InterviewQuestionsandAnswers:StoryOverview:

OnAugust4th2014,GrandRapids,Michiganresidentswerehorrifiedtohearthenewsthattwelve-year-oldJamarionLawhornwassounhappywithhislifethathewantedtodie.Believingthepolicewouldcomekillhimifhekilledsomeoneelse,heluredaboyhehadnevermet,mynine-year-oldgrandson,ConnorVerkerke,toaplaygroundacrossthestreetfromConnor’shome.WhenConnorfellfacedownofftheslide,JamarionbeganstabbinghiminthebackuntilConnorgotawayandranhomewithhisbrother.AsConnorlaydyingonhisbackporch,hiswordsofloveandforgivenesstohisfranticparentsandbrothersforevertouchedtheheartsofallwholovedhim.Thisbookisthestoryofthatlove,forgiveness,andcompassion.

Whatinspiredyoutowritethisstory?

TheweekbeforeConnorwaskilled,heannouncedtomethatIshouldwriteabook.WhenIaskedwhatIcouldpossiblywriteabookabout,heassuredmethatIshouldwriteabookaboutlove.Lookingbackonthis,Iwonderifheknewthatsomethingwasabouttohappen?Didhehaveasensethathewasabouttodie?IttookmemorethanayeartorecoverfrommygrieftoeventhinkaboutwritingConnor’sstory,butbecauseConnor’slifereflectedgreatloveandcompassion,Ifeltcompelledtotellhisstorytotheworld.

Youmentioninthebookthatyouexperiencedmanymiraclesaroundyourgrandson’smurder.Howwereyouabletoseemiraclesandnotjustasenselesstragedy?

ConnorandIhadspenthislastsummerstudyingtheteachingsofHisHolinesstheIVDalaiLama.ConnorwascompletelyfascinatedwiththeDalaiLama’steachingthatweshouldfindgreatnessineveryoneandeverythingweexperienced.WhenConnorwaskilled,IrealizedthatIhadachoicetoseeonlyatragedyortousethischallengingexperiencetofindandbuildinnerstrength.Fortunately,IfeltGod’spresenceinmylifesustainingme,liftingme,andhelpingmetobecomemoreofwhoIam.IgiveallthecredittoGod–HeshowedhimselfandhisloveinthemosttryingofmytimesandIbecameareflectionofthatlove.

YouwriteaboutthefactthatyouhavearelationshipwithJamarion’smother–tellusaboutthat.

Ihadtheopportunitytomeethismother,Anita,afewweeksafterthemurder.Shewasasdevastatedaswewereandshecontinuedtoapologizeforherson’sactions.BecauseIspenttimewithAnitaandexperiencedhergriefandagony,Ididn’tjusthearherstoryfromthepress’pointofview.Wecontinuedtotalkduringhearingsandthetrialandwerealizedthatwebothcomefromsimilarbackgroundsofaddiction,abuse,andmentalillnessandwearebothcommittedtorisingaboveourpastandbecominghealthyproductivewomenwhocanbringaboutchangeinourworld.