Dear Supporters, Brethren and Friends,
It is good to be able to share with all of you again about the work being done in the prisons and with those released.
I’ve written about this before, but the reality is that any of us can exhibit an ungrateful spirit at times. It is obvious when someone doesn’t say thank you when we have done something for them. However, it is harder to see when the obligatory words are spoken, but our actions say something different. Most men that I deal with do say thank you, but as this example shows, without the proper heart behind those words they are meaningless.
We recently had a man that abruptly left the program the very day his probation ended. I received this text from him the day he moved out…
I just wanted to say thank you very much for all you have done for me. You have truly been a Godsend and I could never express the love and gratitude I have for you. I’m fully moved… I won’t be reinstalling the accountability app on my phone…I just wanted to say thank you from the bottom of my heart. I love ya brother.
He then basically broke all contact with me, the other men in the program and the church. His last communication with me after not seeing him for weeks afterwards was this…
Yes sir. Everything is going well…I’m going to find another church. I want to move past being “one of the guys from the transition house” …keeping my life moving forward.
Well, he never found another church, and he didn’t have any contact with us for months despite me and others reaching out to him on several occasions. Then one day unexpectedly I received this text and some wedding pictures…
Please understand that my goal is following the gospel that you showed me in the Bible…I love you and I may not have done things the way you would have laid out but life happens and I’m trying to live a Christ filled life. I will always respect and love you for all you have done for me. From the bottom of my heart, thanks.
This brother never had a driver’s license while in the program. Brothers served him by taking him to the store, etc. He had probation mandated drug treatment classes two nights a week for several months. The brothers took turns taking and picking him up, so he never had to miss a class. He worked for a brother from the congregation. Another brother gave him a ride to work and brought him home every day he worked. He had a reaction to some chemicals one time and had to be put in the burn unit in Gainesville. We checked on him, visited him and picked him up when he was released. Several of us taught him, guided him, encouraged him with weekly visits while he was in prison.
Although his words showed appreciation his actions said otherwise. He hasn’t been attending anywhere faithfully, he didn’t invite any of us to his wedding, none of us know the woman he married, etc. Saying “thank you” and acting in contradiction to that nullifies the words.
It reminds me of a story in 1 Samuel 24 about David and Saul. David was being hounded by Saul who was trying to kill him. David with God’s help was staying just ahead of Saul’s pursuits. By God’s providence David found himself in the same cave as Saul. In the darkness David cut off a corner of Saul’s robe. Afterward, David called out to Saul to tell him that he had the chance to kill him but refrained because David believed that doing so would not bring honor to God. Here is what Saul said back to David…
1 Samuel 24:16–20…Saul said, “Is this your voice, my son David?” And Saul lifted up his voice and wept. 17 He said to David, “You are more righteous than I, for you have repaid me good, whereas I have repaid you evil. 18 You have declared this day how you have dealt well with me, in that you did not kill me when the Lord put me into your hands. 19 For if a man finds his enemy, will he let him go away safe? So may the Lord reward you with good for what you have done to me this day.20 And now, behold, I know that you shall surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in your hand.
What sincerity. What remorse. Except that in chapter 26 we learn that Saul gathers 3,000 men to hunt David down again. It is easy to say I’m sorry or I’m thankful, but when our actions show the opposite then the words have little value.
I tell men often when they thank me for studying with them, counseling with them, getting them a Bible, helping them get their license, etc. that thanks will be shown by living for Christ.
I need to remember that in my own life. A lack of real appreciation leads all of us away from our Lord. Men who leave prison with real thankfulness serve Christ and others. Men who don’t go back to the world. I hope and pray that my actions back up my words when I say how thankful I am to all of you who pray for, give to, and care about this work. God bless us in this together.
Daryl Townsend