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What do you do on the day your son gets out of prison? While he’s on the Greyhound bus from
You go to the Korean market and load up on “kalbi,” and wraps to make spring rolls, and lemons for lemon meringue pies, and you cook for two days. You borrow long tables from the church to fit all his friends and have them come celebrate with you, even the neighborhood kids who weren’t precisely invited; take them off the highways and byways.
There’s no robe or ring to throw on him, but upstairs in my bedroom is a bag of jeans, hoodies, and T-shirts that have been waiting for this homecoming. (Still no sign of the contact lenses.)
What you do on the day your son gets out of prison is think about what he’s thinking on the six-hour ride. Next is a halfway house, with guys stacked eight deep and an ankle bracelet. And you know what he’s wanting — just to go off somewhere by himself and have a good cry.
But today is party time and that is good too. His little brother is looking happy; I see no trace of a bitter attitude in him. I will not have to call him aside and say, “Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.”
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A matter of life
My heart rejoices with you!
May God bring all our prodigal sons & prodigal daughters home, but most of all, may He bring them back into close relationship to Himself.
Andree - I will be celebrating with you in spirit.
On the other hand, what do you do when many of the issues that landed him in prison in the first place, are still lingering in his head?
There has been no spiritual transition to Christianity, just a more adult attitude which, of course, is helpful. But underneath is the idea that, “I”ll just be smarter this time.”
I once was, but now am.
Praise God!
Wow … my friend’s husband will be getting out of prison after three years next month.
I cannot imagine … I cannot even begin to imagine.
May God’s grace and mercy and love and wisdom fall on your home.
All of the issues Michael Martin mentions are valid and will have to be dealt with, but the celebration, acceptance, and support can go a long way to encouraging resolution. All of us have issues we must deal with. God bless your willingness to share this Andree.
As a mother, I weep with you, Andree, at the relief of having your son come home–even if not in a perfect situation.
You might want to include some chocolate chip cookies on your menu–preferably hot out of the oven.
P.S. In #3, I am not speaking of Andree’s son. I have someone else in mind who will be getting out within the next year or so.
May God bless your day and the days to come. He will do more than we can ask or imagine. God’s peace be with you.
Good job, Andree. You’ve learned grace. Maybe the hard way, but God taught you.
thank you for sharing this part of your life (and your son’s) with us. your transparency encourages me to be transparent with others…. isn’t it a-mazing how there’s nothing new under the sun (or son!) and how our lives mirror biblical accounts. then we profit from His inspired Word by its teaching, reproof, correction and training in righteousness! praise Him! enjoy this reunion today for tomorrow has enough troubles of its own!
Andree, My prayers are with you and your family as you are reunited. My prayer is that your son will be able to reconstruct his life and become a beneficial member of society.
I see alot of recidivism at our facility. Most is caused by getting back into the same problems and friends that they were involved with when they fell. Since they have already been to prison, the authorities are more that happy to send them back on a parole violation. No trial? No problem! Guard him with care!
What you do if he’s on a Greyhound Bus from Louisiana on Interstate 10 is cancel the celebration and wait another four years or so.
With crime rates no higher than other states, our incarceration rate is up to three times higher. Our new Christian governor, Bobby Jindal is proposing crime-fighting measures that will help police keep more people locked up even longer.