Jail Visit
Today, I rode my Harley to a town about 25 miles West of where I live and, went to the county jail to see someone I had never met. I was asked to go see this young woman because of my background with drugs and alcohol. Her name is Malissa.
I went through the metal detectors and checks and was issued into a waiting room for this woman to be brought to me. As she came in, she sat down and there was a look of surprise and wonder in her eyes. I introduced myself and told her I was a Pastor of a church and that a mutual friend had asked me to come see her. I told her as a minister, that I was not there to judge her or look down on her and she began to cry. I shared with her my past, how I had lost it all with drugs, alcohol and Biker gangs and she began to then tell me her story. She was busted for drug possession with an intent to sell. She went to court yesterday and was given a plea bargain deal. 8 months in the county jail and 4 years probation or 2 years in DOC with no probation. She accepted the 8 months in jail. I told her that I would be there every week to see her and she again began to cry. She said that I am the only preacher who has been to see her. She said she felt worthless and the hurt that she has caused her family is so hard to deal with. She told me her mom was there to see her yesterday and wouldn't even look at her in the face.
I told this lady, she is 30, that she can come through this and be a better person, if she learns from her mistakes. She said she wanted to do her best and she told me I wasn't like most preachers she had ever met. I shared with her that I understood her fear, her hurt and the feeling of being worthless and rejected by her family. I was there once too. She was so pleased and happy that I told her I would come see her every week. She shook my hand and thanked me for coming to see her. I left the jail remembering the story that Jesus told about the person who said "I was in prison and you visited me not". I then got on my Harley and rode to the city cemetery there and visited the graves of my 2 sisters, brother-in-law and nephew. One sister died in 2001, the other in 2003, my brother-in-law in 1991 and my nephew in 1982.
Today, I feel blessed because that lady Malissa said to me before I left the jail "I feel better because you have came to see me today". Maybe today, I made a difference in her attitude and hopefully before she gets released, I can help make a difference in her life and her future. This is my goal, this is what fuels me. This is why I do what I do.
I went through the metal detectors and checks and was issued into a waiting room for this woman to be brought to me. As she came in, she sat down and there was a look of surprise and wonder in her eyes. I introduced myself and told her I was a Pastor of a church and that a mutual friend had asked me to come see her. I told her as a minister, that I was not there to judge her or look down on her and she began to cry. I shared with her my past, how I had lost it all with drugs, alcohol and Biker gangs and she began to then tell me her story. She was busted for drug possession with an intent to sell. She went to court yesterday and was given a plea bargain deal. 8 months in the county jail and 4 years probation or 2 years in DOC with no probation. She accepted the 8 months in jail. I told her that I would be there every week to see her and she again began to cry. She said that I am the only preacher who has been to see her. She said she felt worthless and the hurt that she has caused her family is so hard to deal with. She told me her mom was there to see her yesterday and wouldn't even look at her in the face.
I told this lady, she is 30, that she can come through this and be a better person, if she learns from her mistakes. She said she wanted to do her best and she told me I wasn't like most preachers she had ever met. I shared with her that I understood her fear, her hurt and the feeling of being worthless and rejected by her family. I was there once too. She was so pleased and happy that I told her I would come see her every week. She shook my hand and thanked me for coming to see her. I left the jail remembering the story that Jesus told about the person who said "I was in prison and you visited me not". I then got on my Harley and rode to the city cemetery there and visited the graves of my 2 sisters, brother-in-law and nephew. One sister died in 2001, the other in 2003, my brother-in-law in 1991 and my nephew in 1982.
Today, I feel blessed because that lady Malissa said to me before I left the jail "I feel better because you have came to see me today". Maybe today, I made a difference in her attitude and hopefully before she gets released, I can help make a difference in her life and her future. This is my goal, this is what fuels me. This is why I do what I do.
Replies