The Power of Forgiveness

While I attended the ARC (Alliance for Responsible Citizenship) conference in London this past week one of the speakers asked a very challenging question. It was a question that stopped me in my tracks and caused me to really think.

It wasn’t so much the question itself but rather who was asking it. Danny Abdallah was interviewed by the former Australian prime minister, Scott Morrison, as he shared his family’s story of grief and forgiveness with the four thousand rapt attendees. Danny is married to Leila and in February 2020 a drunk driver killed three of their children and their niece in a horrific car crash. As tragic as this event was what made global headlines was when Leila publicly forgave the driver.

Danny then related how his wife helped him on his own journey of forgiveness and the positive impact this has had on their relationship. Statistically speaking, 60% of marriages disintegrate when they experience a tragedy of such magnitude, but Danny’s didn’t. In fact, they are now blessed with two additional children.

Since the crash, Danny visited the driver, Samuel William Davidson, in prison and expressed his forgiveness towards him. This selfless act has completely transformed his life as well.

Danny shared that it was his family’s Christian faith that allowed him and Leila to rise above the trauma and to express forgiveness. He asked each of the attendees a very simple question, “Who do you need to forgive?” The simplicity of the question belies its depth and more in particular the healing that many of us need to experience by forgiving someone that has wronged us.

Since the even six years ago Danny, with the help of others such as the former prime minister, have set up a foundation known as i4give. The essence of the foundation can be found when you go to the website (i4give.com), “There is freedom in forgiveness”. If you are struggling with forgiveness, then maybe that website is a good place to start. I know that Danny would encourage you to take this first step.