Inside it is lonely. Inside you have very few friends and a lot of enemies. Inside you are watched 24/7. Prison: it's not necessarily living but rather the art of surviving. My now 27-year-old relative is in a Florida prison in the United States and we are penpals. I'll call her Rose to protect her identity.
The incident
It was not a typical day in Florida in September of 2016. The sun wasn't high in the sky but instead a rainy gloom dampened the roads and spirits of its inhabitants.
Already inebriated, a tipsy Rose was driving along in her newer model Ford SUV. A beggar stood in the median of the road pestering motorists at the traffic light for money. While distracted by turning up her stereo as she approached the stoplight, the SUV of Rose veered to the right and struck the homeless man, sending him slamming into a nearby maroon pickup truck.
Rose panicked. She hopped out of her vehicle to check on the man, and then quickly jumped back into her SUV after observing that the 28-year-old was unresponsive She sped away to a nearby adult entertainment bar for a shot of whiskey to calm her nerves.
She was arrested for hit-and-run shortly thereafter.
The sentencing
Since she nor her husband could afford a decent, paid attorney, the court had appointed Rose with a public defender to defend her against the reckless homicide charge and some drug-related charges. Rose was subsequently sentenced to a long prison term at the age of 22 some months later in 2017.
Life inside
Our correspondence through electronic email revealed Rose was genuinely sorry for what had happened. She nevertheless complained about the loneliness, the hate from other women prisoners and the guards, and the unthinkable, unbearable heat inside. She often made references to wanting to have a few beers.
Her urge to party had not left, even though she had killed a man. Gently I introduced my sordid past to her, one she was vaguely aware of, and how Christ Jesus had made me a new man. She was somewhat open to the idea but skeptical. How could God forgive her for killing someone?
Think before acting
Now years later, I still write her and will be writing her later today. I also send her money to buy food, snacks and personal items that the State of Florida does not provide its prisoners. All of her "friends" have abandoned her.
Over time our correspondence has turned to her rehabilitation efforts. She presently trains dogs for the elderly and disabled inside the woman's prison.
Rose is paying for the consequences of her errant thinking but she is able to be fully rehabilitated by Jesus rather than the State.
God the loving Father
God is able and willing to heal broken hearts and forgive anyone of all their sins. Even ruthless killers, drunkards, thieves, rapists, drug addicts, adulterers, sorcerers, bank robbers and all other sinful people may approach God and seek His forgiveness.
Many people have the wrong idea about God. They see Him as a vengeful ogre ready to punish, but that is not His ideal plan for any of his human creations. God is a loving Father!
You see, all people are born into sin and are captive to Satan's power of sin. Only the love, mercy and grace of God is able to set us free. He did it for me! Without going into specific details, I was a drunk, a womanizer, thief, drug addict and a criminal in the eyes of God. But He had a plan for me and He has a plan for you.
He has a plan for Rose, too.
Parole
I don't know when Rose will be eligible for parole - maybe in 2026. I don't know if the State of Florida will grant her parole because her crime is serious. But I do know this: God is able to set her free! That is much better than any parole. I don't mean He will cause an earthquake and free Rose like He did for Paul in the book of Acts, but he can set her mind free of the ways of this world.
He can do the same for you, too. How?
"If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved" (Romans 10:9-10, NIV).
May I encourage you to not despair. God seeks you now. You know it in your heart because He prompts you to call upon Him and yet you have shunned Him. But He hasn't shunned you...yet. Seek the Lord while He is able to be found. He loves you and wants you to come to Him today. There is forgiveness and hope in Christ Jesus. Stop being a prisoner to sin.
This story hit the nail into my heart