I visited women in prison recently. Since Christmas is coming I wished them a Merry Christmas but then I thought, Can they really have a Merry Christmas in prison, away from their family? Were my words that were  intended to be kind, insulting or depressing them? I hope not. Next year I will just say a few quick Merry Christmases and not expound any more than that.

This verse is my prayer for these women. May they be set free in their souls and minds from that which overwhelms them before they are ever set free from their concrete prison walls.