Only coal in Christmas stockings for these prisoners!

I was reading an article the other day about the lack of gratitude when spoiled rich kids receive gifts. It reminded me of my parents talking about Christmas during the great recession. They felt blessed to receive an orange for Christmas! 

Back to the magazine article. This account is typical of the many stories told in the TODAY Parents Newsletter. “A close friend of our family came back from a trip bearing gifts for my children. Upon receipt of his gift, which was a little hand-carved wooden box from one of the countries my friend visited, his response was, ‘Oh brother, is that all?’. I immediately sent him to his room…later he was sent out to apologize to our friend. After our friend left, my husband and I discussed his horrible behavior and knew we had created this monster by our buying the kid just about anything he wanted, anytime he wanted it. His punishment for this behavior was being grounded for a week and each day of that week he had to pick out four of his gazillion toys to donate to homeless children.” 

The HFP inbox is filled with email messages from Michigan inmates who didn’t get the gift they had hoped for this year.

 David hoped the age for juvenile lifer reconsideration could be bumped up to 19, so that he might have a re-sentence opportunity. He didn’t get it!

Darrell, a juvenile lifer who qualified for re-sentencing had hopes for a second chance. Nope. He got resentenced all right…to another lengthy stay!

Sharon fell in love with, and then married a prisoner…she hoped it would be forever. It wasn’t. He doesn’t want her anymore!

Tommy, a lifer, was finally granted a public hearing giving him hope for possible release. He didn’t get it. Parole denied!

Daniel, another lifer, dreamed of at least receiving a public hearing. No such luck. Hearing denied!

All Karen wanted for Christmas was a visit by her kids. That won’t happen. They don’t want to see her!

Mrs. Smith, a senior citizen in Detroit, wants to visit her son in prison. Now she can’t. He was just transferred to the Upper Peninsula!

 

These aren’t spoiled brats. They’re people who share the same hopes and dreams, thoughts and emotions that we experience in the holiday season. And, it’s only a sampling. Remember these people as if you were in prison with them. 

This is my first Christmas without Marcia. She loved this Bible verse:  "You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you." Isaiah 26:3 

“The stocking on the mantel is as empty as my heart this holiday.” Anon. 

It may be empty in 2022, but the message of Advent and Christmas is that it will be filled. Thank God!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


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