Bitterness is like a cancer that enters the soul. It does more harm to those that hold it than to those whom it is held against.”
- Terry Waite
One day, Victoria Ruvolo was driving down the road, minding her own business. Driving in front of her was a group of teenage boys. That was the last thing Victoria could remember, when she woke up in hospital several weeks later. Her face was completely smashed to pieces, held together with titanium plates and wire mesh. One of the boys had thrown a 20lb frozen turkey out of the back window of their car, as a prank. One teenager’s small act of stupidity had left her disfigured for life.Could you forgive that teenager, if you were in her place?
Could you actually embrace that teenager in your arms and tell him you don’t blame him? Victoria did. And her story is just one of the incredible, inspiring true stories that make up The Forgiveness Project.
Run and founded by Marina Cantacuzino, The Forgiveness Project is a not-for-profit organisation that promotes forgiveness and reconciliation, over revenge and punishment. The stories are truly remarkable – from victims of war crimes to people whose family members have been murdered.
Thankfully, most of us will never have to forgive the kind of crimes that these people have had to. But we can all forgive someone something today, no matter how small. It still matters, it still makes the world that little bit better.
Let’s all forgive one person one thing today.