Friendship for Grown-Ups

Former Facts of Life star Lisa Whelchel shares her experiences of growing up without true friends and how she learned to find and develop them as an adult through God's grace.

Not many people can say they lived their most crucial developmental years on the sound stage of a wildly popular TV show. But that's exactly what happened in Lisa Whelchel's life. As a child, she learned to guard her heart so tightly to avoid true hurt that she found herself unable to form lasting friendships as an adult.

Friendship for Grown-Ups details her experiences of learning to come out of her shell, to trust, risk, and become vulnerable by God's grace and find meaningful friendships. Readers encounter her captivating story and refreshing perspective on life's most precious gift—and they find practical tips for their own friendships along the way.

Book Review

Having read a few of Lisa Whelchel's books, I was already familiar with her easy and enjoyable writing style.     However, in this book Lisa truly opens up and allows readers to become more than that and see into her heart.     Coming to a point in her life where she could share more openly has not only been a long road, it has been a struggle.    

Being a child star may seem fun and glamorous to those viewing it from the other side of the television screen, but for Lisa it caused her to build up walls which would protect her heart and what little self-esteem she had.    

For a lot of people there is nothing like facing those years with good friends by your side.    That is what Lisa discovered that she was missing.     She had become so walled up that she hadn't allowed herself to have good or even best friends.     She had plenty of acquaintance friends, but none close enough to truly know her.     

It took one friend who was willing to painstakingly chip away at the wall and be patient until Lisa was willing to show some vulnerability.      Lisa shares what she learned on this path to finding true friendships.  

She realizes that this is a journey that we must each take for ourselves, but she hopes to make it just a little less bumpy by giving us some advice.   

Such an easy friend from someone we have all considered a friend since watching "Facts of Life"!

Thomas Nelson gave me five copies to give away to readers.      Typically I would give these away as part of a giveaway, but this time I did things a little differently.    

The winners of these copies are...

Sheri - because you are my best friend
Emily - because you inspire me with all you manage to do for others
Shelby - because you are in a new chapter of your life and I pray that friendships will help guide you through the grief you are experiencing
Vicki - because every girl needs a friend as a hairdresser
Shera - because we both loved "Facts of Life"