What Would Jesus Do?

The next weekend I went to visit Ace, I brought personal hygiene products for both him and his roommate, Marcus. As I entered the building the staff automatically called Ace to come for his home visit. But first I wanted to give Marcus the things I had brought him and have a 'get to know you visit'. When I told the staff my intentions and showed them the tiny bag of essentials for Marcus, their faces froze in expressions of shock. They flipped through the book of rules to find out the procedure on this. The closest rule they could find to cover this unprecedented occurrence was, inmates were not to fraternize with one another, other than being incarcerated in the same building. Reluctantly, they stopped Ace from coming, so I could visit with Marcus.

Warily Marcus entered the tiny visitation room with a look of wonder and excitement on his sweet, freckled face. I greeted him with a big hug, handed him the package and said, "I know you don't know me, but I'm Ace's mom. I'd consider it a privilege to be your adopted mom. Marcus, God and I already love you! Please allow me to visit you?" He stood in the middle of the room with tears trickling down his handsome face, shook his head yes, and choked out the words, "OK!" I spent a half hour there with him. I held his hand lovingly, asked questions about him and gave him my undivided attention. When I returned from the weekend home visit I had with Ace, I spent another tiny half hour with Marcus.

When I left the facility that day Ace was bombarded with suspicious questions from the staff and other residents. "Why is your mom doing this?" He looked at them stunned and said,"That's just my mom. She's just living what she believes. You know: What would Jesus do?"...

He defends the cause of the fatherless and widow, and loves the alien, giving him food and clothing.

Deuteronomy 10:18

I am blessed

Merrym Dawn Mathis Bruce