sawyer

1. When Mr. Gallagher realizes the tenement is on fire, he immediately puts three items in a  bag to be saved. Why did he choose these particular things? If you were in a similar  situation, for what items would you reach and why?

2.   Maelle promises her Da she will look after the wee ones. How does this promise affect  the direction her life takes?

3.   Why is important that Molly/Isabelle receives the family Bible? How different would the  story be if she had been given the picture or letters?

4. Molly/Isabelle underwent a tremendous life-change after Petey’s accident. Has God ever  used a traumatic event to create a life-change in you?

5. Mattie was severely mistreated by Lester Jenx, yet in the end, that very mistreatment  served as the means to overthrow Jenks’ self-serving plans. What “unpleasantness” in  your life has God used for the ultimate good of yourself or someone else?

6. Maelle carried a dream in her heart for nearly two decades. Her hope waned, yet she  never completely let go. Can dreams become burdens? Are there times we should release  long-held dreams? How can we know whether we should continue to pursue or to let go?

7. Each of the children built barriers behind which to hide: Maelle hid her femininity in  men’s clothing; Matt avoided Missouri; and Molly/Isabelle clung to her status as  “wealthy.” What eventually brought down their barriers? Were they stronger or weaker  after emerging from those barriers?

8. Maelle and Matt grew up knowing they were adopted; Molly/Isabelle found out suddenly  as an adult. How did these different experiences affect their attitudes toward their own  identities? Which child had the strongest sense of personal identity? Which had the  weakest? What experiences and facts about ourselves give us our sense of who we are?

9. Each Gallagher child becomes involved in the plight of the working children. What were  the motivations for championing this social cause?

10. In the end, the children’s pathways crossed in one small part of the world.  Coincidence…or Providence?

11. What themes did you see emerge as the story progressed? What message was the author  trying to present to the reader?

12. The scriptures tell us that “all things work together for good” for those who love God.  Could you see evidence of God’s hand at work in these children’s lives?

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