Last night, the assistant coach for the Oklahoma City Thunder, Monty Williams, delivered a truly stirring eulogy celebrating the life of his wife. Williams’s wife, Ingrid, died from a car crash on February 10. At the funeral, Williams offered a powerful message about forgiveness for the woman who lost control of her car causing the accident (she died as well).
I want to close with this, and I think it’s the most important thing we need to understand. Everyone is praying for me and my family, which is right, but let us not forget that there were two people in this situation. And that family needs prayer as well, and we have no ill will towards that family.
In my house, we have a sign that says, “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” We cannot serve the Lord if we don’t have a heart of forgiveness. That family didn’t wake up wanting to hurt my wife. Life is hard. It is very hard, and that was tough, but we hold no ill will toward the Donaldson family. And we, as a group, brothers united in unity, should be praying for that family, because they grieve as well. So let’s not lose sight of what’s important. God will work this out, my wife is in heaven. God loves us. God is love.
The striking amount of grace Williams displayed is catching the attention of a national audience. Later last night, the NBA on TNT crew dedicated an entire segment Williams’s posture and message, and today ESPN’s SportsCenter is also talking about it.
During a week—and, well, year—when disagreements and outrage are dominating airwaves, Williams’s display of hope in God is a massive and compelling breath of fresh air.