Carols In The Jailhouse

Read on December 20

Story provided by Evelyn

“And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?’ Then I said, ‘Here am I! Send me.’” —Isaiah 6:8

On a cold, cloudy Christmas Eve in 1988, Evelyn was anxious to see her mom, who’d been struggling with leukemia. When she and her family reached the house, the kids bounded inside, thrilled to be there. Evelyn felt the same way. 

But her dad stopped her on the way in and said, “Evelyn, keep your coat on. I need you to play the piano for the county jail Christmas Eve service. I think carols would be a good thing.” 

The next thing she knew, she was thumbing through an old hymnal headed for the county jail in a “less than festive” spirit. But she wasn’t surprised: her dad had often taken her to various places in his missionary work.

Once at the jail, she was relieved to find the jailhouse piano actually in tune and began to play "Joy to the World." Strong male voices filled the room. A few carols later, her father began to pray in his deep, strong voice. Evelyn bowed her head and was startled by a tap on her shoulder: a guard was requesting her to follow him to a room where the female prisoners were waiting.

A few women, maybe a baker’s dozen, were sitting quietly on cold metal chairs arranged in a circle, clearly anticipating that someone would be coming. Evelyn invited them to sing a few Christmas carols with her. After singing “Away in a Manger,” one woman spoke up. “That is my son’s favorite Christmas carol.” 

One by one, the women opened up, wanting to talk about their families, their children, and their regrets. Evelyn prayed for each of them, their pasts, their present situations, and their futures. But most of them just wanted Evelyn to pray for their children. 

When it was time to leave, they hugged. Evelyn’s heart was breaking for them as she headed to her dad’s car to return to her warm home and loving family. 

Evelyn’s dad hadn’t planned to give her a “teaching moment.” He was just living his Christian life as he always had, and she had been blessed to be part of it. 

Every Christmas, there are people who are reborn as children of God. Their past sins are forgiven, their present lives are blessed, and their eternal lives are certain. Jesus became a child so that all people could choose to be reborn and adopted as children of God. 

Everyone deserves the chance to truly celebrate Christmas.