I spent four years in prison for selling Meth. I left three children behind and had virtually no contact with them during the bulk of my sentence.

I listened to Family Life Radio faithfully because it brought such hope. The Intentional Living program taught me how to walk intentionally in prison as I had interaction with other inmates and prison authorities.

While God was blessing me in prison with a good job and a great church family, I desperately mourned the loss of my children. I was sorry, and I loved them so much. My dreams were to be the mommy they deserved, yet I couldn’t even write them or receive letters because my parents said they didn’t want any relationship with me.

One day as I was bellyaching over this, my roommate, who was not a Christian, said “Just because you’re locked up doesn’t mean you aren’t their mom! Who made you mom in the first place? Your circumstances don’t change your destiny, your attitude does!”

I went outside to walk some laps and listen to Intentional Living. Dr Randy was talking about elderly parents being in relationship with their grown children. He said for them to decide today to intentionally parent those grown children. Celebrate their birthdays, include them in family matters as if the relationship was as it used to be. Parent according to your heart, not your circumstances.

I decided to daily pray for my children and dedicate my weekends to making each one a card. I wrote letters to either each one or as a group. I checked out Little Pilgrim’s Progress and wrote one chapter a week and mailed it to them. I didn’t get responses. Some weeks I was so discouraged it was hard to keep up with it, but I still continued to make the effort.

Six months before the end of my sentence, God placed my children with a pastor and his wife. I began to get some contact and the family became a bridge between my parents and me.

It’s been ten long years. But today, I have custody of all three of my children and I communicate with my parents at least once or twice a week. They even come and stay in my guest room when they come to the city!

Today I am intentional about doing the next right thing in my attitude, language, my praise to God, in service to others, what I put my hands and feet to and what I don’t put my hands and feet to. God is faithful and His plan is in place.

Intentionally step into your destiny, you ladies (and men) who think there is no hope, and I promise you will watch a wonderful plan of our God unfold in your life. It will start in your heart. Hope will grow, and faith will build and then circumstances will manifest His goodness in all His glory.