Saturday, April 6, 2013

Free

Linking with Charlotte at  Spiritual Sunday and Laura at  Faith Filled Fridays

“I saw the angel in the marble and carved until I set him free.” Michelangelo Buonarroti


When I go into the women's prison.....I have this feeling of being trapped.....of being closed in and having no control. Anything can happen in there and I'm powerless to do anything about it.

The thing is....I'm free to come and go. Makes me wonder how the women incarcerated feel.

Last week....I spoke to a group of women who are trying to  make sense of how their lives spiraled so out of control. Most read my book, In the Eye of Deception.....and were inspired. It gave them hope.  They asked if I'd meet with them. 

They had questions for me...lots of them. Nothing was off limits. 

I looked into the faces of these women....mostly young....all grasping for hope. 

I saw them as angels in the marble. 

Being in prison is awful. But being in prison inside yourself is even worse. There's no release date from that prison. No escape....no reprieve. No way out.......

Except.....The power of a touch of His gentleness. 

Everyone needs compassion....a love that's never failing...


17 comments:

Just Be Real said...

I love the analogy of Angels in the Marble. Freedom I am learning is very priceless. Thank God for His gentleness!

Nikki, you are such a "hope bearer." Does that make sense? I hope you understand what I mean.

Hugs to you my friend.

Unknown said...

Dear Sarah
This reminds me so much of Tante Corrie Ten Boom who wrote about her days at Ravensbruck. She was in the concentration camp, yet, she was as free as a bird. May we pray that our Lord, the master Sculptor releases all those ladies from the prisons of their hearts into His marvelous freedom.
Blessings to you

Laura Hodges Poole said...

Your ministry is inspiring. I'm sure your message encouraged those women. You're right that an internal prison is even worse. God bless you.

Debby@Just Breathe said...

I agree with Just Be Real, your analogy is wonderful. I never thought of myself being in prison but in many ways I am. I pray that these girls can change their lives though God and your words.

Launna said...

You are so right Nikki, the prison we put ourselves in is so much harder to be released from...

I work on that daily.

I am glad you were able to help some of these women, hopefully they can see their potential one day... :)

Pamela said...

I've found so often that God uses the tragedies of my life to make my greatest ministry. Praying God will give you wisdom for these ladies.

Chatty Crone said...

It is true - you can be in a prison right in your own skin. sandie

joy said...

You are a witness for them and God is using you to bring hope and freedon to them.
Thanks God for setting us free.

Denise said...

Wonderful post Nikki; we often have a a pattern of building walls, running and hiding from pain, and stuffing it in…doing anything we can to avoid facing our problems and dealing with them. We’ve built these walls around ourselves to protect our emotions, but once we release these traumatic memories that have held us hostage, we can learn from them, not live in them.

Blessings and love to you as you minister to these ladies; many of them need to begin with releasing the fear inside.

Denise

Kim@stuffcould.... said...

Oh I feel for the ones that are in prison...I am glad you visited them

Connie said...

I can't imagine how frightening it would be to have my freedom taken away from me. Bless you, Nikki, for giving these women hope and showing them the path to freedom.

Ruth said...

Nothing in our lives is wasted when he is working in us for his good. I pray you will know what to say and how to say it in the opportunities you have with women who need his hope.
Blessings.

A Plain Observer said...

that is a really nice thing you are doing, Nikki, giving them hope, the hope you found. I read your book and loved it.

Anonymous said...

Once again, I really admire what you do for these incarcerated women. In a place where they are physically locked in an enclosed case for perhaps several years, it must be a huge blessing for them to feel like they are becoming psychologically free.

One of the graduate schools at which I interviewed had a program where students would go to the women's prison and give therapy to the inmates, and then taught psychology courses (like Cognitive Development, Abnormal Psych, etc.). I hated that school so I will not be studying there, but I'm hoping that at the school I chose I can participate in a program like that.

I hope you had a great weekend!

Be well,
NOS

Anna said...

Beautiful post, I like that analogy also. :)

Sharon said...

Angels in the marble - what a very poetic way of describing these women. (And all of us, for that matter...)

Oh, I believe that your book is going to touch so very many lives...and that the Author of it all will work through you to lay His healing touch on others.

GOD BLESS!

Patrinas Pencil said...

"I saw them as angels in the marble



thanking Him that He put you there...in their midst...for His specific purpose. His angel in disguise.

blessings
patrina <")>><