“written not with ink but with the spirit of the living God”
“the most important lessons of life”
“truly, an inspiring incredible young woman”
“a life lived to its fullest”
“a beautiful, life giving book” “this will nourish your soul”
I was so delighted to receive this beautiful tribute to Renee and the book from Richard Blackaby, PhD, President of Blackaby Ministries International, co-author, Experiencing God
“Whispers from Heaven . . . Then she was gone is a beautiful tribute to an amazing young woman. People often focus on living long lives rather than meaningful ones. Renee made her life count. She filled her life with noble pursuits, special relationships, and pursuing God’s will. While we cannot know why God chooses for some people’s lives to seemingly end prematurely, we can be confident that our days are held firmly in His hands. You cannot choose how long you will live, but you can decide to live in such a way that there are many people who are sad to see you go. May Renee’s life inspire you to live your life well. And, as Jonathan Swift advised: May you live all the days of your life.”
How does one cope with the loss of a child?
Can one come to understand such tragedy?
To accept such loss? To reach a place of peace? And possibly even joy?
Can one learn to love even more?
These are questions every parent who has lost a child faces. Karyl Rickard, a nationally renowned PhD pediatric nutritionist, is first and foremost a mother who lost her 28-year-old daughter suddenly and unexpectedly. This is in part Karyl’s story of her ongoing journey of trying to understand. You will find an unshakeable faith here, trust in a loving Creator who is always present, who guides Karyl and her family through this perhaps most difficult of any challenge life can bring.
This book is a testament to Karyl and her family, but also a memoir of and for Renee. After Renee died, Karyl went back and met with countless relatives, friends, colleagues, mentors, and mentees – and gives us a rich and inspiring insight into Renee capturing her generous, vivacious, kind and humorous spirit. Karyl understands her daughter as an ordinary person – but with extraordinary gifts, which she shared humbly and continuously with others. Renee changed the nature of life for so many by simply being present – by being a constant in their lives, someone even children could turn to safely and share their deepest feelings, one who understood the importance of a tear or a laugh or a giggle, of a song, of a bird or turtle or puppy – who could help put life’s challenges in perspective and embrace the joy or absurdity or import of moments we all share. One of her closest childhood friends gave Renee perhaps the greatest of compliments, saying…“Renee made me feel good about myself, exactly as I was without having to change, to look different, to have different interests. She loved me for who I was”.
Karyl tackles all of the right questions and describes her challenges in seeking answers – her own frailty in trying to understand, dealing with her own recurring doubts, and finally her ultimate trust in a loving God who embraces Renee, and is embraced by Renee. Karyl understands that if we believe in a Loving God, that somehow that Love has to be powerful enough to encompass the greatest joys and the greatest sorrows of our life passage. And this ultimately brings true peace and understanding to us, such that we can channel again that love for our Creator and for our Creation and all who dwell in it.
James A. Lemons, MD
Hugh McK. Landon Professor of Pediatrics, Emeritus
Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis