(By: Dutchess Taylor)

I'm a wife of an inmate serving 30-to-life behind walls of broken dreams, and I'm also a Christian. I've been with my husband twenty-three years (2008). Our lives have been a roller coaster ride dealing with Corrections and with families that were disappointed in us; also with many obstacles. But I can testify to the fact that it can be done.

I've written a book called 'Redemption and Deliverance, From Sex, Pain and Deception.' In my book I relate how difficult it is to live this kind of life, but through the Grace of God we're making it. When I first met my husband 23 years ago he wasn't what I thought he was. He was a con artist, womanizer and liar. But because he was so good at deceiving people I couldn't help but to fall in love with his lies. He knew how to say things that would make a woman melt. In my book I referred to him as a man with a 'golden tongue.' It wasn't too long before I realized what kind of man he truly was. I found out that he had many women and was telling them everything he was telling me. Actually he was addicted to sex.

It was through my emotional heartaches I began turning back to the Lord. You see, in the early years I fell away from God. He never left me, but I left Him. I began to read God's Word again. He began showing me His promises over and over. Many times I wanted to leave my husband but I felt in my heart that a miracle was coming. I just kept growing closer to the Lord and started praying very earnestly for my husband. I had to stay no matter what kinds of heartaches I had to endure. I kept saying over and over to the Lord, 'I don't know how you can penetrate those stone walls and iron bars and my husband's stony heart, but I know you can do it.' I just kept trusting and enduring whatever came my way, and believe me, it was extremely difficult, but I held on. Many people told me I was weak and crazy, but I think I was very strong to endure the things that I did. I didn't tell my family what was going on because I was embarrassed and didn't want to hear 'I told you so.' But I could depend on them to pray no matter what, especially my mom.

It wasn't until 15 years after we met that I began to witness a change in him. He became more patient; his temper didn't fly like it did before. I just kept praying and trusting. I knew God was doing something in my husband. Finally one day he told me that he wasn't going to have any other women in his life. It was difficult for me to believe him but down deep in my heart the Lord was telling me that I could believe it.

Then he told me that he had accepted the Lord into his heart. My heart was rejoicing and thanking God for I knew that only God could have brought about this special miracle. Since then our lives have been so different, we enjoy each other, pray together and read God's Word together. Wow! What a change God made in our lives. Now my husband has less than a year before his first parole board. All I can do now is hope and pray that they will allow him to come home.

I wrote my book in hopes that it would encourage and help others and let people know that the Lord loves them and is there for them no matter what. It is a very powerful and true story

You see, I can testify first hand that the Lord can bring us though anything. He had allowed me to go down so low that all I could do was to look up and there was my Heavenly Father with open arms. Yes! We are living proof of Redemption and Deliverance!

Thank you and God bless you!

• Email: chrisdutchess@verizon.net          

• Website: www.chrisdutchess.com

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Remember: All that we do in this life comes back to our God-given purpose which is to serve and glorify God. The money and assets we accumulate, the fame and power we've attained or seek to attain - all of the things of this nature will one day pass away, but those lives of others we impact for Jesus Christ will last for eternity, and we will be rewarded for the part we helped play by impacting those lives ... for eternity. (Matthew 6:19-21 is our assurance)