A Christian couple forgave the young man who murdered their son. They hugged him and told him they had forgiven him because they saw him “the way Jesus sees him.”
Gang Attacks Two Brothers
In Facing the Canon, Ray and Vi Dovonan bravely shared their story of forgiveness after their son, Christopher Donovan, was murdered.
Facing the Canon. (Screenshot). (2019). Facing the Canon with Ray and Vi Donovan, Retrieved August 16, 2023 from: https://youtu.be/mxKCkr1GpkE
One night in May 2001, Christopher and his brother Philip went out for a walk together. And as the brothers walked through the streets, enjoying the night, they ran into 14 teenagers high on drugs.
One youth suddenly attacked Philip, leaving him unconscious. Christopher tried to save his brother but was beaten and left unconscious too. What’s worse, a car hit him as he lay on the road, and another youth dragged him forty feet.
That same night, the police knocked on Ray and Vi’s home. They told them about the incident that had happened to their sons Philip and Christopher.
“My heart was beating so fast I thought it would jump out of my chest,” Ray said, according to a Restorative Justice Council report. “Then the policeman told us that Chris and Phil had been involved in a fight, and Chris was badly injured.”
Chris Died
The Christian parents rushed to the hospital to see their son, Philip. Meanwhile, they weren’t able to see Christopher because he was in the operating room. Later, they received the heartbreaking news that Chris didn’t survive.
Ray and Vi’s heart sank. They were devastated.
Soon after, three youths were arrested and convicted for his murder. And several years later, one of them requested to meet Ray and Vi because he wanted to ask for forgiveness.
Christian Couple Chooses To Forgive
On that day, as the young man walked in, the couple offered to hug him and he apologized.
Vi described that guilt and shame were still painted on his face. Eleven years have passed, and he was still living in guilt.
So, she told him, “Hey young man, do you know what? We forgive you. Move on and have the life Chris can’t have.”
The young man cried, “because he doesn’t think he deserves it.”
But Vi remarked on the reason why they chose to forgive him. She said, “I saw him the way Jesus sees him, the way He sees us.. And that was remarkable. Truly, only of the Holy Spirit.”
Watch the entire story in the video below.
Reference | Facing The Canon
