Choosing Joy: Our Walk through Tragedy

by Chris Swanson

Choosing Joy is the true story of a young Minnesota family overcoming the tragic loss of their four-year-old boy. Cameron was beautiful, full of life, strong-willed, creative, thoughtful, and aware of heavenly things that surprised his parents. He was mischievous in the best sense of the word but also understood when people were sad or needed encouragement. He would whisper in their ears, "I think they need Jesus in their heart." Sadly, his life was cut short in an accident in his own backyard.

On the night of his death, his parents had to make a choice with broken hearts between anger and joy. They had seen other families lose loved ones and how brokenness, addiction, abuse, divorce, and suicide had followed. With other children to care for, they dismissed the bitterness and feelings of abandonment that had already started to creep in, and they chose joy.

As the story unfolds, hear the conversations, see through both parents' eyes, and learn how God revealed His graciousness. Read how they walked through the ups and downs in the months and years that followed, keeping their hope-filled hearts open to be touched by God.

Choosing Joy will help you rekindle hope, forgive, call on God again, and trust His will.

126 pages, Hardcover

First published September 4, 2015

Reviews

[Elizabeth]

Reading the story of Chris and Natalie losing their little boy broke my heart. I can see their strength and their faith within the story.

I just wish that the book would have gone on a bit longer as I feel it was only the very last few chapters that walked us through the tragedy and their recovery. I didn't find the tools that I so hoped those chapters contained on how someone else can choose joy through a similar tragedy. Yes, they have to actually "Choose Joy" moment by moment and day by day but I had hoped to read more about what their marriage went through, how it's affected their other children to this day, what about their Faith really helped them through this? Was it church members, the pastor's support, the Bible or devotionals?

Maybe my review is biased because I am two years out of a similar tragedy and have also learned (and made myself!) choose joy and I had hoped to read more of the hows for those new to this pain.

[Elizabeth Loper]

This is a short read but I would highly recommend it. It balances story telling with biblical truths of finding Joy. It also gives a counter to many of the narratives that the world tries to tell us about life.

[Danielle W]

First read 2015: It was close to my bed time, and I thought I'd sit down to read a chapter. Next thing I knew, I had read the entire book. Whoops. This book isn't the writing of a professional, but rather the real pain and the horror surrounding this tragic event. This story is so painful, yet decides to whisper to the reader that joy is still possible; joy is ok to feel. A powerful story.

Re-read, 2024. I re-read this book to see if it would be helpful to a fellow mom suffering loss. Unfortunately I’m not sure it is. It’s a meaningful book to me since I personally know Chris Swanson as a co-worker but the book feels more like a memoir than a guide to others. There are certainly a few powerful pages about the goodness of God and the importance of living on after tragedy, of daily choosing joy and forgiving others and not laying blame.

[Paula Peterson]

The pain, confusion and numb sadness felt on the day the Swanson's son, Cameron, tradically died came through the pages of Choosing Joy. Reading this couple's story broke my heart and caused more tears than I ever expected. I was pleasantly surprised and filled with hope and wonder with Samantha's Dream - simply amazing! Especially appreciated are the scripture references and the expressed depth of faith shared by Swanson's as they bravely recalled the details of Cameron's life and sudden death. The book comes to an interesting end that left this reader to wonder, what now - what's next? At first I was disappointed with the ending, but quickly realized that this family's journey continues on; their future is yet to be written.

[Gloria]

Loss

I lost my son two years ago in a car accident. He was thirty eight years old. His two children were involved also but survived. His dog was also killed in the crash. It has been difficult for our family because there was negligence involving the other person who caused the accident. This book helped me realize that what I was feeling others have experienced as well. Thank you for sharing.