The news of Charlie Kirk’s tragic death has shaken many, regardless of whether or not they followed his work or agreed with his views. One thing that has stood out most to me in these past few days is the response of his wife. In the midst of unspeakable grief, she offered forgiveness to the young man who took her husband’s life—the very young man her husband had hoped would one day find redemption.

This is not a cheap or easy forgiveness. It is costly. It does not excuse wrongdoing, nor does it erase pain. But it is forgiveness that bears witness to a love deeper than hate, a grace stronger than violence, and a hope that refuses to let darkness have the last word.

We are reminded in Ephesians 4:32 to “be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” Forgiveness is never simple, yet it is central to the Christian life. It is the power that heals what vengeance cannot, and the only way forward when the weight of loss feels unbearable.

So let us pray:

For Charlie’s wife and family—that God would surround them with comfort, sustain them through sorrow, and honour their courage to forgive in the face of such pain.
For the children they share —that in their grief and confusion, they would know the steady presence of God’s love, and that their hearts would be healed by the same grace their mother has so courageously shown.
For the young man who committed this act—that he may come to repentance, experience the transforming grace of Christ, and find the redemption that Charlie himself longed for him to know.
For the young man’s family—that they may also be held in God’s mercy, finding peace amid the confusion and grief they now bear.

Forgiveness is not weakness—it is the power of God at work in fragile human hearts. And may we, too, be people who choose forgiveness, choose grace, choose love and as the young widow said so eloquently at her husband’s memorial, “choose Jesus”.