Can you truly forgive the unforgivable? What if forgiveness isn't about excusing the past... but about setting yourself free?
In this powerful episode of Grief 2 Growth, host Brian D. Smith sits down with Scott Stewart—a speaker, author, and survivor whose life story is a testament to the healing power of forgiveness.
Abused and manipulated as a child, Scott was raised in a home overshadowed by fear and emotional volatility. At just 22 years old, his life was shattered when his father murdered his mother in a moment of unthinkable rage. What followed was a journey through unspeakable grief, betrayal, and ultimately… transformation.
🌱 Over the next 12+ years, Scott poured himself into therapy, faith, and personal growth. He broke the generational cycle of abuse and emerged with a mission to help others walk the painful—but freeing—path of forgiveness.
In this episode, Scott shares:
His traumatic upbringing and the red flags he couldn’t unsee
The heartbreaking night that changed everything
Why forgiveness is not about forgetting or excusing harm
The 6 key reasons people stay stuck in resentment
How releasing pain doesn’t excuse the past—it reclaims your future
If you’ve ever wondered how to forgive someone who hurt you deeply, Scott’s journey is both a roadmap and a reminder: forgiveness is for YOU—not for them.
🗝️ Let go of the weight. Step into peace. Your future is waiting.
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00:00 🌱 The Seed of Growth
Brian opens the episode with a powerful metaphor on grief as a planting—not a burial—and introduces guest Scott Stewart.
02:52 🙏 Grace After Delay
Scott graciously acknowledges Brian’s scheduling changes and sets the tone with vulnerability and presence.
03:17 👶 Adoption & Early Life
Scott shares his beginnings as an adopted child and his early family dynamics.
06:23 😨 Living with Rage
A glimpse into Scott’s emotionally volatile home and his father’s unpredictable, violent anger.
08:32 🏃 Escaping the Toxicity
Scott reflects on finding freedom by physically distancing himself from home as a teen.
09:59 🎄 Darkness in the Familiar
Even joyful occasions were clouded by fear. Scott explains how holidays and family events held hidden trauma.
12:37 💔 The Night Everything Changed
Scott recounts the chilling events of the night his father took his mother’s life—just hours after they shared a heartfelt goodbye.
19:49 🧠 Numbness, Drinking, and Survival
Scott details the emotional fallout and the path of self-medication he turned to after the tragedy.
22:23 🧊 Final Conversation with His Father
An unsettling jail visit reveals the depth of manipulation—and marks the end of their relationship.
26:51 🔁 What Forgiveness Is... and Isn’t
Scott breaks down his personal definition of forgiveness and reframes common myths around it.
30:47 🧩 Who Forgiveness Is For
A life-changing realization: forgiveness isn't for the offender—it’s for your own peace.
35:27 🧱 6 Reasons People Get Stuck
Scott outlines six common reasons people can’t move forward—and how to break free.
44:58 📆 Forgiveness as a Lifelong Process
From fatherhood to holidays, Scott shares how forgiveness had to happen again and again.
48:42 🔥 Making the Choice to Heal
Scott explains the conscious decision to end generational trauma and not repeat his father’s legacy.
55:28 🌅 The Future Forgiveness Creates
Forgiveness doesn’t change the past—but it transforms what comes next.
57:38 📣 Connect With Scott
Find out how to follow Scott and learn more about his work and story.
