FAMILIES SHARING HOPE
  • Blog
  • Resource Links
  • Books
    • News to Make You Weep
  • Prayer Requests
  • Contact
  • Connecting with Community

#2  asking for help from the chaplain

11/5/2014

0 Comments

 
Being raised in the church I felt very comfortable with the idea that turning to the chaplain for guidance when my son was incarcerated. This was not a happy experience and now that I have been involved in prison ministry I better understand the massive challenges overwhelming the chaplains and why I came to be very grateful that their priority is the incarcerated persons along with what they do to encourage contact between members of nuclear families.

In other words, as upset as I was, I was not nearly as important as the baby and the baby mama. Let me say,  I always agreed with that. I just had such a hard time trying to dealing with was going on and I felt that if I could just replace conversations with someone (1) who was so upset on my behalf that I was dealing with kindhearted, under-informed folks who most frequently were much better at spewing their own fears on me than in calmly, and knowledgeably walking beside me, OR (2) who wanted to discuss the political ramifications of a situation they did not understand and I really was not too interested in listening to the rant, OR (3) who couldn't look me in the eye because they found it all too embarrassing, with conversations leading to some facts surely I could feel more grounded.

That was not going to happen. I will never understand how a beloved, bright, funny, handsome child so completely lost his way for a while.  I will never understand what I might have done differently to prevent the tragedy. I will never know perfectly how to balance helpful coaching with clingy mother over-reaching.

But what I do know is this:  I don't have to understand it all. I have been given forgiveness, comfort, hope, fellowship, even joy by a God who does have all the answers and knows all the awesome possibilities for the future. Of course, the choice is not mine to make for anyone but myself.  God, woos us, seeks us to be God's loving and respectful daughter or son rather than a compliant robot  The only way that works if we are given a choice even with the risks that implies.

Oh, and I strongly recommend praying for the chaplain and chaplaincy staff in jails and prisons everywhere. They are doing increasingly challenging work, with increasingly angry and frightened people and in most jails, they have to raise their own funding. But they are doing increasingly important work. Thank God them every time you think of them and support them with kindness, and consider supporting chaplaincy work in your local area.
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    CHECK IT OUT:
    BOOKS TAB 
    ​News Tab


    For information on meetings use the "contact" button above or call Jann @ 816-896-9815


    Author

    Jann's son was incarcerated.  She longed for a community where she could connect with others dealing with similar issues.

    Categories

    All

    Archives

    April 2022
    March 2022
    July 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    June 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    April 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    May 2018
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    June 2017
    April 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.