Last week another inmate shared with me the concerns he has for his son…
…who's presently living with his mother in another state. This father has been in prison for twelve years, so the contact he's had with his son has been limited.
As expected, the influence this dad has had on his child has only been through letters, occasional telephone calls, and maybe once per year visits. Now his father is worried because his son is at a rebellious stage in life. He's begun to take some wrong turns with drugs, and he thinks his son has joined a street gang. This inmate was pleading with me to write to his son. He asked me to pray for him too. I told him that I'd be willing to reach out to his child.
So after seeking the Lord's guidance as to when to write and what to say, I sat down and typed this young man a letter. I also included a printed copy of my testimony.
I had a talk with him on paper. I was gentle, but I also kept it “real.” I shared about my coming to prison when I was 24, and how I have since been incarcerated for more than twenty-five years. I encouraged him to stay in school and to pick his friends wisely. I also told this young man to never take his life for granted. That life is precious and that, if we're not careful, we could throw it away by hanging around with the wrong people, by experimenting with drugs, and by making bad choices.
Basically, I gave him lots of things to think about. I told this young man that, when he's older, he will never regret staying away from drugs, gangs, and trouble.I have said these same words, more or less, with other men's sons. I thank God for the chance to reach out to a young kid on the edge and maybe make a difference.
D.B.
As expected, the influence this dad has had on his child has only been through letters, occasional telephone calls, and maybe once per year visits. Now his father is worried because his son is at a rebellious stage in life. He's begun to take some wrong turns with drugs, and he thinks his son has joined a street gang. This inmate was pleading with me to write to his son. He asked me to pray for him too. I told him that I'd be willing to reach out to his child.
So after seeking the Lord's guidance as to when to write and what to say, I sat down and typed this young man a letter. I also included a printed copy of my testimony.
I had a talk with him on paper. I was gentle, but I also kept it “real.” I shared about my coming to prison when I was 24, and how I have since been incarcerated for more than twenty-five years. I encouraged him to stay in school and to pick his friends wisely. I also told this young man to never take his life for granted. That life is precious and that, if we're not careful, we could throw it away by hanging around with the wrong people, by experimenting with drugs, and by making bad choices.
Basically, I gave him lots of things to think about. I told this young man that, when he's older, he will never regret staying away from drugs, gangs, and trouble.I have said these same words, more or less, with other men's sons. I thank God for the chance to reach out to a young kid on the edge and maybe make a difference.
D.B.