Excerpt

 Indiana Cousins Discussion Questions by Wanda Brunstetter

1. A tragic accident can change the course of a person’s life. Of the six people who survived the van accident in A Cousin’s Promise, whose lives do you think were the most affected?

2. There was a lot of blaming going on after the accident. Was Loraine justified in blaming herself for suggesting that she and her friends take a trip to Hershey Park? Was her guilt self-inflicted, or did it come about because of the comments Wayne’s mother made?

3. There are times in people’s lives when they become riddled with guilt over something they think they should or shouldn’t have done. What are some ways we can work through such guilt? How can we help someone who is riddled with guilt and blames themselves unnecessarily for something that happened?

4. When Wayne learned that he’d lost a leg as a result of the accident, he fell into depression and called off his wedding, thinking he was less of a man and could no longer provide for a wife and a family. What, if anything, did Wayne’s friends and family do to help him come to grips with his loss?

5. Some people might have a tendency to over-protect or smother someone who has gone through a tragedy such as Wayne did. What are some things that Wayne’s mother could have done differently to help Wayne deal with his loss?

6. Even though Wayne seemed determined to push Loraine away, she was equally determined to keep her promise to marry him. Do you think this was a result of her guilt over the accident, or did she love Wayne unconditionally and want to be his wife despite his handicap?

7. When Jake Beechy, Loraine’s old boyfriend, returned to Indiana, she felt comforted, yet confused. She’d been in love with Jake once and wondered if she could love him again, yet she still had feelings for Wayne. The more Wayne pushed Loraine away, the closer she got to Jake, and the guiltier she felt. Were Loraine’s feelings for Jake deep enough that she should have been able to let go of the promise she’d made to Wayne? Or should Loraine have kept her promise to Wayne despite her past feelings for Jake?

8. If Loraine decided to choose Wayne because she felt sorry for him, how do you think it might have affected their future?

9. Is there ever a time when it’s all right to break a promise you’ve made? Is so, what are some examples of when it might be all right?

10. Was Loraine’s mother right in thinking that Wayne would be a burden to Loraine if she married him? How might Priscilla have been more supportive to her daughter during such a difficult time?

11. Loraine’s cousin Ella was opposed to Loraine going out with Jake. What were her reasons, and were they justified? How did Ella’s attitude toward Jake affect her relationship with Loraine? How might Ella have been more supportive?

12. What life’s lessons did you learn from reading  A Cousin’s Promise, and which scripture verses from the story spoke to your heart the most?

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