Love Them Through It

Prison is a pit where PUNISHMENT is the prescribed pill for every complicated situation that arises.

For example:

• When an inmate fails to pay a debt to his fellow felon, physical PUNISHMENT will be administered to his body until the payment is made in full.
• When an inmate is even one minute late to stand-up count, he will most likely be PUNISHED with time in “The Hole.”
• When an inmate accidentally walks into the wrong TV room, the “Shot Caller” will quickly alert his crew… and PUNISHMENT follows.
• When an inmate fails a cell inspection, he can be sent back to the “60 Man Jungle” as a form of PUNISHMENT.

Prison culture is built on PUNISHMENT.

And my dear friend, Mr. Wolf, has been living in this upside-down world for over 10 grueling years.

It’s crazy to think that most of this extraordinary young man’s adult life has been spent behind razor-sharp barbed wire.

Despite spending over 3,650 days in punishing environments, The Wolf has worked tirelessly to remind himself that “THE REAL WOLF” is a loving father, friend, son, and brother.

But remembering who you truly are…

in a place like this…

is not easy.

Every morning, when the early work call blares over the loudspeaker, we are faced with a choice:

ROAD #1 — Dive deeper into the darkness and choose to PUNISH anyone who hurts us.

OR…

ROAD #2 — Choose to LOVE the people around us… even when it’s undeserved.

Over the last few days, The Sinister Shadow of Shame has been tempting my friend Mr. Wolf to go back to Road #1.

Why?

Because a very bored inmate on our floor has been spreading false rumors about him to staff—hoping to take his highly coveted two-man cell.

Let’s be real for a second…

In The Wolf’s past life, this would have ended with serious physical punishment.

Every instinct in his body—every ounce of his old identity—wanted to respond the way he always had.

With force.
With anger.
With control.

BUT…

Last night, while that shadow hovered over his cold prison cell…

The Wolf made a different move.

He opened his rusty locker…

and pulled out three worn pieces of paper.

Printed on those pages were the birthday messages, prayers, and words of encouragement that YOU—this community—sent him six months ago.

And as he reread those words…

something shifted.

Love began to rise back up from deep within his soul.

Not because of where he was…

but because of what YOU reminded him of.

Those simple words…

from people he has never even met…

brought him back to his true self.

A loving father.
A caring friend.
A son.
A brother.

Yesterday, as we walked around our lopsided prison track,

a tear-filled Wolf looked at me and said:

“Brett… these words your people sent me… they always remind me who I really am. I feel so loved. Please tell them thank you—from the bottom of my heart.”

Because of YOU…

my brother chose LOVE over punishment.

He chose forgiveness over retaliation.

He chose to break a cycle that most men in here never escape.

And in a place built on punishment…

you proved something undeniable:

LOVE STILL WINS.

Even here.

Especially here.

I am in awe of the God stories being written in this surreal season of life.

Thank you for being part of it.

Sincerely,
Brett
(A man who has seen the power of the love of Jesus with his own eyes)

---

A Note From Noél

Okay… after almost 17 years of marriage, I can confidently say I’ve become pretty fluent in “Speaking Brett.”

And the moment I read the transparent letter above…

I knew.

I knew he wasn’t just telling a story—

he was trying to show us something he’s living… something he’s witnessing with his own eyes behind razor-sharp barbed wire.

Brett’s message isn’t complicated…

but it’s powerful enough to change a life:

LOVE ALWAYS WINS.

Even in a place built to punish…
Even in a system designed to remind people of their worst decisions…

the kind of love that only Christ offers is breaking through.

It’s restoring.
It’s healing.
It’s bringing these men back to who they really are.

The Sinister Shadow of Shame was pressing hard on our friend, Mr. Wolf…

trying to pull him back into his past—
back into the version of himself that this place expects him to be.

BUT…

The words you all wrote…

those simple, loving, intentional words…

reminded a hurting man who he truly is in the eyes of his Heavenly Father.

Not a mistake.
Not a label.
Not a past.

But a loving father.
A brave brother.
A compassionate son.
A loyal friend.

The Real Wolf.

And I’m not even going to pretend I held it together reading this…

I ugly cried.

Like… full on, can’t-catch-your-breath, mascara-running kind of crying.

Because the thought that you—this community—

are reaching into a place most people will never see…

and helping restore hearts from the inside out…

it overwhelms me in the best way.

I don’t even have the words to fully express my gratitude.

And I want you to know this…

If you ever feel led to send a message to one of Brett’s barbed wire brothers—a word of encouragement, a prayer, anything from your heart—please don’t hesitate to send it to me.

I will make sure it gets to Brett so he can pass it along to them.

You may not realize it…

but your words are changing lives.

You don’t just mean the world to my family—

you now mean the world to these men too.

And that is something to be incredibly proud of.

Each one of you is actively spreading the love of Christ… in places most people will never step foot in.

Yes… this season has been heavy.
Yes… it has brought pressure and pain to our family in ways I never could have prepared for.

BUT…

The God story being written in the middle of it…

is something I wouldn’t trade.

Because what we are witnessing—

is redemption.

Real, tangible, undeniable redemption.

Shame never stood a chance in Mr. Wolf’s life…

not against the grace-filled love of Jesus Christ.

I hear you loud and clear, babe.

And I promise…

I will carry this message for you.

I will say it boldly.
I will say it often.

From wherever God gives me a voice—

LOVE ALWAYS WINS.

With so much thankfulness,
Noél
(A wife who is deeply honored to be part of The Wolf’s story)