The Crown Without The Conflict

Linda, a young mother of six, enjoys a beautiful spring day with her two youngest children. As she is fixing the lawnmower, Vaughn, the big brother, leads little sister Aisha into an old camper to play. Linda hears Aisha scream and looks up to see black smoke pouring from the camper. How does a mother watch two of her children burn to death in a blazing inferno? How can life change forever in a few seconds? David and Linda share their feelings and the facts of that afternoon of horror, when their life turns into a ?Grief Puzzle.' They grasp onto the outside edged pieces first; the ones that make them numb and enable them to go through the motions; the ones that allow them to comfort others and even speak at the funeral. God allows tragedies, but He weeps and sends comfort through His Spirit. The inside pieces of the puzzle are exploding in turmoil like their broken hearts. These are the if only's, the whys, the terror. These are the deep, dark holes of sadness beneath two small white caskets being laid to rest. They must search for and separate these pieces from the blue sky and light breezy pieces -- the happy memories that can fill the holes of despair. They must hold onto their faith in the Savior Jesus Christ. He alone knows how the pieces fit together. He suffered their sadness and pain. As they put this experience on paper, it brings more healing and closure, as well as hope and comfort for others. David and Linda hit bottom individually and came back as one to build a new puzzle. It will not be perfect or complete until they embrace all of their children and feel the loving arms of the Savior around their family and hear Him say, ?Welcome back, I missed you.' Garna MickelsenJamison, David is the author of 'The Crown Without The Conflict' with ISBN 9781599710730 and ISBN 1599710730.