The Courage to Forgive

(Paperback)

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How a family came back from the unthinkable and forgave the driver who killed three of their children. Nothing forewarned Danny and Leila Abdallah of the tragedy they would face on 1 February 2020. In one of the most horrific road accidents in Australian memory, three of their children and their young cousin were killed by a drunk and drugged driver. Yet in the immediate aftermath of their loss, the Abdallahs did something remarkable and unexpected- they publicly forgave the driver. This gesture by the family - founded in their Christian faith and born out of a desire not to be shackled to what happened - has sustained them through all they have had to endure- the ensuing court sentencing, their ongoing grief and the rebuilding of their shattered lives. It has also sparked a worldwide forgiveness movement, fronted by the Abdallahs' i4give Foundation and its annual i4give Week. And it has taken the family on a journey of their own, from a quiet life in the suburbs of Sydney to a public platform in the Vatican City at the request of His Holiness Pope Francis. Moving and inspiring, this is the Abdallahs' story of faith, strength and resilience in the face of unthinkable adversity, and a testament to the transformative power of forgiveness and hope for all of us.

Author Bio

DANNY ABDALLAH is a knockabout Aussie-Lebanese dad from Sydney's Western Suburbs. A bloke in the building game, he likes his footy, but loves his family more. Well-known for describing himself as a 'part-time worker and full-time dad', this one-time, Thai-Kickboxing champion is today committed more than ever today to his family and to helping other men to stop doing their lives 'horribly right' and start living 'happily right'. LEILA ABDALLAH is a daughter of Lebanon who came to Australia nineteen years ago. A mother of seven - three boys and four girls - it was Leila's astonishing words of forgiveness, live on TV, that stunned the country and became a starting point for an ever-growing movement encouraging us all to let go of the harms done to us by others. Voted Mother of the Year in 2021, this eldest child who grew up amid a civil war now devotes her time to helping repair the lives of others who, like her, have experienced unimaginable tragedy.