Consequences from Our Choices

I got a call last week that has left me sad for a friend and his family. "John" and I met when he was still in prison. I wrote him through a prison ministry and we became quick friends. Seven years later, he was finally released on parole after being the "model" prisoner and causing no issues at all. He made many friends and was a good influence on all he met while in prison. He was finally granted parole and got to spend the last 5 months with his sons that are now 14 and 17. It was a dream come true for him to be able to catch up with his sons after a long seven years. He made promises, and the three began dreaming of the future they would have together.

Over the last 5 months, priorities for "John" included spending time with his family and finding a mate/companion to make up for his 7 years of loneliness. He dated several women, including a very young woman named "Julie". Things were going good, or so he thought, until he discovered she had another boyfriend at the same time. He made a choice to confront the other man. A few days later, he was called by a detective and found out he was getting slapped with charges of sexual assault. Today, it broke the news, stating that the girl said it was sexual assault with a knife.

This allegation is literally ruining the life of not only him, but his parents and his sons. Although it doesn't matter what I believe, I know he is innocent. Sad thing is he will have to pay for the consequences of getting together with a vindictive woman as he, in the minimum, serves his final year in prison from his original charges.

Why do I share all this? "John" is a friend, a brother in Christ, a son, a father, and a man. He is just like anyone else on this Earth just living one day at a time. He made a choice to date a woman that, in turn, will change the future he had so hoped for. His heart was in the right place - he longed for love - but his innocence and ignorance in how to handle a situation has cost him his freedom. I ask you to pray for this young man's future and the future of his precious family that has already been through so much. And use this story as a reminder that ALL of our actions, whether or not innocent, will have consequences that we have to life with that will inevitably change our future.