Leota's Garden - Discussion Guide

Dear Reader,

You have just finished the poignant story of Leota’s Garden by Francine Rivers. As always, Francine desires for you, the reader, to go to God’s Word to discover His
principles for living. The following questions are merely a portal to exploring all God has for you.

Leota was a virtuous woman with godly intentions. However, she did not live in a perfect world with a perfect family and ideal circumstances. Rather, Leota and her family represent the typical dysfunctional family. Leota tried to keep the peace out of respect for her husband and her elders. Her silence cost her!

Like Leota, we live in an imperfect world. We each find elements of dysfunction in our own families. God has called us not to “keep the peace,” but to be  peacemakers. Making peace always means confronting the truth—confronting the truth in love and kindness.

May God bless you and challenge you to be a peacemaker.

Peggy Lynch

Who can find a virtuous and capable wife? She is more precious than rubies. Her husband can trust her, and she will greatly enrich his life. She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life.

She finds wool and flax and busily spins it. She is like a merchant’s ship, bringing her food from afar. She gets up before dawn to prepare breakfast for her household and plan the day’s work for her servant girls.

She goes to inspect a field and buys it; with her earnings she plants a vineyard. She is energetic and strong, a hard worker. She makes sure her dealings are profitable; her lamp burns late into the night.

Her hands are busy. . . . She extends a helping hand to the poor and opens her arms to the needy. She has no fear of winter for her household, for everyone has warm clothes. . . .

Her husband is well known at the city gates, where he sits with the other civic leaders. . . .

She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future. When she speaks, her words are wise, and she gives instructions with kindness. She carefully watches everything in her household and suffers nothing from laziness.

Her children stand and bless her. Her husband praises her. . . .

Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last; but a woman who fears the Lord will be greatly praised. Reward her for all she has done. Let her deeds publicly declare her praise. Proverbs 31:10-31

1. Discuss Leota in light of the woman described in this passage. In what ways is she like this woman? How is she different?

2. Compare Grandma Helene, Nora, and Anne-Lynn to the woman described above. How does each of them fall short or measure up?

3. How do you compare to the woman, husband, and/or children described here?

Children, obey your parents because you belong to the Lord, for this is the right thing to do. “Honor your father and mother.” This is the first commandment with a promise: If you honor your father and mother, “things will go well for you, and you will have a long life on the earth.”

Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger by the way you treat them. Rather, bring them up with the discipline and instruction that comes from the Lord. Ephesians 6:1-4

4. Considering this passage, as well as the husband described in the Proverbs passage above, discuss Bernard’s role in the lives of his children. How did he treat their mother? How did he add to their alienation? In what ways did he contribute to the wedge created by the grandparents? How did he avoid the truth? How is Nora’s husband, Fred, different?

5. Compare Leota and Nora as mothers. In what ways were their parenting styles different? In what ways were they the same? How do you account for the differences?

6. Compare Nora and Annie as children. Discuss their motivations. What contributed to their differences? In what ways, if any, were they alike?

7. What have your parents passed on to you? In what ways have they shaped who and how you are? What unfinished business is there in your family?

Run from anything that stimulates youthful lusts. Instead, pursue righteous living, faithfulness, love, and peace. Enjoy the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts.

Again I say, don’t get involved in foolish, ignorant arguments that only start fights. A servant of the Lord must not quarrel but must be kind to everyone, be able to teach, and be patient with difficult people. Gently instruct those who oppose the truth. Perhaps God will change those people’s hearts, and they will learn the truth. 2 Timothy 2:22-25

8. Discuss Corban and Sam in light of this passage. What had Sam learned, and at what cost? In what ways did he demonstrate that God had changed his heart? What does Corban learn about wrong companionship? What does he discover about himself?

9. Contrast Susan and Ruth. Both young women are modern; however, they choose to run in different directions. How does each of them deal with truth? How do friends influence them?

10. What companionships do you pursue? How do you handle truth? How well do you know yourself? Explain. What changes does God need to make in your heart?

Speak the truth in love. . . . Stop telling lies. Let us tell our neighbors the truth, for we are all parts of the same body. And “don’t sin by letting anger control you.” Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, for anger gives a foothold to the devil. . . . Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you. Ephesians 4:15, 25-27, 32

Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results. James 5:16

11. What lies does Leota harbor? What lies does Nora harbor? What lies do you harbor?

12. When Leota confesses and speaks the truth in love, what happens? Why do you think God chose Leota’s granddaughter as the one to hear?

13. Leota found solace in the garden she planted and maintained, yet she was lonely and estranged from her family. As she learns to speak the truth in love, she finds solace watching her garden develop into a gathering place for family and friends. She is no longer lonely, and the longing of her heart for her children begins to be fulfilled. What does your heart long for? What truth might you need to speak of in order to experience God’s fullest blessings? Speak the truth to God, your heavenly Father. Speak the truth to those who need to hear it from you. Do it today! Then trust God to bless your obedience in His time and in His way.