Acts of Kindness

There's no shortage of people in prison who need words of hope and encouragement...

This is a very oppressive atmosphere that's often times charged with lots of negative vibes. The holidays don't help the overall mood of the men, either. With Thanksgiving approaching, I am seeing more faces showing signs of despondency than usual. Seasons that usually bring joy and excitement to those on the outside, mean enhanced feelings of loneliness and isolation for the incarcerated.

This is to be expected, however. After all, prisons are meant to be places of punishment. Being isolated from one's family is one form of punishment a man must endure. And I am not exempt from experiencing the same feelings, as I miss loved ones just like everyone else.

Nevertheless, I am thankful for the assurance from the Scriptures that the Lord Jesus Christ will never leave nor forsake me. And I have the Holy Spirit to comfort me as well.

Yet, the holidays also mean more opportunities for me to show kindness and compassion to my fellow inmates. This could be giving someone a kind word, a smile, a postage stamp, so he could write a letter to his family, or offering to pray for his loved ones.

In this environment, doing acts of kindness in the name of the Lord can go a long way.

D.B.