“Forgive one another just as the Lord has
forgiven you." ~ Colossians 3:13
Young Adelae sat anxiously on a cheap plastic chair, her
sparkly shoes swinging back and forth in the dingy, windowless room. “I hope he recognizes me,” she muttered
nervously snapping and unsnapping the clasp on her hot pink purse.
At the other end of the building, men traded various
accessories between the tight rows of steel bunk beds. An equally jittery DeShawn stared in the reflective
steel mirror. ”Does anybody know how to
tie one of these things?”
Having traded their shackles and jumpsuits for sport coats
and ties, Sheriff Parker led the inmates down a long hallway. He’d approved the jailhouse Daddy-Daughter
dance in hopes it would be a sobering reminder to them that they were loved,
that they were needed, and that they should change their lives. Just because they were locked in –
didn’t mean that they should be locked out of their daughter’s lives.
DeShawn’s head buzzed with a combination of fear and excitement. He’d been incarcerated since just after
Adelae’s third birthday. Though only
six, she was growing up; starting to make some of her own decisions . . . and
resolve them without her Daddy’s help.
From
the letters he’d received, her life seemed to be heading down the right path. For
now, the closest thing she had to a father was a Heavenly one.
“I hope she remembers me,” he wondered, unconsciously clasping
and unclasping his hands as if in constant need of reassurance.
Down the hall and past several gates, DeShawn stood on
tiptoe, trying to get a glimpse of his daughter.
There, as if cast in the shadow of an angel, she looked
right at him, dark brown eyes melting his heart with a warm inviting
smile.
"Daddy!” she squealed.
It was the most incredible moment of his life. He never felt so much love for one person
ever. In that moment, when their eyes
locked, they bonded in a way that’ll never be broken.
They hugged; then he bowed gracefully and extended his hand
for a dance. The atmosphere was
electric; uncommonly loud and lively. They
shared a catered meal of chicken and fish. They laughed together, experiencing a rare
opportunity for a physical connection that many of them hadn’t felt for too
long. Even the guards cried.
The night ended too quickly.
As he sat alone on his steel bunk, DeShawn sobbed, rocked to
the core with guilt. He’d made such a
mess of his life, but from God’s kindergarten messenger, he felt the power of
forgiveness.
And he’d now do anything in the world for her. He would be her hero, her keeper, a father
that she would be proud of. His daughter
had given him another chance. He picked
up his Bible and prayed the prayer below.
God, there are times when I cannot imagine
that You forgive me for what I’ve done.
I pray that You will strengthen me in the assurance that You forgive
long before I forgive myself. Amen
