I recently finished reading 'A New Kind of Normal' by Carol Kent. In this book she talks about the new normal and different mindset she and her husband had to adjust to after their only son was convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison.
I think it's easy as a prisoner to forget the new normal our family must adjust to when we come to prison. We get caught up in the drama of prison life and start worrying about how we can pay for tennis shoes or snacks to supplement the piss-poor meals they serve us. We can end up losing sight of how our actions have rippled into a tidal-wave often catching our loved ones in its destructive path. If, like me, the prisoner has an out date, some family can get caught up in a mental holding pattern, always thinking in terms of 'when he gets home'.
What's important for prisoners (and their loved ones) to remember is that life goes on. The beauty of life isn't found in a future of maybes, but in the joys of today. Sometimes it's hard to find joy in today when you're separated from your loved ones, or when your plans have to be adjusted because your father, brother, or son is locked up. But joy can be found in each day, even in the midst of a prison environment.
By choosing your focus you can choose to find joy in today...and be sure to share it with your loved one in prison!
For more information on author Carol Kent and her prison ministry 'Speak Up for Hope', visit www.SpeakUpForHope.org
