I am blessed!
For several decades, a group of Ohio State graduates and friends, have gotten together every year at some point during the summer. There are six of us, not counting the spouses and children – who also come and enjoy themselves. Given that I am in prison this year, I am unable to attend, but I called into the party last night and was able to talk to everyone on speaker phone. It was a quick 15 minutes, but it meant the world to me.
Today, my wife & 2 sons are visiting. My daughter has to work, but she will come with my wife during their next visit a month from now. I have also been visited by my brother, several work colleagues and another friend from college. Several other friends, including our church pastor, have asked how they can visit me. All this has caused me to think about how lucky I am to have so much outside community support. While I alone am in prison, I know that other people are thinking about me, praying for me and helping my family along the way. I am so fortunate to have this – words cannot describe it.
On the other hand, there are some prisoners I know who have no one on the outside. One fellow inmate even had his kids taken away, put in foster care and ultimately adopted out. He hasn’t spoken to them coming up on 20 years. Others have been divorced as a result, with all their assets taken and sold off to cover child support or alimony. Some of them have never had a visitor. You can imagine how much more difficult it will be for them to succeed when they get out – succeed at getting a job, finding a place to live, getting access to a vehicle, etc. as they will have no one to help them. I hope that when the time comes and they get out, they find a way to succeed and will not violate their probation or commit another crime. I truly am blessed that this is not an issue for me.
