When I was in jail, the Christmas cards we got were such a highlight! The women who came to visit us had idea we would take the glitter and rub it over our eyes like eyeshadow. It was the smallest little thing but brought us such joy in a really hard place.
Our “eyeshadow” was just one reason I came to love these women.
For most of us, it was the darkest time of our lives. I had ended up there because of my decisions with boys and drugs. I’m not proud of it, but it’s part of my story.
My bond was fairly low, and friends or family could have gotten me out but they chose not to. I realized and grew to accept that it was kind of like being grounded, and this was my time out from life.
The days dragged on, with nothing to look forward to – except Wednesdays.
Wednesdays were when this group of women would come to the jail and we could go meet with them. We called them “the church ladies” because, along with once-a-month snacks, they always told us that God loves us and that He wanted us to know how much He loves us.
Every week, they asked how they could pray for me and I know they did because they always asked me for updates. I never felt as if they were looking down on me. They told us that they had plenty of things they’d done wrong and that they had no judgment for us. We knew it was true because of how they treated us. These “church ladies” welcomed me every week.
Their steady influence, showing up over and over, and loving me even when I failed, showed me God’s love in a new and different way. They drew me to themselves, and in doing so, to the very presence of my Creator, the God who invited me to know and love Him through Jesus.
Over time, I came to trust Jesus and follow Him during my time there. In spite of my mistakes they continued to love me and nurture my relationship to God, encouraging me to keep going. I saw miracles happen- for example, by every account I was going to be sentenced to prison. Wae prayed together and my case was instead referred to drug court. I had served six months by then and was released to the two-year drug court program. That was a miracle.
But I still haven’t told you the most amazing part of my story.
Now I am living proof of what God’s grace and redemption can do. You see, I left jail with a new hope and a new direction.
Once I was released, I began to attend the local outreach hosted by women from Stonecroft. They welcomed me in no differently than they had when I met them at our Wednesday Bible Study. I became a financial advisor. Then the group asked me to be their Financial Coordinator. This was such a surprise to me! I filled that role until they asked me to then lead the group! So, I am now the Co-Chair of the Bartlesville Women’s Connection.
The Stonecroft women who visited me in jail are now truly my friends. We text each other regularly, we pray for one another, and some are even now my professional clients. I didn’t know love before, but they showed me something different.
God uses faithful women like those who reached me. Being faithful will sometimes mean that we have to be okay with being unsure or nervous about what He is calling us to do.
My story proves that courageous obedience can create huge impact in the lives of others.
I thank God for the women of Stonecroft.
This article wouldn’t be complete without acknowledging the names of the women who serve at the jail where I met Jesus. Debbie King, Lois Bryan, Carol Long and Helen Lewis were faithful to come and to serve each week.
I also had the privilege of getting to know the woman who spearheaded starting the ministry at the jail, Cindy Neptune. She has since moved, but I count her a friend as she never gave up on me and was a integral part of my story.