Giving thanks behind bars?

In preparing an annual Thanksgiving prayer for our family dinner, I like to fall back on Ralph Waldo Emerson’s material. This year, as I read this simple verse, I think of persons living behind bars. 

 “For flowers that bloom about our feet;

 For tender grass, so fresh, so sweet;

 For song of bird, and hum of bee;

For all things fair we hear or see,

 Father in heaven, we thank Thee!” 

The deal is, it would be pretty difficult to recite this little prayer while living in a cage, where you can’t smell flowers, can’t feel damp grass, and can’t hear the chirping of birds and the humming of bees. All stuff that we just take for granted. 

And yet, here in our office we receive words of thanks every day! With 50-100 messages arriving daily from behind bars, our team is wrapped in warm and fuzzy comments like these. 

“Thanks again for all your help. Make sure you give a special thanks to all the volunteers at HFP for me.” 

“Thank you for data provided by your complex searches. Because of HFP, I have been able to change my life for the better mentally and spiritually.” 

“Thank you GREATLY for the work HFP does for us.” 

“Thank you! I received my clothing today from the Quartermaster. God Bless! 

“I just want to thank you for those kind words ‘you matter.’ That means so much to me.” 

“Thank you so much for the prompt response re my eye glasses. you made this old man very happy!” 

“It inspires me to want to help others as you have helped me. Thank you once again!" 

In addition to many nice comments, this week I mailed out four personal thank-you notes to prisoners who made financial contributions to HFP. For our gang, this is the ultimate compliment! Residents of our prison system are not wealthy people, and their wages are puny. Expressions of financial support from inmates have been overwhelming this year, and for that WE are thankful! 

In conclusion, as we observe Thanksgiving, 2021, I just want to add a personal note. Since I started HFP 20 years ago, I’ve discovered that some of the nicest people I know are incarcerated. I’m thankful for their friendship! Because of them, Thanksgiving means more to me today.



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