Erika Kirk, Charlie Kirk's widow, again showed the world her faith and strength in the midst of heartbreak in her remarks during her husband's memorial service, proclaiming that she forgives her husband's assassin "because it is what Christ did, and is what Charlie would do."
The capacity crowd at State Farm Stadium welcomed her with a standing ovation, and she stood a few feet behind the podium for a few moments to compose herself before beginning her emotional remarks.
God's love was revealed to me on the very day my husband was murdered. On the afternoon of September 10th, I arrived at a Utah hospital to do the unthinkable, to look directly at my husband's murdered body. I saw the wound that ended his life. I felt everything you would expect to feel. I felt shock, I felt horror, and a level of heartache that I didn't even know existed.
But there was something else, too. Even in death, I could see the man that I love. I saw the one single gray hair on the side of his head, which I never told him about. I also saw on his lips the faintest smile, and that told me something important. It revealed to me a great mercy from God in this tragedy. When I saw that, it told me that Charlie didn't suffer.
Like many have, Erika Kirk noted that:
After Charlie's assassination, we didn't see violence, we didn't see rioting, we didn't see revolution. Instead, we saw what my husband always prayed he would see in this country - we saw revival.
Charlie died doing what he loved, and he wasn't afraid to die, Erika Kirk said. And while his work was incomplete when he died, she said that he didn't have any unfinished business.
I want you all to know, while Charlie died far too early, he was also ready to die. There was nothing - nothing - he was putting off. There was nothing that was too hard or too painful, nothing that he just felt like he didn't want to do it. He left this world without regrets. He did 100 percent of what he could every day.
But I want you to know something. Charlie died with incomplete work, but not with unfinished business.
She shared that one secret to a strong marriage while Charlie was traveling so frequently was their tradition of love notes. Every Saturday, he wrote one for her, she said, "and he never missed a Saturday. And in every single one of them, he'd tell me what his highlight was for the week, how grateful he was for me & our babies. He’d always ended by asking the most beautiful question. He ended by asking, 'Please let me know how I can better serve you as a husband.'"
She then shared some wise words about the role of a Christian husband:
Charlie perfectly understood God's role for a Christian husband. A man who leads so that they can serve. To all the men around the world, accept Charlie's challenge and embrace true manhood. Be strong and courageous for your families. Love your wives and lead them. Love your children and protect them. Be the spiritual head of your home. But please be a leader worth following. Your wife is not your servant. Your wife is not your employee. Your wife is not your slave. She is your helper. You are not rivals. You are one flesh working together for the glory of God.
Erika continued by sharing counsel for women, to be virtuous, and to guard their hearts.
Weeping, and looking toward the heavens for strength, Erika said that she forgives the man who assassinated her husband.
My husband Charlie wanted to save young men, just like the one who took his life. That young man. On the cross, our Savior said, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." That man, that young man, I forgive him. I forgive him because it is what Christ did, and is what Charlie would do.
The answer to hate is not hate. The answer, we know from the Gospel, is love, and always love. Love for our enemies, and love for those who persecute us.
What incredible grace and strength, fueled by love and faith. That love and faith will sustain her during the unimaginably difficult road she faces, both as a mother and as the new leader of her husband's movement.