When Charlie Kirk was assassinated on Sept. 10, I felt sad and angry. Then some on the left reacted with shameful scorn and schadenfreude. I wondered: What now?

But after watching his widow, Erika Kirk, respond to the assassination of her beloved husband with words of forgiveness and grace to his alleged killer, and inspiration and patriotism for the rest of us, at his memorial service on Sept. 21, I no longer have that question. The answer is clear.

I've been a Christian for over 30 years and involved in conservative politics since my teens: I've never seen anything like what I saw at Charlie's multihour celebration of life attended by approximately 100,000 people, filling the State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, to capacity. The evening featured speeches by Turning Point USA leaders and President Donald Trump.

Andrew Kolvet, Turning Point USA spokesman and executive producer of "The Charlie Kirk Show," posted on X that "production and streaming partners tracked over 100 million overall streams" for his celebration of life service. If true, these numbers are extraordinary. For perspective, 127.7 million people watched the most recent Super Bowl, the most-watched in history.

It's clear that Charlie's death has lit a fire under many conservatives and Christians.

Erika Kirk showed us how to mourn her husband's death and forgive

Erika gave the most incredible speech of the night, offering conservatives a glimpse of a hopeful future ahead, despite her pain.

Erika had a message to men and women that was both countercultural and contradicts the left's message to young people, which is why I think Charlie was so effective and his legacy will continue. She told women to make their homes places of refuge so that our families and our children can thrive. Her message to men was to be leaders worth following. I hope Gen Z embraces these ideas.

But the most powerful thing Erika said, and probably the most stunning statement of the entire evening, was when she said she forgave the man accused of killing Charlie.

"My husband, Charlie. He wanted to save young men just like the one who took his life," Erika said. "That young man. That young man. On the cross, our Savior said, 'Father, forgive them for they not know what they do.' That man. That young man. I forgive him."

If the conservative movement continues to build itself on this idea − forgiveness, truth, family and faith, it will be unstoppable.

Charlie Kirk's memorial shows where conservative movement is headed

Charlie's celebration of life signaled the path ahead for conservatives.

Tyler Bowyer, chief operating officer of Turning Point Action, posted on X a screenshot of a texting conversation with Charlie in 2021. Charlie had posted an image of a jam-packed stadium and written, "This is my vision." It's bittersweet to think Charlie's vision was fulfilled only in his untimely death. But the fact that hundreds of thousands of people poured into that stadium and millions watched a message of hope and forgiveness online shows the direction the conservative movement is heading.

I don't wonder anymore where the conservative movement is headed. In fact, I don't think it will ever be the same. The left's message to today's youth is such a stark contrast; they cannot compete with the revival happening among the nation's youth, ignited by the political assassination of a beloved young man, cemented in forgiveness and love by his widow.

What happens now? As Stephen Miller said at the service, "You thought you could kill Charlie Kirk? You have made him immortal. ... And now millions will carry on his legacy."

I truly hope so.

Nicole Russell is a columnist at USA TODAY and a mother of four who lives in Texas. Contact her at nrussell@gannett.com and follow her on X, formerly Twitter: @russell_nm. Sign up for her weekly newsletter, The Right Track.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 'I forgive him.' Erika Kirk's powerful act shows reach of Charlie's legacy. | Opinion

Reporting by Nicole Russell, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

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