Discussion Questions for Faces of Courage

 

Discussion Questions for Faces of Courage

1. Faith in the Lord is the beginning of courage. How would you describe Olivia’s faith at the beginning of Faces of Courage, and how would you compare her faith at the end?
2. Olivia had a difficult childhood and had vowed she wouldn’t marry someone who was abusive. What do you think drew Olivia to Frank and led her to marry him? Did she pray about her decision before marrying him? Why or Why not, do you think?
3. Domestic abuse is frequently perpetrated by people who have experienced abuse themselves as children. Frank seemed to have a stable childhood home without such abuse. What do you think led Frank to being abusive?
4. According to Winnie the Pooh: A friend is one of the nicest things you can have, and one of the best things you can be. Olivia has two best friends–Carmen and Vanessa. What role do you think each played in her life? What role did she play in their lives?
5. Olivia’s mother-in-law Katherine mentored her in her faith during her visit to Frank and Ollivia. Who in your life has been a trusted mentor and how did that mentorship shape your faith?
6. The words “You have cancer” can drop a person to her knees. What was Olivia’s reaction? What was Olivia’s faith journey toward trusting the Lord through her cancer?
7. Frank abdicated his role of husband and caregiver, yet Frank’s mother sacrificed by moving to California and taking care of Olivia. How could mother and son have been so different? What experiences led to Katherine’s courage?
8. Experiencing the loss of a parent, whether through death or desertion, is devastating to children. How did Olivia and Katherine comfort Zoe and Dylan? If you have lost a parent or any loved one, what comforted you the most?
9. The main theme in Faces of Courage is courage at the intersection of faith and grit. What exemplified Olivia’s faith and what actions showed her grit?
10. Olivia wasn’t looking for romance after Frank left her, but Dr. Lance Gordon went from being her radiation doctor to romancing her. Was it appropriate on Dr. Gordon’s part? Did Olivia handle it with integrity? Did she make the right decision in the end?
11. The Lord often uses our pain to help others in their pain. Did Olivia want to help others? What held her back? What freed her to move forward?
12. Fiction should emotionally connect the reader to the characters. In which scene did you have the most empathy for Olivia? Which did you find the most encouraging to you personally?

 

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