Safe in His Arms (18 page)

“Hey, I haven't had the chance to kiss the bride.” Brian corrected that mistake by quickly bussing his daughter and then moving on to shake his son-in-law's hand.

“Sir, I promise to take very good care of your daughter and your granddaughter,” Joe said, with a serious expression.

Brian grinned. “Oh, I don't have any doubt about that. Our daughter has a good head on her shoulders. We're certain she has chosen well. And don't kid your
self about taking care of her. She'll be taking care of you, too.”

As the members of the bridal party stepped back, taking their places in the receiving line, Joe turned to his bride. “This really happened, didn't it?”

“Oh yeah. Are you sorry?”

“How could I be sorry when I've just been blessed with the two best things I never knew I wanted? You don't ever have to give me a gift from now on because you can't top this.”

He leaned in and brushed his lips sweetly across hers.

“I want a kiss, too,” Emma said.

He reached down and lifted Emma into his arms, and her guardians pressed kisses to both of her cheeks.

As he lowered the child back to the ground, Lindsay couldn't help watching Joe. It wasn't so long ago that he'd carried her from the accident, and now she carried him in her heart. As two people who'd known the tragedy of loss and the fleeting quality of life, they realized that a love like theirs was precious and rare. They were clinging to it with all their might. They would face the future together—just Joe and Lindsay and Emma…hand in hand in hand.

Dear Reader,

If you're like me, sometimes you look in the mirror and see imperfections. I find myself thinking, “If only this were a little smaller or smoother.” Even away from the mirror, I sometimes wish that I had better math or time-management skills. I have to be reminded that I am a child of God, created in His image, and that as a Christian I should love all of His creations. Myself included.

I explored this idea in
Safe in His Arms.
Lindsay Collins has no trouble putting her trust in God, but she has a much more difficult time loving herself. Before she can find a lifetime love, she must learn that she is precious to God and worthy of love. I like the words in the beginning of Genesis 1:31a: “And God saw everything that he had made and behold it was very good.” If God sees such value in His creations, then shouldn't we learn to appreciate ourselves, imperfections included?

I love hearing from readers and may be contacted through my website, www.danacorbit.com, or through regular mail at P.O. Box 2251, Farmington Hills, MI 48333-2251 or friend me on Facebook.

1. As Lindsay searches for answers to fill the blanks in her memory over her tragic accident, her mother suggests that some stones are better left unturned. Are there times when we are really better off not knowing the whole truth? Or is the truth vital, no matter how painful? Why or why not?
   
2. Lindsay's parents worry that she won't be a good guardian for Emma. What are some of the qualities necessary to be a good guardian for someone else's child, and which of these qualities does Lindsay possess?
   
3. Joe and Lindsay share the experience of growing up with high expectations from their families. How did they respond differently to those expectations? How did your parents' expectations mold your development, and how have yours affected your children?
   
4. Lindsay insists that the poem Joe carried in his state trooper's hat and left with her at the hospital was a sign that he hadn't lost his faith. What do you think the poem says about the man who carried it around with him?
   
5. Why does Lindsay believe Joe should have pulled Delia from the wreckage first? What are your thoughts on society placing more value on specific victims, such as young parents over other adults?
   
6. Lindsay feels guilty over her attraction to Joe Rossetti because she wonders if it might be a betrayal of her sister's memory. Are her feelings justified? What are some ways that she could get past those feelings?
   
7. The symbolism of Lindsay being safe in Joe's arms and all of us finding safety in the Father's arms is central to this story. Have you ever experienced a tough time in your life when you felt safe knowing that God was carrying you?
   
8. For Joe, the accident involving Lindsay and her sister was the night he lost his edge as a police officer. How might a police officer who questions his reactions and second-guesses his decisions be a danger to himself or the public?
   
9. Lindsay mourns the loss of her sister and her personal freedom, but she feels guilty because she misses running, as well. Why would the loss of that activity be so important to Lindsay? Have you ever mourned the loss of an activity you were passionate about when you had to give it up?
   
10. Lindsay believes her faith is strong, and yet she has a difficult time loving herself. Can a person really love God with all her heart and yet not love herself as one of His creations?
    
11. Why does Lindsay suspect that Joe is hiding something about the accident? If you were Lindsay, which would you find harder to forgive, the stark truth or that Joe kept part of that truth from you?
    
12. Why is it so significant that Joe brings Lindsay to meet his friends Brett and Tricia? Describe the first time you introduced your future spouse to your friends. Was that meeting or the meeting with your parents more difficult?
    
13. Lindsay has grown up with the favoritism her parents showed to her sister, and she must address that pain with her parents as she proves she is the best guardian for Emma. Do you agree with how she approaches her parents? How would you have handled it differently?
    
14. Though Lindsay constantly worries about making mistakes as she cares for Emma, Joe encourages her to give herself a break. Which things are more important in parenting—schedules and rules or time and effort?
    
15. Joe questions whether a loving God would have allowed him and Emma to grow up without their mothers and why He would have allowed tragedies to take place. Is it okay for Christians to question God? How do you justify those types of tragedies in your mind?