We visited Yolanda at the county jail today. She has gained weight and looks healthy, even after her goiter surgery. Better than her health was her attitude. She let many tears flow as she talked of her mistakes and her future. She so desperately wants to make the right choices, especially when she is released. She has the sense that if she fails again, she will have no more chances. This next week she goes to a year-long drug recovery program through the penal system. This is her choice. She could be released from jail in about 5 months, but she has the desire to be made well, to be healed. Although she is not excited about attending group sessions from 7am to 9pm each day, she desires to overcome her addiction even more.

Even more exciting than her desire for recovery is the truth that she is drawing closer to God. She is beginning to pray in preparation for things, rather than as an afterthought. She is turning to God to help her make right choices. She is even beginning to feel compassion for many of the other women in her cell block that have committed heinous crimes. When she first arrived, knowing what these women had done really bothered her. Her heart is melting.

My son was along on the visit. He and my daughter flipped a coin to see who got to go. Only two visitors were allowed. When we pulled in the garage after the visit, he made a perfectly true statement that is profound for a 10 year old.

“It doesn’t matter how you are raised or what your childhood was like. It all comes down to the choices you make, doesn’t it?”

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Posted by AcceptanceWithJoy

[“It doesn’t matter how you are raised or what your childhood was like. It all comes down to the choices you make, doesn’t it?”]

Ten? I don't think I learned that until I was... 30-ish, divorced, in debt up to my eyeballs and very mad at God for letting my life get so messed up. :o)

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Posted by AcceptanceWithJoy

When I was commenting last time, the phone rang. I came down here and filed without completing my thought.

I was crabby on Palm Sunday. Instead of having a Palm Sunday service, our church scheduled Minnesota Teen Challenge to perform. Teen Challenge is the largest inpatient drug and alcohol program in Minnesota. People can't be sent to Teen Challenge because it is a religious program, but they can ask to go there. About half of their population is court ordered there. It is a 1 to 1-1/2 year Christ-centered program. They have programs for males and females, teens and adults.

Anyway, I was crabby. I normally love Teen Challenge's visits. But, Palm Sunday? I wanted to prepare my heart for Resurrection Sunday. And... afterall, isn't church really all about me?

I stayed crabby during most of the service. I was still crabby when our pastor asked the Teen Challenge choir to move to the aisle of the church where we could lay hands on them and pray. First, I don't like to pray out loud, in front of people. But, as we were standing all laying hands on this man... no one started to pray. I was annoyed again.

Then... the Spirit took over. It was Palm Sunday, a day we remember that Jesus rode in to Jerusalem and presented himself as the Lamb of God, the Messiah. The people shouted out their praise. That is what the choir had just done. They had sung glorious praises to God. One of the guys had an awesome voice and would have put Wintley Phipps to shame. Anyway, a week later, instead of shouting glorious praises, some of these same individuals might have been in the crowd calling for Jesus' execution.

I will not have this man rule over me... that is what Palm Sunday was really all about. The men and women that had just sung could only be successful if they did not eventually come to a point when they would not have Jesus rule over them... I suppose I could pray out loud in public just this once. :o)

I guess the message was appropriate afterall. I hate that I am still so selfish. Meet me in heaven, I am going to have it all together by then!

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Posted by smlltwnmmmy

Wow, that visit must have had an amazing effect on your son - he is wise in his young age! I think it's so wonderful that you have befriended and are ministering to this woman. You are truly showing God's love to her and I can see Him working in her life through your posts.

I wanted to stop by and say hi and to also thank you for your comment on my blog this morning. It really helped to hear of your experience, and to know that I may miss this place forever, but that God may just have blessings beyond what I can imagine waiting for us somewhere else! :0) Brandi

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Posted by hsmom23boyz

So glad to see you are still in touch with Yolanda.

Your son sounds like a VERY wise young man.,
Tara B

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Posted by hsmom23boyz

So glad to see you are still in touch with Yolanda.

Your son sounds like a VERY wise young man.,
Tara B

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Posted by mom2chris

Wow. That is profound for a 10 year old, especially. It is great what you are doing with your kids - visiting those in prison. I hope to be dropping by more now that our world is settling down and school is out for a while! :)

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