A prisoner reconciled
Lois* is in prison.
Her relationship with her children was broken.
Two years ago, Lois attended the Practical Positive Parenting workshops funded by SEND donors and taught by SEND's Eileen Starr. Eileen has been visiting with Lois since the workshop, trying to encourage her growth as a parent and as a woman of God. This is her testimony.
The ministry of Practical Positive Parenting has touched my life in a way that I’ll never forget. Even though I went to this faith-based program, my heart was hard. I didn’t really know Jesus and was haunted by the guilt and shame of broken relationships with my children. I was closed off and stuck in the false belief that, “I would never see my kids again.”
The message Eileen brought was seasoned with so much love, grace and hope. I felt drawn to her. She continued to minister to me even after the workshop finished. She brought me encouragement and expressed faith in me while exhorting me back into motherhood. Her mentorship of me had me believing in Christ’s love and His promises.
Within a year God’s promises started to bloom in my life and I had restoration with my oldest son. If the Lord hadn’t used Eileen to help give me the tools to know how to handle that time, I don’t know how I would have faced it.
I have come to understand that I need to share what God has done in my life with others. Eileen used me in parenting workshops a few months ago so that I could share this message of hope with other women here in prison. I am grateful to be a part of God’s purpose in reaching out to others.
I want to thank Eileen and the other volunteers who come regularly to the prison to teach us about parenting and how to be a woman of God. Thank you for being the hands and feet of Jesus and for believing in me and changing my life (Isaiah 61:1-3).
*Not her real name
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