6.03.2009

This post is very personal to me. I don't talk about this much. And bear with me, this is hard for me... But I want to pose a question...one that I, myself overlook. How often do we pray for our prison system? From the law enforcement all the way down to the prisoners, and the victims. I mean, the victims being the families of the prisoners, and any families that have been affected by an individual. I myself know someone very close to me that is living in prison right now. Meet Arkansas Department of Corrections Inmate # 651200. He is my brother. I love him, regardless of what he has done. I find myself sometimes embarassed when people in our small town ask about him. Everyone knows...and I don't tell those who don't.

This is his picture, which I got from the ADC website that anyone can go to or look up. It's available for all to see out there. This is not how I think about my brother looking. He doesn't in my mind look like this...he used to be handsome.


I try to remember my brother in different times. We have never gotten along with each other. I know this is kind of all over the place, but it's hard to write. Yet I want to write this. Anyhow. My brother is a very smart person. One of the smartest people I have ever met. Like me, he has a passion for reading and writing and learning new things. He just has no common sense, I like to say. He has made some terrible choices. I am very thankful that he has not hurt anyone other than himself and his family. I am grateful that we are not one of the many families of prisoners who have someone they love that has hurt someone in prison. But they are out there. Do we ever think about them or pray for them? Anyone can fall victim to crime, drugs, and bad choices. Even those raised in good homes. And I mean even those raised in Christian homes with values and morals instilled in you. I feel like my family are victims. We have fallen victim to him, more than once and we are now without someone we love. I have been praying for our prisons, specifically. They are not nice places. There are those there who are murderers, rapists, and pedophiles. And they are mixed in with drug offenders and theives. There is crime in our prisons and I hate that my brother lives in one. He is currently being housed in a facility that is better than most. He has been at facilities where you don't sleep at night. I try to remember that God made each and every one of those sick people who committ horrible crimes and while they deserve punishment, they need prayers. Our law enforcement workers need prayers. Our justice system.

Specifically, I pray mostly for my brother and his victims (my mom, grandparents, and his precious daughter.) My brother has made bad decisions to land him in his situation. The saddest part of his situation is his daughter. She is ten and a sweetheart. She has NO parents. Her mother was murdered in 2006. I pray for her every day. He has caused my family alot of grief. I pray that he is treated nicely every day. I pray that upon his release, that he can remain clean and be a productive member of society. I am no longer angry with him, I used to be. I want him to be able to see his daughter, not write letters to her from a prison cell. He has a strong faith in God, which is hard to believe for some. So, I am asking for prayer for my brother.

Love,

5 comments:

Nic said...

I will say a prayer for him.

Unknown said...

Praying for your brother...

Ashley said...

Girl, you know we are in the same boat. My brother was in for 7 years for drugs. He also has two kids (12 year old girl and 9 year old boy). Sadly, he has been out for about a year and headed down the same road, again! If you ever want to talk or just vent to someone who understands, let me know.
You should not be ashamed of your embarrassment. It is completely normal.
A little funny they grew up in the same youth group together (gotta find some humor somewhere)

Molly said...

I just came across your blog and I will most definitely say a prayer for your brother. You are a very forgiving person with an amazing heart!

A Dusty Frame said...

((Hugs)) thanks for stopping by my blog.
You're right it's hard to talk about and we do need to pray.
Lizzie
www.adustyframe.com

"We can cry with hope, we can grieve with hope, because we believe with hope.."