Prisoners

"His mercies are new every morning" Lamentations 3:22,23There they were, just as we have all seen them: prisoners, on the side of the road.They cleaned and picked up trash, dumped discarded papers, cans and other debris as they shivered in the cold December air . The prison truck was parked along the side of the road, waiting to return these men to their dreary and drab cell, until another day would unfold and they would once again go about the job at hand.

It troubles me to see the way life has turned out for these men, and how I wonder what has brought them to this point. What would it be like to live in a prison environment, I wonder? I'm praying that I never find out.

We can, in our free living outside state penitentiaries, build prison walls within ourselves. We can become prisoners of the past, dwelling on wrongs we have committed and not releasing ourselves from bitterness and unforgiveness. We need to, once and for all, release all that old stuff and realize we cannot take past days, unkind acts or words back. We may have been the giver of these misdeeds, or even the receiver, but the truth is, what's done is done and what's said is said. Dwelling on the old will only drag us down, or choke us with thoughts that can smother us emotionally. We need to forgive others or ask for forgiveness for ourselves, and forge ahead. We must shake off all old baggage that is weighing us down and claim the Bible verse that tells us that God's mercies are new every morning. If God can forgive, isn't it about time that we do the same?

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Contributed by Marion Smith. Comments/Feedback are welcome.