Family

---

Clancy Calman is at a fork in the road, and he needs to decide which direction he will take. Maybe you can help him decide.

Clancy is a twenty-five year-old white male. He is currently in the Alabama State Penitentiary, serving ten years for a crime he didn't commit.

Prior to his incarceration, Clancy had been a runaway from a boys' home. His parents had placed him in the institution when he was sixteen, because they had feared he would do something to hurt a member of their family.

When Clancy was framed for an Armed Robbery and Murder he did not commit, his parents had not come to his defense. Even though he maintained his innocence, they had said they did not know how they could believe him now, when he'd lied to them so many times in the past.

Clancy has not seen or spoken to his parents since he cursed them and ordered them out of his life.

Feeling abandoned and alone, Clancy entered prison, hardened and embittered. He became involved in a fistfight within the first few hours of his arrival, and ended up spending more hours in Solitary Confinement than he could count.

His heart has been softening lately, however, ever since he became cellmates with Joshua Simpson. The other prisoners refer to Joshua as "the Preacher."

Contrary to his earlier fears, Clancy does not find Joshua to be obnoxious in the least. Rather, Joshua is always polite, kind, and patient with Clancy's sullenness and bad temper.

Joshua is in prison for drug dealing. Like Clancy, he was framed. Unlike Clancy, however, Joshua is not bitter. He takes responsibility for his plight, recognizing that if he had not associated with the wrong crowd, he would not be in his current situation. He has concluded that taking on a positive attitude as he lives with the consequences of his poor choices offers him the best prospects for a happy life.

As Clancy has spent time talking with Joshua, he has begun to view his own circumstances in a new light. And now, he must make a choice.

Will he hang onto his bitterness and anger, getting himself into further trouble and maintaining the estrangement from his family?

Or will he recognize that his own poor choices have led him to this point in his life and take responsibility for his own happiness?

Before you form your own conclusion, consider this heavenly scene, picturing Clancy's team of guardian angels:

***

The Clancy Committee is sitting around the round, mahogany table, waiting for the Heavenly Father to enter the room. Melvin, Clancy's own special guardian angel, is especially concerned about Clancy's plight. He has been there through it all, ever since Clancy was a misunderstood, hurting little boy.

Harps begin to play, and each angel bows prostrate on the floor, as the Heavenly Father enters the room.

Glory to God in the Highest,they sing with the celestial instrument, for He is worthy to be praised!

"Rise and be seated, my children," the Father says kindly.

With looks of adoration at the Almighty One, the angels take their seats.

"What questions do you have about Clancy's situation today?" the Great I Am invites.

Melvin's hand is up in a flash.

"Yes, Melvin, what is your question?"

Melvin rises to address the Father. "I just feel so horrible for Clancy," Melvin begins. "All his life, he's been misunderstood and has gotten into more trouble than he really deserved. When will he receive compassion and understanding?"

"An astute and heart-felt question, Melvin," observes the Father. "You know that all things rest within My hands, do you not? I am the one who will balance the scales?"

"I do, Your Majesty," replies the angel.

"Clancy needs to learn to trust me for that as well. When he learns to offer compassion and understanding to those who have been hurt by his irresponsibility and selfishness, he will find his way into the soft spots of the hearts of those whose love he craves."

At once, all of the angels bow down to the Almighty, to show their adoration and praise, in response to His wisdom.

Alleluiah! Amen! Glory to God in the Highest! is their chorus.

***

Do you have any thoughts to offer Clancy? If so, please email him through the Private Messenger of this author, or leave a comment on this article.

And watch for the story of what Clancy does next to be posted on Faithwriters.com!!!

---

PLEASE ENCOURAGE AUTHOR BELOW LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE