Chapter Two – The
Healing Power of Words (p. 9-17)
1. First and foremost, the best way to help someone who is ill,
lonely, depressed, or dying is to
a. know the right thing to say to them.
b. promise them that they will get better.
c. just be with that person.
d. tell them that you believe in miracles.
Chapter Three -- Completing Relationships (p. 18-25)
2. In helping Mr. Polansky say "I love you" to his adulterous wife,
what did his counselor, Lynne, NOT do?
a. She told him to imagine his wife as she once was, when he was "head
over heals in love with her."
b. She told him to whisper very, very gently to his wife's back, "I love
you" as they lay in bed at night.
c. She told him "What have you got to lose?"
d. She promised him that his wife would respond positively to him if he said
"I love you" to her our loud.
3. Toward the end of his life, what prompted Herb Cahill at age 74, to go
around making amends with his family, including apologizing to his daughter,
Diane, for "not being much of a father"?
a. He lost an old Navy friend and his barber suddenly died.
b. His doctor informed him he had a terminal illness.
c. He had a long talk with his minister.
d. He had a strong premonition that he was going to die soon.
Chapter Four -- Transformations (p. 26-33)
4. As he was dying from emphysema from a lifelong smoking habit, what
suddenly transformed Steve Morris from a quiet Montana cowboy into a man who
became close to his family?
a. He asked forgiveness from the people he cared most about.
b. His health suddenly improved.
c. His adult daughters asked for his forgiveness.
d. His wife taught him how to be more affectionate.
Chapter Five -- Loved Ones Live On Inside Us (p. 39-49)
5. As her father was dying from pancreatic cancer, Carla shared many
apologies and expressions of love with him. In contrast, her brother Paul
was left with unresolved resentment after his father died. In what way can a
counselor be helpful to Paul?
a. A counselor can help Paul to forgive his father for his mistakes and
faults.
b. A counselor can help Paul forgive himself for his own regrets and
mistakes.
c. A counselor can help Paul to decrease his anger toward his father by
increasing Paul's compassion for his father's depression and final illness.
d. All of the above.Chapter Six – Resolving a Legacy of Pain (p.
50-57)
6. In final talks with her mother, what did Jennifer learn why she
experienced so much of her mother's hatred, anger, physical punishment,
screaming, criticism, name-calling, and cold-shoulder treatment?
a. Her mother told her she never wanted children and got pregnant by
mistake.
b. Jennifer's mother learned much of her destructive behavior from her own
mother (Jennifer's grandmother).
c. Jennifer's mother drank too much.
d. Jennifer's mother suffered from manic-depression.
7. What did Jennifer's mother say to her that had a profound healing
effect on Jennifer?
a. "I know I passed things to you that my mother passed to me, that were
destructive."
b. "I don't have to be destructive anymore. The bad stuff can stop. The good
stuff can be passed on."
c. "You are the artist of my life. I am so proud of you."
d. All of the above.
Chapter Seven – The Emotional Economics of Forgiveness (p. 58-68)
8. Avi's father had completely shut Avi out of his life. At age 45, Avi met
with a counselor who convinced him to say the Four Things to his father as
he lay dying from lung cancer. Avi found the courage to do so, even
apologizing to his father for not being good enough. What was the father's
response?
a. He was gruff and unappreciative.
b. With tears in his eyes, he hugged Avi and said, "I love you, too."
c. He said nothing.
d. He said "Thank you."
Chapter Eight -- Extreme Acts of Forgiveness (p. 69-77)
9. Who enabled Maeve to forgive her father who repeatedly sexually abused
her from age 9 to age 13?
a. A women's support group encouraged her to forgive him.
b. Maeve's aunt, who was her father's sister, inspired her to forgive him.
c. A good therapist helped Maeve sort out what was normal and what was
damaged. Also, her father apologized to Maeve for what he had done.
d. Maeve's minister encouraged her with true stories about the power of
forgiveness.
Chapter Nine -- Forgiving Yourself (p. 78-86)
10. A piercing lesson we can all take from Susan's story is the
lesson of
a. honesty.
b. self-acceptance.
c. loyalty
d. friendship
Chapter Ten -- Living with Uncertainty and Illness (p. 87-95)
11. Which attitude does the author promote in this chapter for us when we
become ill?
a. We should allow family and friends to care for us if they want to
when we become ill and cooperate with them as much as possible.
b. We should arrange for professional help outside our family and friends to
care for us so we don't become a burden to them.
c. We should seek recovery as quickly as possible so we can regain our
self-sufficiency and independence.
d. We should take measures now to delay or even prevent unnecessary illness.
Chapter Eleven -- Practicing Gratitude (p. 103-112)
12. Which statement was NOT made in this chapter?
a. By paying attention to the details of the ways people give us to us
and show us care and consideration, we become more mindful of our own lives.
We begin to focus on our own good fortune rather than our problems.
b. When we accept ourselves, we are likely to be delighted in and feel
accepted by the world.
c. It is important to bring joy into your life on a regular basis.
d. It is very difficult for people who are terminally ill to experience a
state of joy when death is so close.
Chapter Twelve -- The Unexpected Grace of Reconnection (p. 113-118)
13. Laurie's highlight with her Grandma was when
a. her Grandma acknowledged that she knew how much Laurie loved her.
b. they had a wonderful Thanksgiving together without the effects of
Alzheimer's disease.
c. her Grandma admitted how much she missed her three sisters.
d. her Grandma willingly gave up her independence.
Chapter Thirteen -- The Family Dynamics of Gratitude (p. 119-133)
14. What did Arlene discover was the reason why her step-siblings acted
so distant?
a. The step-siblings blamed Arlene's mother for the break-up of their
parents' marriage.
b. Because of her social phobias, Arlene's mother had never invited them
over for dinner in 25 years of marriage to their father, Conrad.
c. They were grieving the breakup of their parents' marriage.
d. They simply didn't like her mother nor were they ever going to like her.
Chapter Fourteen -- Creative Ways of Saying the Four Things (p. 139-146)
15. What expression of intimacy did Gunter share with his stoic Lutheran
father?
a. a hug
b. a handshake
c. a shave
d. telling him "I love you."
Chapter Fifteen -- Loving the Body (p. 147-152)
16. How did Horace and Louise Whitman respond after finding out about their
son's AIDS?
a. They immediately procured for Mike professional care.
b. They allowed Mike's friends to take him home and care for him.
c. They took Mike into their home and cared for him.
d. They turned him away.
Chapter Sixteen -- Living Every Day as If It Were Your First -- or Last
(p. 153-162)
17. What finally enabled Yvette to celebrate her last moments with her
daughter Gabrielle?
a. When Yvette stopped being angry at God for Gabrielle's illness.
b. When everyone left the room so they could be alone.
c. When they shared an embrace.
d. When Yvette was finally able to accept that her daughter was dying.
Chapter Seventeen -- Lives Intertwined with Love (p. 163-171)
18. What did Lisa ask forgiveness for from her sister, Linda?
a. For being two intertwined in her life and not giving her enough
freedom.
b. For asking her to go through another round of chemotherapy, which
prolonged her agony by two more years with renal d
ia