Today we’d like to introduce you to Candace Johnson.
Hi Candace, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start, maybe you can share some of your backstories with our readers.
Before taking on the title of published author, I also claimed the title of wife to a great man and mother of two beautiful children. I worked as a graphic designer and for fun, often used social media to share witty and relatable life experiences about marriage, motherhood, current events, and anything else I thought would be entertaining. It was on social media that I began to receive feedback that I should write books. I loved writing but had never considered writing a book. So, I eventually packed the thought away with all the other things I’d “maybe get to someday”.
Then life for me changed in October of 2016 when my husband of 11 years suffered a heart attack. He passed away just moments after we shared a long, silent hug before he left the house on foot to pick up our son from Elementary school.
My faith was tested that year. Life was pretty good up until that point. Then within minutes, everything as I had known it – was different. Prior to losing my husband, I had a lackadaisical prayer life. Yes, I had a relationship with God, but I’d never experienced anything that required me to feel like I REALLY needed Him. I prayed daily but didn’t expect anything to change… we went to church… we talked to our children about God… we did all the things. But with the loss of my husband, I found myself running to God seeking refuge in Him because I was heartbroken and knew nowhere else to turn. I didn’t want to burden anyone with my own grief, and I recognized that God possessed (and could provide) the strength that I needed to be able to endure my undesired and difficult role as a widow and single mother. I held tightly to God’s promises to get me through my new way of life. I became closer to Him, and I had a front-row seat in witnessing my own transformation. Soon, my last “checkbox action of the day” prayers went from half-hearted hopes to an unwavering confidence that God WOULD provide all my needs.
As life started feeling less foreign and my children and I found ourselves out from under the heaviness of grief, I turned my attention to the resources that were provided by counselors and loved ones to help children cope with loss. The books I received, while informative and somewhat helpful, didn’t provide the spiritual message of faith that I desired for my children. I wanted my children to understand that while death does mean we can no longer see or spend time with our loved ones, for believers in Christ, death is only a physical loss. Our spirits don’t fade away as our bodies do. Rather, they transition and continue to live on in our eternal Heavenly home.
So, with my love for writing, my strengthen faith, and now – a reason, I began writing my own children’s books. Based on my Christian faith, my books have more of a celebratory message when it comes to coping with the loss of a loved one. My desire is to leave readers with feelings of “not goodbye… just see you later.” Filled with illustrations that children can relate to and are likely comforted by, two of my four books, ‘Cameron’s Dream’ and ‘Lauryn and the Butterfly’ were written with the hopes of positively changing the way believers in Christ view death. Rather than focusing on the finality of death, these books offer readers an alternate perspective by using positive words instead of those typically associated with feelings of sadness. Throughout my books, I use terms such as “going to Heaven party” and “celebration of life” instead of funeral, and “the great promotion” instead of dead.
Both books provide inspirational and uplifting stories that invite the reader to consider the beautiful and exciting afterlife of loved ones who are now living in Heaven. They also shift the reader’s focus from heavy feelings of grief to celebrating the life of those with which they’ll one day reunite. These books not only offer help for those coping with the loss of loved ones, but they also provide a resource to use for conversations about an oftentimes difficult subject that parents, guardians, and loved ones can use in preparation for such challenging times.
I have since received invitations to speak as a special guest reader and had the privilege of having the books featured in several bookstores and retail shops. My latest project is a light-hearted book for widowed individuals with children. I aim to share my own experiences comically while offering helpful insight into things that can be done to help with the healing process. While I wouldn’t have chosen to take this journey, I am thankful that God is allowing me to share my story in hopes of helping others heal. It’s been a tough road to walk, but I’m comforted in knowing that I never have, nor will I ever have to walk it alone.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Coping with the loss of a loved one is hard. Single parenting is no easy walk in the park either. I had to learn that even though time does help and heal, a scar remains. It’s been seven years and some Hallmark movies still evoke a wave of emotions. I had to learn to be okay with saying “no.” I had to learn to relinquish control. I had to learn to accept help even if it didn’t look like it or wasn’t done the way I would normally do things. But most importantly, I learned that mental health and self-care are extremely important. No one can successfully sustain in taking care of others if they’re not taking care of themselves.
Writing has been a huge outlet for me. In addition, the testimonies I’ve received from readers of my books have fueled my choice to be very transparent about my journey. I believe there’s something healing and beneficial about being part of a community. We were not meant to walk alone. Sharing relatable experiences creates relationships and I think that’s important for us all. Challenges are just that… challenging. But I’ve learned that we don’t have to face them alone.
Contact Info:
- Website: littlestguardianangel.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tryfaith.books
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CameronsDream
