Persistence is My Motto

From the reaction I had received from the staff about trying to take Marcus home and my knowledge of the juvenile system, I knew persistence was to become my motto. I know I'm persistent, but I had little time and a big rule to get changed. One; Ace and Marcus were not suppose to fraternize outside facility grounds and two; get the court system to allow me (not the average person, someone not related to the child, someone disabled, someone who's own child was having serious problems) to be responsible for Marcus for the Christmas weekend.

The day after the Thanksgiving holiday I immediately started calling around to find out the hoops that I needed to jump through to make this possible. I prayed each time I dialed a number. Shock and disbelief were the normal reactions I was given, but I wasn't going to be deterred.

Remember, I was also finishing up my senior year in college, plus my weekends were spent keeping track of Ace on his home visits and visiting Marcus. Sleep was already rare, but I studied nights, so I could use my spare day time hours to work on this. Little to no sleep became the norm. I'm punchy as it is, but it was said I was extra goofy at that time.

Day after day I called courts, probation officers, parole officers, psychiatrists, and counselors. Ace and Marcus had different people for each of these, meaning it was like the phone had grown to my hand and connected it to my ear. The phone only left my ear so I could dial another number.

Finally I found some allies; When I graduated, Ace's counselor had to approve and verify where he was. She vouched for me. What was the best part was; the judge I had asked to make Ace deal with the consequences to his actions became my number one supporter. He was the person who made it possible for me to take Marcus home saying, "I know these boy's are in good hands. She'll make them tow the line. They're safe and secure with this outstanding woman."

Two days before I was to get Ace for Christmas, he and Marcus called me so excited that their words were a blur of jumbled exclamations. Confused I asked to talk to a staff member and said,"What's wrong?! Is someone hurt?!" It was the staff member I had first asked how I could take Marcus home, he answered with, "Ma'am, I'm pleased to inform you that Marcus will come home for Christmas with Ace. I would not have believed it myself, if I hadn't seen the paperwork. I've worked here 27 years and nothing has ever happened like this. Judge Johnson really respects you. You told me God could do anything. I doubted it, but He just proved it!"

I screamed for joy so loud, I'm sure they heard it for miles...

Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake.

Mark 6:48

I am blessed

Merrym Dawn Mathis Bruce