Prison Life with COVID – by AIC Timothy E.
Forward by Dale Russell
Today we continue our stories from inside prison during COVID. What we may not realize is the isolation that is brought on by lockdowns 24/7. Had you considered what mealtime might look like – or taste like? What could be considered the highlight of a day is now an unwanted routine forced into those hours inside a cell.
Consider that those bag meals consist of peanut butter sandwiches many times. Your conversation about peanut butter continues with your cell mate whom you have already been with 24/7 for weeks – no, months now.
Life in prison is monotony and relentless
New day, but similar opportunities. Life in prison is monotony and relentless. Food is part of the routine and a day with three good meals is a good one indeed. Overall, the food is good, and in truth it’s better than we deserve, yet it’s all too often the object of complaints in the chow hall.
As a Christian, my attitudes of gratitude, will show most of the time. I thank God for the food I’m given and pray over it each time. That, at least, was in normal times.
Going on months now, our institution has been on quarantine (read that as lock down) do to COVID, which means no hot meals, which means sack lunches, morning, noon and night. Not bad for a few days, but as days turned into weeks, it is growing a little old. I hear the complaining all around me. How’s my attitude of gratitude now?
I’ll never forget the morning I heard about my sponsor child at Otino Waa. They receive posho at most meals. How could I forget a name like that? It’s their staple and from what I hear, it’s basically on their plates every day. Despite this, the kids of Otino Waa abound with gratefulness. They really like it and it has lasting qualities. If ever gratitude was seen to radiate from the children’s faces, it’s those kids who eat posho every single day.
“In everything give thanks!”
It’s easy to complain in prison, yet in reality we’ve been spoiled by our standard of living. May God by his grace keep us from this folly and may we join in the gratitude so prevalent at Otino Waa. As scripture exhorts, “In everything give thanks!” (1 Thess. 5:18)
Write a note of appreciation to Timothy
If you appreciate the glimpses into prison life, write a personal note to Timothy. We will include it in the next mini newsletter. (Goes out every three weeks.) Your thoughts, comments and encouragement becomes the light in a dark place. Send your notes HERE. Many thanks!
Dear Timothy,
Wow! Your letter was a real eye-opener for me. While I was aware of the lock-downs, it had never occurred to me that your actual meals had been so significantly impacted by the COVID crisis. It is true that monotony can certainly dull the senses. It is a great encouragement to know that you are endeavoring to remain grateful for the food you daily receive. What God gives is always enough; it’s the condition of the heart that receives it that determines it’s value. The Israelites wandering in the desert before coming into the Promised Land were fed manna from heaven! Unbelievably, that did not satisfy their desires, they wanted something more than a miraculous provision. It honors God that you strive to keep your heart right before Him, humbly and gratefully accepting as from His very hand, His daily provision for you.
“Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; for His lovingkindness is everlasting.”
Psalm 136:1-3, 26. Four times in this psalm we are instructed to give thanks and no less than a whopping 26 times we are told why….”for His lovingkindness is everlasting”. Offering thanks is the fruit of our lips. I pray that the next peanut butter sandwich you are served will be as sweet to you as a delicious, ripe peach!
Praying you will daily have a gift of thanksgiving to bring to the Lord.
Blessings,
Janet