Widow of Flight 11 Copilot Says Grace Prevails After Tragedy
by Allie Martin
August 10, 2004
(AgapePress) - The widow of a copilot on the American Airlines flight that was hijacked and rammed into the World Trade Center nearly three years ago says she has seen the evidence of God's abundant grace since the tragedy.In her book Beauty Beyond the Ashes: Choosing Hope After Crisis (Howard Publishing, 2004), Cheryl McGuinness recounts the strong faith of her husband Tom, who was co-piloting American Airlines Flight 11, and lost his life that fateful day in September when that flight crashed into Tower One of the World Trade Center.
The author says although she deeply misses her husband, she has experienced God's grace first hand. Now she wants other people to realize, despite what happened on 9/11, that no matter what pain or tragedies occur in life, "no matter how horrific they can be," those tragedies can be overcome by "having a foundation that we can draw on in times of tragedy and trial."
With such a foundation, McGuinness says, "it is possible to renew your faith in God and rebuild your life." Despite the tragic loss of her husband and the sorrow of seeing the impact of the terrorist attacks on so many lives, the widow and mother of two says she has learned to abide in God's peace.
"Losing my husband on September 11 was a horrific experience," McGuinness says. "Telling my children that Jesus called their daddy home was awful, devastating. But where I've been, the depths of pain that I've been in and the despair, has brought me to also know the depths of Jesus' love and the joy that He wants us to experience."
Today Cheryl McGuinness lives in New Hampshire with her son and daughter. She is much sought after as a speaker and a guest on news and talk shows, and she often travels to share her experiences and her faith, appearing on programs such as MSNBC, CNN, Life Today, Good Morning America, The 700 Club, and Fox News.
After observing the overwhelming needs of so many of the people in her audiences, McGuinness launched a ministry, also called Beauty Beyond the Ashes, as an means of reaching out to others with her message of faith, courage, determination and love.
