Finding Healing and Forgiveness After a Car Crash that Changed Everything
Guest: Zeeshan Laaldin
Zeeshan is a proud Pakistani Christian, happily married to Jessica, and a devoted dad to their three kids, Malaika, Zayaan, and Rohaan. He’s the driving force behind the 1toAnother Society, focusing on improving life for minority communities in Pakistan through education, health, and economic opportunities. Now calling Sydney home, he works with Anglican Aid to continue his mission. Despite being far from the motherland, he never misses a chance to cheer on the Pakistan cricket team. Zeeshan's life is a testament to his dedication to faith, family, and fostering change.
Here’s a summary of this week’s story:
In this unpredictable life, there are times when we are blindsided by events that change everything, and we are left to pick up the pieces. In this episode of What’s The Story, we chat with Zeeshan Laaldin, about what happened to him in the wake of such tragic events and what pieces needed to be put back together.
One night, a simple car ride changed everything for Zeeshan and his family. A car accident took the life of his mother, and left his sister and niece in critical condition. Still reeling from the grief of losing his mum, it was only a short 13 months later when his dad succumbed to the cancer he had been battling. Things only got worse, as the loss of his dad strained his relationships with his family and faith.
The Rooftop Revelation
At the age of 18, Zeeshan had found faith in a moment of desperation, on a rooftop, under the stars, talking to God. It wasn’t a formal prayer, just a conversation with His Maker, and that was the start of his faith journey, a faith that would be tested with the passing of his mum and then his dad.
The Path to Forgiveness
After his parents died, Zeeshan had expected certain things from his sisters, and when they didn’t happen, this once close-knit family grew further apart. It was a source of pain and confusion, and it seemed that God’s answer to this was forgiveness.
But forgiveness was not easy for Zeeshan. It required him to confront the hurt and resentment he felt towards his sisters, and the distance that had grown between them. But in allowing himself to be vulnerable, in acknowledging the hurt, and in extending forgiveness, he began to heal. He realised that forgiveness was not just about absolving his sisters, but in seeking forgiveness himself. It was about valuing the family they had, and the shared memories and love that they had, which far outweighed any disagreements.
Zeeshan’s story is a powerful testament to the grace of God bringing healing to our lives. And it also shows that healing is not a one-time event, but a process that often requires us to break down before we can rebuild. Forgiveness is a key part of that process, and allows us to move forward with grace and compassion.
And Zeeshan’s experience shows the importance of faith in our lives. That even in our darkest moments, there is someone listening to our fears and concerns.
In this unpredictable life, where we are blindsided by events that change everything, where we don't have the strength to pick up the pieces as we try and make sense of the chaos and pain, Zeeshan’s story reminds us that good things can come from the worst situations because God's grace is real. It’s a reminder that even in the face of tragedy, we can grow and heal, and become even closer to those we love, and even to God Himself.
Links & Resources from today’s story
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