Usually, when someone hurts us, literally or metaphorically, we tend to hold hard feelings and bitterness for them. This story, however, is here to teach us that forgiveness is better than resentment, and it helps us live fuller lives.
It was last May, when 46-year-old carpenter, Jack Keith, was driving along the Pacific Coast Highway, at 50 to 60 mph. At some point, he got distracted by the waves, veered into the bike lane and hit cyclist Tom Sovilla, who happened to be there at that moment.
“It all happened so quickly. I looked up and boom, I just saw him flying through the air,” Jack told Fox News.
The truck driver, still in shock, immediately pulled over and called 911. Luckily, the two cyclists that were riding their bikes behind Tom were doctors, so they tried to help the man until the ambulance got there. All that time, Jack was convinced that, if Tom was still alive, he was definitely paralyzed because he didn’t regain consciousness or move a muscle.
Eventually, the injured cyclist was taken to hospital where he was found to have a fractured back, broken pelvis, torn knee ligaments, and bruised intestines, while he also suffered from two blood clots on his brain. All this time Jack was trying to learn news about the man’s condition from the hospital, but it seems the staff was unable to provide any due to privacy reasons.
All the while he had no idea that Tom and his wife Jenette were concerned about how Jack was doing so Jenette got his number. That’s when Jack got a shocking text from Jenette he’d never forget.
“Hey this is Tom’s wife Jenette, the guy you hit. We’ve been trying to get ahold of you. We’ve been praying for you and we just want you to know that he’s okay.”
Jack was blown away and so deeply touched by the woman’s kind words. He couldn’t believe they were praying for him. That’s when he asked if he could visit them at the hospital. And so he did.
“I didn’t know what to expect. For me, it’s kind of hard to hide my emotions. I just wanted to do the right thing,” he said, noting the meeting was “emotional but never awkward.”
The men soon became closer and they can even say that they’re friends now. Jack highlighted the fact that he only felt love from Tom, which given the circumstances under which they were brought close, is rare, to say the least.
Jack also started a fundraiser for his new friend, through which he wishes to help him cover the extra amount that Sovilla’s recovery will require. Thanks to many generous donors, they have already raised about $8.5K of the $19K that it is estimated Sovilla will need for his treatment.
Let’s keep this story in mind next time we decide to hold a grudge against someone or something that hurt us. It seems that following the path of forgiveness will make us stronger and happier. In Jenette Sovilla’s words: “We could live our lives angry and bitter about lots of things that have happened to us. Why? It doesn’t help anything.”
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