Chicken Soup for the Prisoner's Soul: 101 Stories to Open the Heart and Rekindle the Spirit of Hope, Healing and Forgiveness Book

How This Book Came to Be xv

Introduction xxi

1 On Family

Even the Strong Have a Soft Spot Robert Fuentes 2

The Sunray Catcher Ken "Duke" Monse' Broten 6

Light Came and Went and Came Again Willie B. Raborn 10

Being a "Souper" Parent Thomas Ann Hines 14

A Convict's Letter to His Son Lou Torok 18

Beautiful Music Kimberly Raymer 21

Mom's Final Act R L. Todd 24

The Promised Visit Ron Ambrosia 28

Unsung "Sheroes" George Castillo 30

Putting on the Mask Linda Reeves 33

Where There's Faith G. Ashanti Witherspoon 36

Mail Call John M. Reynolds 38

Envy Ken "Duke" Monse' Broten 39

Just a Touch Ken "Duke" Monse' Broten 40

A Father's Prayer John W. Gillette Jr. 44

2 On Change

Bringing the Outside to the Inside Christine Money 49

My Best Friend Jack George M. Roth 51

Another Gold Nugget R. Troy Bridges 55

So Can You! Jack Canfield Mark Victor Hansen 58

A Lot of Bread Lucy Serna Killebrew 61

Thirty-Seven Years in the Wilderness: A Letter to God Kenneth L. Bonner 64

Brainwashed Dan Millstein 67

Brother Harry Dan Millstein 69

Days of Diamonds, Days of Stones Rod Carter 73

The Great Escape Jerry Gillies 77

Change Is Possible Gordon Graham 80

A Simple Witness Chaplain Dick Swan 82

The Lion and the Mouse Judge Bob Downing 84

Writing Can Change the World Tony Webb 87

A Magic Touch Toni Carter 90

My Defining Moment Colleen Fiant 93

Beneath the Layers of Filth Douglas Burgess 97

3 On Faith

Ivy's Cookies Candy Abbott 102

Dead Man Walking Sister Helen Prejean, CSJ 108

A Wise Old Man Andre T. Jackson 110

Never Second Guess God's Ways Charles W. Colson 113

One Day Outside My Prison Window Efrain Frank Hernandez 115

Christmas in Jail (A Strange Place to Find Peace on Earth) Lou Torok 116

Perfect Freedom Charles W. Colson 120

I Was in Prison Curt Boudreaux 122

A Hug in Prison Yitta Mandelbaum 126

A Sunday at San Quentin Mike Robinson 128

Prayer for the Perpetrator Marianne Williamson 132

One Cup at a Time Steven Dodrill 133

Etched in My Mind Brian Brookheart 138

4 On Forgiveness

God Works in Mysterious Ways Mary Rachelski 142

If You Will Welcome Me Billy Graham 145

Celebrating Forgiveness Afshin Valinejad 147

Strangers Behind Glass Ken "Duke" Monse' Broten 150

I'm Sorry, Dad Dale Gaudet 155

The Gift of Forgiveness Kim Book 157

Bringing Dignity Jane Davis 160

5 On Kindness

The Gift of Friendship Diane Harshman 166

You Never Know Who's Listening James Malinchak 170

Chicken Soup Geraldine Nagy, Ph.D 174

Its Rightful Owner David Smith 179

Bittersweet Journey Nonnandie Fallon 181

A Few Kind Words A. Douglas Rowley 184

Who Is the Tutor? Who Is the Student? Nancy Waller 186

Impress Me! Mary Rachelski 189

Walking Tall in Toastmasters Rex Moore Jr. 192

The Gift of Music Brandon Lagana 197

My Bag-Lady Friend and Me Jay Cocuzzo 200

Your Best Shot Laura Lagana 203

August 25 Gail Valla 207

Christmas Eve Behind Bars Nanci McGraw 210

6 On Love

Love and Compassion in Maximum Security Bob Kennington 214

Reunited Douglas Paul Blankenship 217

The Healing Touch Dale Gaudet 219

How Do I Love Thee? Cecilia Thomasson Baker 222

Serving Others While Serving Time Jerry Gillies 225

A Letter from Mother Teresa Lou Torok 229

The Life … of Death Jane Davis 232

The Waiting Game Perry Arledge 236

Meet Me at the Bridge Nancy Muhammad 239

A Mother's Comfort Felixa Miller 242

Through the Years Standing by You Virginia Pool 244

7 Overcoming Obstacles

Releasing the Prisoner Within Judi Weisbart 249

The Writing on the Wall Radames Rios 252

An Attitude of Gratitude Judy Worthen 254

Memories Ken "Duke" Monse' Broten 257

Choices, Decisions, Consequences Daniel Bayse 261

It's What's Inside That Matters! Robert C. Perks 264

Wake Up to Life Kevin Scott Rodriguez 267

Teachers of Peace Dan Millstein 271

Focus Your Energy Jack Canfield Mark Victor Hansen 273

The List Marcia Reynolds 275

The Feeling of Success Tekla Dennison Miller 278

8 On Wisdom

The Unmaking of a Man Marion Boykin 283

Punishment Michael G. Santos 287

The Power of One Gary K. Farlow 290

While You Were Out Toni K Cyan-Brock 292

Happy Holidays Daryl D. Foley 294

The Wisdom of Jesse Jesse Garcia 297

Looking for Good Clifford G. Angeroth 299

The Law of Compensation Sid Madwed 301

World Without Violence Aran Gandhi 302

Success-Who Can Judge? Tom Lagana 304

Not a Mistake Juan Jose (Johnny) Galvan 307

Wasted Time Dave LeFave 309

Time-Out Sandra Keller 311

Who Is Jack Canfield? 315

Who Is Mark Victor Hansen? 316

Who Is Tom Lagana? 317

Contributors 319

Permissions 331