"Tragedy and Trust: Can You Still Trust God After Losing a Child?" is a Christian book by Thom Vines and John Michael Vestal. Published through Author House. It is currently available at Amazon and also Barnes and Noble sites, both as an e-book or hard copies.
On September 2, 2008, a 40,000 dump truck veered into the lane of a Grand Am. Kelsey, my daughter, was driving. She was killed instantly.
The book is not only about the grief process, but it is primarily to address the searing question any Christian has after facing tragedy: can I still trust God? I, as the father, and John John Michael, as the boyfriend, are the primary authors. That said, each family member, as well as classmates and community members contributed to the manuscript in some way.
The primary purpose of the book is five-fold:
1. first and foremost, give praise to God for his redeeming love;
2. profits will go to help fund the Kelsey Vines Memorial Scholarship, which we award to two Lubbock-Cooper grads each May;
3. help parents and others who have lost a child, sibling or loved one;
4. help others suffering tragedy that have spiritual questions (losing a child is the the only kind of tragedy); and,
5. say thank you to the wonderful community of Lubbock-Cooper, as well as others.
While the book is currently available online, we plan the major kick-off for the book for April 7, the twins's 21st birthday. John Michael and I will be on Sharon Maines's morning show on April 5.
God bless.
Thom Vines
8 comments:
Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family daily. Kelsey will always be remembered! I still remember when I worked at the Intermediate and would see the twins together, Kelsey was always the silly one. She always had a smile on her face. God bless you all!!
I never got to meet Kelsey, seeing as I'm just now a Freshman at Lubbock-Cooper, but my sister was apparently touched by her life. I just finished your book tonight, and it touched me. She seemed like a wonderful person just from the description in the book. I want you to know that your family has been the only thing on my mind the last 2 days. I grieve for your loss, but I am happy you found your way to God. In that sense, you guided me closer to God through this book.
My name is Sheril and my son was killed in a car accident 8 months ago. It was the day before his 21st birthday. My aunt from Brownfield sent me your book and once I started it I couldn't put it down. There are so many comparisons. I don't know if it will ever get any easier for me I think I just have to learn to cope differently each day. The only thing that gets me through each day is knowing that Tyler is now living in paradise with our heavenly father. Thank you so much for writing this book. It really touched my heart.
Sheril Conner
Okay, I admit it. I am a technological dinosaur. I just got this comment part up
going today and that was with the help of Richard Fay. First, thank you for your response and your support of the scholarship. Mary Ann, I signed the book and Bec will bring it to you on Monday. You are so right: Kelsey was always the silly one. Just one of the things I really miss.
Steven, I am glad the book helped. What I have learned is God is in control. We just fool ourselves into they we are.
That was "thinking" not "they"
Sheril, I am so sorry for your loss. Everytime I hear of a parent losing a child I get sick because I know what they are going through. Losing a child is not something we ever get over. You are right about our kids being in paradise. They are doing great! And the extra good news: we will see them again. In the interim, the daily grief will continue. Yesterday was the twins's 21st birthday. I could not get to sleep because Kelsey was born at 11:59 pm. I just had to see that time come up on the clock. But it still was bittersweet. God bless
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