Spiritual Survival Guide
5: Complicated Stuff
From Where I Sit: What It’s Like for Me When You’re Locked Up; Family Members of Inmates
the courage to seek them out and the humility to learn from them. In fact, they’re praying right now for God to lead guys like you into their life. They’re not a replacement for your natural family—and they don’t want to be. They’re a bonus, an extra gift from God.
From a Father
In a way, I could see it coming. I held eternal hope that this would pass you by. I know you tried hard to make it work, but as the strikes started adding up against you it became more difficult to just live in the regular world. Tragically, your options for a normal life became fewer and fewer. My biggest fear isn’t that you get hurt; I know you can handle those types of situations. I fear that you will forget how much I care about you. I fear that you will think I have forgotten about you. I fear that I will not hear you laugh anymore. I really look forward to you letters and especially your phone calls. I can hear in your voice when you have to be cold and hard- nosed—not to me but to the others around you to survive. I try to remember you as the person I know. I catch myself think- ing after a week or so has passed what your week has been like. The things I take for granted are luxuries to you. I feel guilty for not wanting to know all you are going through. I am grateful for your faith in God. I am grateful that this has made me depend on God more and more. I have learned how little we are actually in control and thank God that he is. I am grateful that you will still be a relatively young man when you get out. I completely trust that God will take care of you for the rest of your life.
Think About It. Talk About It.
1. What words would you use to describe your rela- tionship with your family before you were locked up? How about after you were locked up? Has it gotten better or worse?
a) strong and healthy
b) cold and distant d) lots of fighting f) what relationship?
c) chaotic
e) I burned my bridges
g) other
2. What effect has your incarceration had on your family? How would you guess that they’re feeling right now?
a) ashamed
b) depressed and numb
c) fearful for what happens next e) angry over what happened
d) relieved that you’re off the street and
still alive
f) all of the above
3. As you look at the list of practical suggestions for how you might love your family right now, which ones do you think you might need to start work- ing on? 4. Are you open to having new spiritual brothers and fathers while you’re in prison? If not, why not? If so, ask God to lead you to them.
112
113
Made with FlippingBook - Share PDF online