InterviewQuestionsandAnswers:
StoryOverview:
OnAugust4th2014,GrandRapids,Michiganresidentswerehorrifiedtohearthenewsthattwelve-yearoldJamarionLawhornwassounhappywithhislifethathewantedtodie.Believingthepolicewould
comekillhimifhekilledsomeoneelse,heluredaboyhehadnevermet,mynine-year-oldgrandson,
ConnorVerkerke,toaplaygroundacrossthestreetfromConnor’shome.WhenConnorfellfacedownoff
theslide,JamarionbeganstabbinghiminthebackuntilConnorgotawayandranhomewithhisbrother.
AsConnorlaydyingonhisbackporch,hiswordsofloveandforgivenesstohisfranticparentsand
brothersforevertouchedtheheartsofallwholovedhim.Thisbookisthestoryofthatlove,forgiveness,
andcompassion.
Whatinspiredyoutowritethisstory?
TheweekbeforeConnorwaskilled,heannouncedtomethatIshouldwriteabook.WhenIaskedwhatI
couldpossiblywriteabookabout,heassuredmethatIshouldwriteabookaboutlove.Lookingbackon
this,Iwonderifheknewthatsomethingwasabouttohappen?Didhehaveasensethathewasaboutto
die?IttookmemorethanayeartorecoverfrommygrieftoeventhinkaboutwritingConnor’sstory,but
becauseConnor’slifereflectedgreatloveandcompassion,Ifeltcompelledtotellhisstorytotheworld.
Youmentioninthebookthatyouexperiencedmanymiraclesaroundyourgrandson’s
murder.Howwereyouabletoseemiraclesandnotjustasenselesstragedy?
ConnorandIhadspenthislastsummerstudyingtheteachingsofHisHolinesstheIVDalaiLama.Connor
wascompletelyfascinatedwiththeDalaiLama’steachingthatweshouldfindgreatnessineveryoneand
everythingweexperienced.WhenConnorwaskilled,IrealizedthatIhadachoicetoseeonlyatragedyor
tousethischallengingexperiencetofindandbuildinnerstrength.Fortunately,IfeltGod’spresencein
mylifesustainingme,liftingme,andhelpingmetobecomemoreofwhoIam.IgiveallthecredittoGod
–HeshowedhimselfandhisloveinthemosttryingofmytimesandIbecameareflectionofthatlove.
YouwriteaboutthefactthatyouhavearelationshipwithJamarion’smother–tellus
aboutthat.
Ihadtheopportunitytomeethismother,Anita,afewweeksafterthemurder.Shewasasdevastatedas
wewereandshecontinuedtoapologizeforherson’sactions.BecauseIspenttimewithAnitaand
experiencedhergriefandagony,Ididn’tjusthearherstoryfromthepress’pointofview.Wecontinued
totalkduringhearingsandthetrialandwerealizedthatwebothcomefromsimilarbackgroundsof
addiction,abuse,andmentalillnessandwearebothcommittedtorisingaboveourpastandbecoming
healthyproductivewomenwhocanbringaboutchangeinourworld.