Introduction

The sudden loss of her husband empowers a young widow to open herself to a path of true acceptance.

An accomplished athlete, businesswoman, and mother, author Jennifer Hawkins believes she has everything, until one morning she wakes up to find her husband's lifeless body lying in their bed. Shaken to the core of her being, Jennifer struggles to put her shattered world back together, rebalancing relationships with friends, family, and her own children as she comes to grips with the vacuum created by the loss of her husband.

Jennifer teeters on the brink of despair, until she hears a voice--a voice she never thought she would hear again. It is the voice of her husband, who in six simple words tells her of the tragedy that would have occurred had he stayed--how his leaving saved a life, one whose loss would have had ripple effects that were inconceivable.

Few memoirs deliver such an inspirational message of loss and redemption, of sorrow, mercy, and reawakening. Jennifer's story proves that love never dies. It only becomes more powerful as it bridges the gap between our world and the vast, nurturing universe that lies beyond.

Editorial Review

No editorial review at this time.

Excerpt

I woke up at 6:40 after sleeping soundly for an unheard-of nine

hours. I looked over to see if Mark was awake. He was, and he

smiled at me.

Just then, Connor and Brannon came running into the bed-

room and jumped on our bed. Mark rolled over and held me in

his arms while the boys pulled open the covers and snuck in. They

began to tease Mark to play with them and let go of me. He didn't.

I relaxed into his arms and enjoyed the sensation of my hus-

band, my boys, and me, snuggled together: intimate, comfortable,

a family. I wanted the moment to last forever.

Later in the day, Mark and I went out to lunch. While we were

ordering our food I said, "I'm so excited for our trip to Cozumel

next month."

Mark said, "I know! Can you believe we will be swimming in

the ocean in five weeks?"

I laughed and said, "I hope it isn't like our honeymoon!"

Mark laughed too while we both remembered that escapade.

Then Mark said, "We need to get the boys' passports."

I'd forgotten about that. I said, "Did you find out what we

need to do?"

He said, "yes, we both have to take them to the counter at the


passport place and bring all four of our birth certificates. Then they

will put a rush on them and we'll get them in time for our trip."

I said, "should we do that tomorrow after we pick them up

from school?"

He said, "That's exactly what I was thinking."

after lunch, Mark went to work downstairs in his office while

I went upstairs to my office to check on a few things. But I couldn't

concentrate. I went down and knocked on Mark's door. I wanted

to talk with him about the changes in our marriage and how happy

I was since we had started counseling, but when I saw the look on

his face, I simply walked over and sat on his lap.

He held me in his arms for a couple of minutes and then took

my hand and, without a word, led me upstairs to our bedroom.

after working in the house together for five years, that was a first.

When the boys got home from school, we took them on a bike

ride around the neighborhood and then cooked dinner together.

Before we started eating we did our "five seconds": We held hands

and were quiet for five seconds, and then each of us said what we

were thankful for.

The boys were thankful for their food, as usual. Mark said he

was thankful for his family, as usual. I said I was thankful for Mark.

While I was doing the dishes, Mark took the boys upstairs and

gave them their baths. Later I walked in to brush my teeth. Brannon

looked up at me from the tub with a face full of bubbles and made a

big "smack" with his lips as if he were kissing me. I just laughed.

Mark read to the boys and put them in bed. He told them sto-

ries about his grandparents, Big Granny and Big Poppy, and their

dogs, elmo and Mandy, who were up in heaven playing.

after he finished, Mark came downstairs, and we cuddled on

the couch and watched a couple of episodes of Friday Night Lights.

typically we would go to bed around ten o'clock, but tonight, at

ten thirty, Mark asked if I wanted to watch just one more show.


I said, "No, I'm pretty tired." He seemed kind of sad but let it

go.

When I got up to our bathroom, I looked at the mirror and

started laughing. Mark had taped a note there and written it as if it

were from Brannon to me. It said, "smack! I love you, Brannon." It

even had a set of lips drawn on the note.

as we were lying in bed, a fulfilling sense of peace and warmth

came over me. I realized that I felt similarly to the day we had gotten

married. everything felt right. I remembered that day and how the

night before, a storm had come rolling through the hills. The excite-

ment of our wedding had been as thick in the air as the smell of the

rain. Now the joyful anticipation of our future life together rolled

through me like a strong, sure current. Mark scooted over, held me

for a while, gave me a kiss, and said, "I love you."

"I love you too, sweetie."

But then he added, "No, I really, really love you."

This was the first time he had ever said it quite that way, and it

felt delicious.

I looked up at him and said, "I really, really love you too."

The last thing I remember thinking before I drifted off to sleep

was, "I am so excited for the next year of our lives. I can't wait to

spend it together with this amazing man and our family."

... view entire excerpt...

Discussion Questions

From the publisher:

1. Jen experiences a great personal loss she describes as a “pain spreading through [her] body like a wave.” Have you ever lost a loved one or experienced a period of deep sadness? Can you relate to Jen and her emotional journey? Did you see anything in her story that resembles your own life story? Did you find acceptance and comfort in a way similar to Jen?
2. Do you think the voice Jen heard throughout the book was really Mark? Does communication with those who have passed away exist? Do you believe that her life would have happened as Mark said it would had he not died?
3. Not only did Jen have to endure the loss of her husband, but she also had to be strong for her two children. How do you think Jen handled having to tell her boys about their father's death? If you were in her place, how would you have dealt with this difficult situation?
4. Toward the end of the book, Jen develops romantic feelings for David. How long should a person wait to date someone after the death of her significant other? Do you agree with Jen's decision to tell David how she felt?

Weblinks

»	Publisher's Book Info
»	Official web site for The Gift Giver

Book Club Recommendations

Recommended to book clubs by 0 of 0 members.

Member Reviews

There are no user reviews at this time.
Rate this book