Murder by Family by Kent Whitaker

Reviewed By Jennifer Barker

Forgiveness. Love. These two words really should belong in the same sentence. It is difficult to truly love someone if you can’t forgive them and vice versa. So it was true for Kent Whitaker. His life turned upside-down on Dec. 10, 2003, when his wife and son, Tricia and Kevin, were murdered in front of him. He and his other son Bart were shot as well. Kent knew at that very moment he needed to forgive the person who was responsible for this horrific act. Little did he know that this person was his son Bart.

Murder by Family

Life would never be the same as he knew it. Betrayal, hurt, and grief were now synonymous with his every day existence. During the six months following the shooting, Kent was able to mentor and help Bart to learn more about Jesus and the life he offers. He was doing all of this while the clouds of suspicion were gathering over Bart.

The road ahead was long and arduous as Kent looked to the Lord for strength and guidance not only in his grief, but also in his decision to forgive. What would possess someone to forgive in such an unspeakable event? “Once I made that decision, God moved. I chose to forgive everyone who was involved in the murders, but it was God who gave me the power to do so. This may be the biggest lesson for all of us: people hurt other people really badly; but since God commands us to forgive, he will give us his supernatural power to do it if we submit ourselves to him.”1

This book is a narrative of that journey. You will cry with Kent as he retells the story of his Absalom coming back to the Savior. You will be inspired to shake off the yoke of bitterness and unforgiveness and choose to follow Jesus in His command to forgive.

NOTES

1. Murder by Family by Kent Whitaker, p. 203.

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