Reconciliation!

Often times when we go into the prisons to witness to the inmates, it's the same story. I can almost hear it played out word for word in my head every single time. There are so many inmates that have been locked up in prison since they were teenagers. Adults on the outside, but still the youth that was incarcerated on the inside. You know what hurts the most about these stories? The fact that they don't have family coming to see them and zero support system. You have no idea how much joy comes to a persons face when they have somebody that comes to see them. Now some have been locked up so long that they don't have any family that's alive. Others have burned so many bridges that their families refuse to see them anymore. Then there are those that have family that just can't bear the thought to see their loved ones in prison. Before you say, "well they belong in prison so who cares if they have somebody to come see them?" Hear me out, not everybody in prison deserves to be in prison or deserves the sentence they received. Yes there are some that deserve to be exactly where they are. Statistically speaking there are more men and women in prison for ridiculously long sentences that could be out and have proven that they are not violent. When somebody goes to prison at the age of say 15 and they've been in prison for 20 years or more, and they haven't gotten in trouble, are they violent? Or is it that they were young and made a dumb decision? In Florida's prison system we do not have parole so when you get a life sentence, it's life without parole. It's a sad thing to see a man or a woman that's been incarcerated most of their life but they're still stuck as a kid. Imagine all the emotional trauma that they've experienced being incarcerated or even before incarceration and that's what pushed them over the edge. Just this last week I was able to go into Hardee Correctional Institution. What I really got out of it was the fact that maybe I needed to talk a little bit more about reconciliation to our audience. First let's define what reconciliation really means. Reconciliation: the act of causing two people or groups to become friendly again after an argument or disagreement. I think it's sad that as a society we have deemed it socially acceptable to not be able to reconcile with other people. Prime example: the cancel culture. Sometimes we have different views and beliefs. It's okay to think different. That's what makes us human. I was able to sit down and eat lunch with one of the inmates at the prison and even though I'm a Christian and he was a Muslim, we were still able to have a very nice conversation. People need to get over their own ego and start looking at the world from a different view. Matthew 22:39 KJV - And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. John 13:34 KJV - A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. There's no stipulation in the Bible that says that we are to not forgive somebody. Matthew 18:21‭-‬22 KJV - Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven. When Peter asked Jesus how many times should we forgive somebody and Jesus replied 70 times 7 he was saying that when somebody does us wrong we should keep forgiving them. It doesn't mean that we should keep letting them hurt us. It does mean that we shouldn't hold on to offense. Offense turns into bitterness when held on too long. When we hold on to bitterness our hearts become hardened over time. I can't tell you how many times I've read comments on our Facebook post or even overheard conversations that they deserve to be in prison and they should never be let out or they deserve to die. When will people realize that when they are speaking like that, they are speaking out of an emotional response of some hurt from the past. We should let God do the judging and continue to love all those around us. So as a society I believe that we need to learn that reconciliation with the men and women that are in prison can be easily obtained. Let go of your offense, forgive, & let go of your ego and learn to love. I know that it's not always as easy as that, because I too once held a lot of bitterness and offense. It wasn't until I really started to draw near to God and God put it on my heart that in order to get closer to him I had to let go. I prayed to God Lord help me love others as you love. God put me in a position to forgive somebody that I never wanted to forgive. I ended up sitting down with them and talking things out, and it was so relieving. My bitterness was taken away and now I feel joy and love even around the person that I used to claim to hate. Reconciliation is also very important for the families and the inmates. Oftentimes we see that men and women in prison don't have anybody to come visit them or send them any money because the family doesn't want to forgive. It is the goal of our ministry that we can be able to help the inmates in prison and ex-offenders outside reconcile with their families. We do that by offering therapy sessions and counseling for family and ex-offenders. We try to help the families by helping them see that there is a road to forgiveness. Matthew 6:14‭-‬15 KJV - For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: but if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. I pray that our communities can look into their hearts and see what bias mentality they hold and learn to love in a new way. If you realize that you are holding on to offense or unforgiveness, maybe try praying this prayer.

"God in heaven, forgive me for holding on to unforgiveness or being bias. May I learn to forgive as you forgive. Please help me to love as you love. In Jesus name Amen."