Matthew West - Forgiveness: Mother Forgives Drunk Driver Who Killed Her Daughter

28 years ago tomorrow my oldest brother was killed by a drunk driver.23 years ago in June my Mother was killed by a drunk driver.I never knew the man who killed my brother, but until this day I wonder where he is, and how he has lived his life. I do know he was not procecuted, and never spent a day in jail.I blame the legal sytem for that.The girl who killed my mom, also died and left behind a smalll son , and a husband.The descisons made by both to drink and drive were made with no forthought of the many lives it would touch.Satan is a powerful force, and tricks people into believing that bad decisions have no consequences.These are God's children too, and were led astray by the evil one.God commands that we must forgive, so that HE also may forgive us.Unforgiveness is a burden on the one who has been offended. My burden has been lifted.

What an amazing story. It must've been a long and hard journey for this woman to forgive that man. Subscribe and check out our ministry http://www.youtube.com/fareastbroadcasting.

Please see www.releasenow.org. Its great Biblical teaching on HOW to forgive, and why it promotes better health outcomes.

So very touching. Just shows truly the Power of Forgiveness.

This shit is gay.

We live our life each day building bubbles of resentment, pain and hate that we store away and forget that it exists. We all take the job of laying down judgement to the people that have hurt us or hurt the people that we love. It hurts to carry the cross of hate on our shoulders. It is a job never meant for us. GOD gave his only son to save the world and provide forgivness for our sins. Forgivness is part of the healing process to inner peace & happinest. Holding hate and judgment in your heart will not turn time back and replace what you have lost. FORGIVE and you shall be forgiven. FORGIVE and you will teach forgiveness, FORGIVE and you shall be free to be happy. Take lifes pain to share with the world to save others lives. No loss is in vain.

This makes me want to forgive people more. The joy from forgiveness is much more satisfying then harboring ill feelings towards people! Good story, very uplifting! :)

Thank you so much for this song. I lost my son October 27, 2002. God has been dealing with me to forgive. I have been praying and seeking God's direction on what to do and how to do it. I know I must go and forgive. My son was going to take his ACT test and the guidence counselor told him he was at the wrong school. My son did not wait for a explanation he got in his car and started out to the other school, It was raining that day and my son hydroplaned and hit another man and they both were killed. I have never gone to Mr. Vickery's family to tell them that I am so sorry for this. I am truly sorry! My son was an amazing young man of God, and I know where he is, but without forgiveness I don't know if I will ever be with him again. Please pray for me and pray for direction of what I am to do. I know God is using this song and another song The proof of your love by King and Country. If I don't have love and forgiveness I am nothing. I cannot walk the walk without Gods grace and peace, and I MUST forgive. Thank your Matthew and Renee for using this song to help me to know what to do...FORGIVE AND LOVE... I want to be a Proof of your love and forgiveness.

I Killed Tim in 2000. I knew God forgave me and his family forgave me in the courtroom. Letters were read to me and Tims nephew was quoted in one. He was just a child but he said to his mother," Mom, since Jesus forgave us shouldn't we forgive Kevin?". I feel to my knees and cried uncontrolably. I felt the forgiveness of Jesus through the family. For the next few years I could not forgive myself. I was self-destructing even though every chance I got to share my testimony, which I call God's testimony, I could not recover from the guilt. Finally Jesus sent a miracle my way which help me accept this forgiveness. How could I not forgive myself when God and Tim's family forgave me. I confessed it as a sin and began feeling some relief from this self imposed shame and guilt. Have I been able to completely forgive myself? To some extent, but I think about this almost every day almost 12 years later. I know I will always carry this to some degree as Paul and his thorn in his flesh. It keeps me close to God if I allow the love and forgiveness in my spirit. I know it is God's plan to continue to share this miracle that came from a disaster. I recently moved from Texas and now live in Florida. I wish to be connected with this mother who also forgave. I need to start sharing this forgiveness again as well from the other side of drunk driving. Philipians 4:13 Sincerely in faith, Kevin Bushnell kvncbshnll@gmail.com 903-650-4540

I wish, with all my heart, that I could be as forgiving, but it's very very hard to do, especially when the person you can't forgive doesn't even care that he did these terrible things to you. Especially when he tried to kill me, and to kill my husband. He just doesn't care. No one ever held him responsible. It's just so hard.

forgiveness really does make you free and knowing that god forgives you as well just makes it all the better to keep doing it"}.

love this song. I, like brother Dollar say forgive or go to hell. I can back it up with scripture. Its plain and serious. Read what Jesus said about this topic. Love you Brother West. I hope people yield to this prophetic word/command from God. I don't want to say it please read it. MATTHEW 6:14-15. Profound its in MATTHEW.

This is an inspiring story. I'd heard the song before but didn't realize what brought it about. My 28 year old son Dustin (oldest of four) was killed by a hit-and-run drunk driver on 8/12/11 while riding his bike in a bike lane. The driver was 18 years old. I don't know why, but I never felt that forgiveness was an issue. While I've been angry at the circumstances and I miss my beautiful son so very much, I've never hated the young man or wanted revenge or vengeance. As I stated in my victim impact statement at the sentencing, this could be the best thing that's ever happened to him if he can turn his life around from where he was headed. He can be a productive member of society, he can be the father for his son that his father wasn't to him (he and his mother repeatedly blamed his lack of a father for why he was doing the things he was), he can live in such a way as to truly be happy. This is what I want for him. And I truly feel that not carrying around unforgiveness lightens my already heavy burden. I agreed to accept his plea on condition that he agreed to meet with me through the Facilitated Dialogue Program (the only way to have contact between victim and offender in Oregon), so now we are both working through that process and will probably meet face to face toward the end of the year. I am very excited and nervous! It's been less than a year, but I've been speaking at DUII and High Risk Driver classes since early April, at the invitation of the administrators who heard me speak at a Traffic Safety Summit in March. My goal is to reach much further than the 2 counties I currently speak in. I will think of Renee in my quest... I might even contact her for guidance. And thanks, Matthew! I love your music (and this song did always make me think of our own family tragedy). Sincerely, Kristi Finney-Dunn. Mother of Dustin Finney.

This has truley touched my heart how a mother could forgive and go and change alot of people hearts.

Awesome

WOW!