Something New Every Day

There is never a dull moment in the ministry!  Since the new jail opened in l996, we have had amazing experiences and opportunities to demonstrate the love of Christ.  Of course, there is the daily routine...but even in that one can never tell what will be encountered.  It might be a back-slidden Baptist needing to talk, it could be a Muslim wanting his no-pork diet, it could be a man needing help with his family, it could be a woman getting released in her bathrobe, or perhaps a person who needs to unload all the pent up anger over his case.   

Someone always needs to talk and we try to be good listeners and wise encouragers.  We have held memorial services for people who have died and counseled with wives hardly daring to hope that their husbands might really stop drinking.  We have held people while they cry tears of anguish and hopelessness and we have rejoiced when others get an early release from jail.  We have talked, cried, laughed, and sang with our inmates.

But the experience that stands out as perhaps the most exciting, at least in the physical sense, was the birth of little Timmy.   Susan had the privilege and joy of assisting in a birth!  She arrived at the hospital before the inmate did....an eager labor coach if ever there was one!  She and the special duty officer settled in with the pregnant woman, and from afternoon to 3 a.m., we all waited on the baby to make his long-awaited appearance. The mother kept asking for the nurse to call the doctor (who was lounging around at home), but the nurse said not until everything was "ready."  Susan wasn't sure what "ready" meant, since the woman looked pretty "ready" to her.  Well, all of a sudden, it was time to push....so one nurse and Susan helped the mom, while another nurse caught little Timmy as he emerged with a quick swoosh.

  While Susan blinked back tears of overwhelming emotions (a woman-thing), the professionals quickly finished up all the necessaries.  Susan stood looking down at this little miracle of life...his little fingers wrapped around hers...and she thanked God for the chance to be a part of this moment.

Yes, it is something new everyday.