Would
you tell us about the most difficult thing in your life you have had to
overcome, with God’s help?
Like most people, I’ve had a few periods of my life that I’d
call difficult. I was blessed to be raised in a Christian home, so I’ve always
sought God’s comfort and direction when those times have occurred.
Three weeks ago, my father went to his heavenly home. I’m
sure he and my mom are having a wonderful reunion, but this time in my life has
been especially difficult.
My mother died of colon cancer in 1996. I was 31, a young
wife and mother, and the loss left a huge hole in my life. I remember very
little of the six months following her death. I went through the actions, but
it’s sort of a blur. A lot of prayers and a lot of tears. I’d cry in the
bathtub, so if my five-year-old asked what was wrong, I could say I got soap in
my eyes.
Although my father had been an insulin dependent diabetic
for nearly 45 years, he died of chronic heart failure. He needed a new aortic
valve, but wasn’t strong enough for open-heart surgery, and they don’t make a
valve big enough for him to have TAVR (a new valve replacement procedure where
they go in through your groin).
Since January, he’d been in the hospital four times, and my
husband had been in once. Hospitals are not the most conducive places for
writing, I can assure you, so with a book due June 1, I felt a lot of
pressure. I’ve clung to the verse, “He
who began a good work in you will carry it on until it is completed.” (Phil.
1:6)
The doctor had given my dad two to six months, but he died
only two weeks after hospice had been set up. Watching a loved one struggle to
breathe is heart breaking, but I can’t even put into words how precious those
moments were for me to say “I love you” one more time. It was also the last
thing he said to me. I think the hardest part of both of their deaths was
telling them it was time to go when everything inside of me wanted to scream Don’t leave me.
My grief is fresh right now. There’s a special ache knowing
both of your parents are gone. I know from my mother’s death that eventually
the painful moments will come at great intervals like when you drop a pebble
into the water, and the rings get farther and farther apart.
As I press on toward my writing goal, I continue to cling to
that verse. My stories come from God,
they’ve always been His, and He will carry them on to completion. When your
heart is hurting and your mind spinning, that’s great news with a looming
deadline.
While Love Stirs
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Disability
friendliness: Is this latest release available in audio format or do you have
any other works available on audio? Do
your e-books have audio capability? Do you have any in large print?
My e-books are audio capable. I wish I had them available in
large print and in audio format, but I don’t yet. I get a lot of requests for
large print, though, and I always suggest using a Kindle or Nook where you can
make the print larger.
In this
latest work, do you have any topics useful for bibliotherapy, or therapeutic
influence through reading about a disorder or situation?
I’d like to think so. Anyone with control issues would
relate to Charlotte and Joel’s struggles. Their healing comes through faith and
trust in God. Charlotte also lost her parents when she was only 17. This is key
to the choices she makes today.
The hero, Joel, has mild OCD. I don’t know if reading about
him would be therapeutic or not. I
modeled him after a friend who I’ve always admired for the way he laughs at
himself. We used to go in his office and turn his ships around. He’d fix them within
minutes of entering the room and just laugh.
Joel grew up with a father who had a debilitating injury which caused chronic pain. His father self-medicated. This all happened during a time period where people didn’t understand those kinds of injuries. Joel heard their hurtful comments and it affected him greatly.
Giveaway: Choice of any of Lorna's books, choice of format, to one commenter.