In a quiet whisper I could barely hear, she simply asked us “why?” She looked up and for the first time I saw her beautiful tiny face soaked with tears. Still with a low whisper she asked. “Could you, could you please explain to me why bad things happen to people? I was just wondering if maybe you knew.” I gasped for air when I saw the agony in her eyes. I thought “oh Lord what horrible devastation has happened to this poor little girl”. I could see this was so much more than the usual pain we often dealt with. I so wanted to start pouring God’s love into her. I wanted to begin soaking her in the kind of hope that this world doesn’t offer. That amazing kind of Hope that only God can give. The inmates immediately surrounded her with compassion.

I looked up at the clock and saw the time. I quickly prayed” oh God they’re going to come to take her back to her cell and I need more time. What can I possibly give to her to grab onto in just five minutes.”  The Guard was now standing at the door wanting to escort the ladies back to their unit. The ladies all stood up except her. She sat there waiting for maybe 30 seconds longer hoping for an answer. I reached out and held her as I whispered in her ear “if I can only leave you with one thing tonight, know that if you were the only person on earth, Jesus still would have died for you. You are loved by God almighty. Call out to Him and He will come. I promise you that you are not alone. Just please hold on. We’ll be praying for you.”

I sat in the parking lot that night feeling numb and cried out to God. If only I had more time. Throughout the years I’ve seen many women breakdown feeling regret for what their lives have become and remorse for all they have done that has lead them to where they are today. I’ve held many while they sobbed and poured out their hearts, but somehow this was different. I began to pray for her when suddenly I realized I didn’t know her name. “Oh dear Lord I didn’t even ask.” I kept picturing her tear soaked lap. It was if she had spilled a full glass of water on herself.  Lord I guess I’ll have to call her ‘Eight Ounces’ when I pray for her.

The next day I left for a two week vacation. I thought often about her during that time. A little reminder to pray for all of His children behind bars. When I returned I couldn’t wait to find out how ‘Eight Ounces’ was doing. After a little back door investigating I got word that she had been released a few days after that fateful evening, but sadly I also found out she died the following morning from an over dose. I’ll never know what her story was or what was so devastating that brought her to the point of not wanting to go on.

I have shared God’s love to many inmates over the years. I can’t say that I have ever had favorites. They’re all God’s precious daughters but there have been a few that have been forever engraved into my heart. I will always remember that sweet little girl I only knew as ‘Eight Ounces’. I wrote my story for you and all the Eight Ounces that are out there that are asking why.  Why do bad things happen to people?  There are so many women of all ages and walks of life that are hurting and need answers. Sometimes it’s as simple as why is life so hard or just feeling over whelmed. Your life was meant to be so much more than just getting through another day.

Read God’s Unbreakable Love because you deserve the answers, I just needed more than five minutes.