Craig: A Servant's Heart
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It has been three years since my beloved son Craig went to meet his Lord on April 20, 1996. Time has raced by even though it has been very difficult for me to live without him. I, as his mother, have managed to survive, to keep going, and to persevere with my life which included the difficult task of writing this book.
Countless hours were spent transcribing taped voice recordings and sorting written material from the many wonderful people we now count as dear, precious, and loving friends. They provided spoken and written words of tribute, encouragement, compassion, love, and comfort to help us through our grief and sorrow. It is my hope and prayer that the words written in the following pages will also provide comfort, healing, and peace for you.
My mind sometimes played tricks in trying to help me cope with the sorrow of my loss. Because Craig had changed his residency and voter status from Rhode Island to Pennsylvania in his sophomore year, I would often think, after the funeral, that he was still only away at college. Often I would deeply wish his death were only a bad dream that I could somehow awaken from to find him still with us. I would imagine that he would be telephoning me at any moment from Messiah College, but then I would come back to the reality that he was truly gone from our midst. My husband greatly longed for his personal telephone calls at work every week that went by. Such mental habits softened the blow of losing and missing him.
The pain from losing Craig was deep and we prayed, as did others on our behalf, for the Holy Spirit to comfort us. He did that, immensely.
I can truly say that writing this book as a final tribute to my beloved son Craig has been a personal labor of love, one that has helped me deal with his death. I have shed many, many, many tears during its creation.
I would never have dreamed in a million years that a drunk driver would kill my son. Craig never touched a drop of alcohol; he never abused his body with drugs or tobacco. To the best of my knowledge his speech was pure and free from profanity. He was a wholesome, honorable, and pure Christian young man, yet God chose to take him home in the prime of his life.
Do I have an answer as to why this happened? Do I have a right to question God's purposes? I do not know.
This I do know. Before the beginning of time, You, God knew that on a specific day and at a particular moment in time, Craig would be traveling on Pennsylvania Route 663 exactly when a drunk driver would be speeding toward him to take his life. You preordained this day in history just as You did on the joyous day, time, and place of his birth. My belief in Romans 8:28 gives me comfort, peace, and continues to sustain my faith today and every day of my life: 'And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.'
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About the Book
A frantic phone call is received on a quiet Friday evening informing Craig's parents that their 20-year-old son was in a severe automobile crash, his heart has stopped several times, and he is in extremely critical condition at a Pennsylvania hospital over five hours away. So began their 'Dark Night of the Soul' that plunged them into a world of confusion, despair, sorrow and grief.
This book chronicles Craig's brief life starting with his Leap-Year birth through his college years and describes his servant's heart as he reaches out and touches others. It also shows the struggle of his parents as they try to comprehend Craig's tragic death at the hands of a drunk driver. The book ultimately demonstrates that they must rely on their faith in God and trust that only His peace and comfort can overcome grief and tragedy in their lives. Craig's family and friends come to a wonderful understanding that good triumphs over tragedy and that God's sovereign will is being worked out in their lives.
Proceeds from this book will be donated to the Rhode Island Chapter of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD RI).
About the Author
The authors are the parents of Craig Ruggiero. They had never written a book before, but were led to write about their son whose death was caused by a drunk driver in 1996. Elaine is a retired schoolteacher and Tony is an engineer. They both have lived in Rhode Island all their lives. Currently they are victim presenters for Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) RI and desire to be a support to others who have lost loved ones, especially children.