Recapping Returning Hearts

The braids twirled through the sky. The beads in her hair jingled in the wind. She twirled over and over, cartwheeling across the yard. The smile on her face shone bright.

She paused for a second and waved to me. Then she returned to her cartwheels, travelling across the prison yard. One cartwheel after another after another.

I felt the sun shine on my cheeks, the warmth enveloping me. I heard the sounds of the families playing and talking around me.

I looked around. Returning Hearts Celebration had transformed the prison’s grounds into a scene from a Hallmark movie. Boys, girls, incarcerated dads and granddads played volleyball and badminton. Children and their fathers rode ponies. Gallons upon gallons of sno-cones and mountains of cotton candy were eagerly consumed alongside pounds upon pounds of buttery popcorn. Music pumped through the speakers as kids bounced down the giant inflatable slide.

Except for the razor wire fence, you never would have known we were in a prison. It was a perfect day. All was right in the world.

I’m tempted to tell you more, to share some of the stories and memories.

But instead, I am holding some of this day’s memories for myself. I reflect on the passage in Luke 2:19: “But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.” The sacredness of some moments is beyond description. I simply can’t do the day justice with my words.

I’ll never forget that girl cartwheeling across the yard, free as can be, smiling in the sun as her daddy looked on.

Some days are diamonds.

Join us next year, why don’t you? See and experience it for yourself. You won’t walk away the same. We never do.

Have a blessed day.