Well, hello, my friends, and welcome to the Live Inspired podcast Monday Morning Moments with John O'Leary.

We're going to begin this episode with a quote from my friend, and hopefully yours, his name is Desmond Tutu, who wrote that forgiveness is not weak. It takes courage to face

and overcome powerful emotions. Of course I will, Dad. So these were the last words Dave Gibbons ever shared with his father.

Given their past, the fact he spoke them at all was surprising.

But even more extraordinary was what he was agreeing to do for his dad.

Let me explain.

The ideal of childhood Dave had enjoyed ended abruptly as a freshman in high school.

They came home from school to his mother outside their home, weeping.

She angrily revealed to Dave that their dad was having an affair and their marriage was over.

Not believing her, little Dave went back into the house,

and he asked his dad, is it true?

His dad looked to him in the eyes,

reassured him that his mother was wrong,

and that everything would be fine.

Relieved, the little boy hugged his dad

and went back outside, back to his life.

And yet, just a few days later, as Dave was cleaning his father's car,

he found a note from someone named Carolyn, professing her love to his dad.

In reading that note, Dave realized his dad had lied to him, his dad had hurt his mother, and his dad had ripped

apart their family. The furious boy committed to never forgiving his dad, and for years,

he passionately lived into that promise. As a young man in college, though, Dave heard what he

later described as the unmistakable voice of

...