We must hold onto hope! Without hope, we risk falling into despair. As families and friends of the incarcerated, we must hold onto hope no matter what challenges we face. Yes, the court may hand down a lengthy sentence. In the forefront of our thoughts we may think that we will never see our loved one in the free world on this side of eternity. But with God nothing is impossible! I met Joe who had two life sentences and…
In life, we become accustomed to our ways. Habits and routines set in. We adapt and become comfortable with our lives even if we don’t necessarily like everything about our lives. Any change will disrupt the pattern we’ve adapted to as we tend to focus on our present circumstances. The disciples were a lot like us in that regard. They had traveled the country side with Jesus. In Mark 9, as they traveled, Jesus’ mind was on the eternal as…
A fresh starts are a good thing. God is always doing something new–even in impossible situations! “For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland” (Isaiah 43:19 NLT). Being in relationship with our Father through His Son Jesus Christ is never boring. He is eager to share something new every day. After my son’s conviction…
Our lives and the lives of our incarcerated loved ones are not defined by a moment in time. Perhaps some of our loved ones are falsely accused and wrongfully convicted, while others are guilty deserving the conviction. Regardless of how they ended up with a prison sentence, there is a common denominator—the label. Inmate. Offender. Prisoner. That label does not define who they are if they are in Christ. You see, my friend, as I continue to search the Word…
“…I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead” (Philippians 3:13 NLT). As we change our calendars, our memories are not erased like we would erase a hard drive. We do not actually forget the things that happened in the past. I think “forgetting the past” means not to dwell on the past so much that it hinders our forward progress. We cannot take a leap of faith with baggage. Repent for the…
“Then Mary said, ‘Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.’ And the angel departed from her” (Luke 1:38 NKJV). “Write down everything in that journal. Someday you’ll be sharing your story.” John handed me the red Moleskine® journal. Instinctively, I reached out and took it from him. “I don’t want this story.” Though devastated from my son’s arrest just weeks before, I attended a seminar training as scheduled. John, who was part…
“Are you ready for Christmas,” the clerk asks at the checkout. That innocent question can provoke a myriad of emotions. Especially for those who are struggling with the loss of a family member, chronic illnesses, the empty seat at the table due to an incarcerated loved one, or other difficult situations. The mind screams, “Do I look like I’m ready? I just want to make my purchases and get home!” Holiday music is piping through the store speakers. “It’s the…
This time of year we miss those who cannot be home with us. For families who have someone they love incarcerated, our emotions may run amuck. We might blame ourselves. We may feel angry with our loved one for putting themselves in this situation. We might run through a list of “could of’s” and “should have’s” wondering how we missed it. That’s how I felt the very first Christmas that my son was imprisoned. I found a letter that I…
Holidays are a special time for families to get together. However, for some family gatherings they have someone they love missing. Some have lost loved ones who graduated to heaven. Others are separated due to other extenuating circumstances such as illness, finances, work, military service, or addictions. Then there are the families with a loved one incarcerated. When my son was sentenced to prison, I grieved. Hard. The life I imagined our family would have vanished with the incarceration. That…
With the holiday season quickly approaching, many families with incarcerated loved ones begin to experience the tug of negative emotions. The empty place at the table and in family pictures is a reminder of not only who is missing but why. When we turn to the word of God, we find many comforting passages that remind us that we have hope in Him. “The Lord is my strength and my shield, my heart trusts in Him and I am helped:…