Erika Kirk reflects on first Thanksgiving without Charlie in heartfelt post
NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: Erika Kirk marked her first Thanksgiving without her husband, Charlie Kirk, with a heartfelt Instagram message centered on grief, gratitude, and faith. Charlie Kirk, the conservative leader and founder of Turning Point USA, was fatally shot by Tyler Robinson on September 10 at a Utah rally. On Thursday, November 27, Erika wrote that she and Charlie had always cherished Thanksgiving for its simple and sacred reminder to give thanks.
Erika Kirk shared video of letters and gifts sent by supporters
Earlier in the day, Erika Kirk shared a short video showing the letters and gifts she received from supporters around the world. She wrote, “Charlie and I always loved Thanksgiving because it drew us back to the simple, but holy practice of gratitude.”
She added, “And even now, well, especially now, in the depths of the ache, I’m reminded of that gratitude.”
Erika continued, “God blessed me with being married to the love of my life, with our beautiful babies, with our family and friends, and with people from all over the world who have sent us letters, toys, artwork, and Bibles."
The TPUSA CEO said, “It’s easy to fixate on what’s been taken, at what’s missing. But my goodness does the Lord meet me in my weakness, and His strength gently shifts my eyes to what I still have on this side of heaven. What remains is sacred.”
She added, “I can’t express what the outpouring of love has meant to me and the babies. I’m reading every letter and card, opening every gift, and saving each one for them when they’re older.”
Erika thanked God, writing, “I’m thankful for a God who brings life out of ashes, who guards my heart, and who carries us as we do our best… today and every day.” She closed the post with a message to her late husband: “We’ll save a plate for you babe. I love you, @charliekirk1776. Happy Thanksgiving."
Erika Kirk reflected on first birthday without Charlie Kirk
Just days earlier, Erika Kirk had shared an emotional montage of memories, saying she still imagines the future she once pictured with her husband. On November 20, she posted a compilation of clips from their marriage.
Erika wrote, “I always loved celebrating you, and maybe because it was a reflection of how beautifully you always celebrated me. I romanticized growing old with you, the love of my life. I used to wonder what our faces would look like with wisdom-wrinkles.”
She added, “You’d always tell me how you hoped I’d keep my long hair even when we were both gray and also that I’d always wear white, because it was the color you loved me wearing the most.”
Erika recalled, “We’d laugh about how you’d probably still be out on college campuses in your 80s, doing ‘Prove Me Wrong’ campus events because you loved those students.”
She reflected, “And then we’d both start to tear up when talking about our babies growing older and having a family of their own. A full life.” She continued, “And today, I find myself, in some way, still romanticizing growing old with you, just in different locations.”
Speaking about her birthday, she wrote, “So as I blow out candles this year with an ache so deep I pray no one ever has to feel it, I’m reminded that each day, each moment, each birthday… you’re with me. Not in the way I once dreamed, but in the way God has mercifully allowed.”
She ended the post with thanks: “Thank you to everyone who made this day so special. All the texts. All the calls. All the letters. All the flowers. I feel so deeply loved. To all of the @tpusastudents, your videos were so healing to my heart, to my @turningpointusa family, to my dear friends, literally all of you, your presence in my life is divine and I’ll never take it for granted. God bless you all."
