I just started reading a book called A Knock at Midnight.
Link to the book: A Knock at Midnight
In the beginning of this book this young girl describes her life. She speaks on her mother and father having her at a young age. Her mother and father ended up not staying together.
She talks about her mother becoming a nurse. This young girl had family on both sides that loved her. Her grandmothers would take her and her younger sister on the weekends. Despite her parents having their daughters at a young age, it seemed like they had a great childhood.
It seemed great until they discovered their mother had an addiction problem when they become a teenager.
During the 80s and 90s, there was the ”crack epidemic ”.
In 1985, the number of people who admitted using cocaine on a routine basis increased from 4.2 million to 5.8 million. Link to this information: Drug-free world
Unfortunately, this young girl’s mother was one of those that was addicted to this drug.
Her mother to seek help for herself and then return to her home still without breaking free from her addiction.
When having to go to court for her drug use she was tossed to the aside as another a drug-addicted. They would just give her a sentence without giving her the help she needed.
Time and time again I hear Christian repeatedly toss people aside as if they are not a child of God.
We judge people without hearing their stories. We turn our backs on them without knowing their struggles. We look down on them without giving them a chance.
For the Lord hears the needy and does not despise his own people who are prisoners. – Psalms 69:33
Here are some facts about US prisons:
1. Over 2.2 million people are currently in U.S. jails or prisons.
2.That’s more than the entire population of New Mexico.
3.It’s the highest prison population in the entire world.
4.The U.S. also has the highest prison rate in the world at about 724 people per 100,000.
5. Over 2.7 million children in the U.S. have a parent behind bars.
6. There are more jails than colleges in the U.S.
7. About half of the inmates in federal prisons are serving time for non-violent drug offenses.
8. Federal law currently requires a mandatory minimum sentence of five years for a first-time, non-violent drug offense.
This information came from this link: News week
This is not to say people shouldn’t be punished for their crimes. They should, but I also think as Christians we should help guide these people on the right path.
Look past the flaws and mistakes and see the purpose God could have for them.