There's no good time to be in prison, but Christmas is an especially difficult time to be behind bars. For many, Christmas 'inside' feels lonelier and more hopeless than other days.
It's supposed to be the day when loved ones gather around the Christmas tree and the dinner table, sharing stories and gifts, while enjoying a roast and Christmas pudding drenched in custard.
But for prisoners, it's just another lonely day 'inside.' Paul Kelly captured the sentiment so well in his poignant Christmas-themed ballad, How to Make Gravy :
Who's gonna make the gravy now? I bet it won't taste the same,
Just add flour, salt, a little red wine,
And don't forget a dollop of tomato sauce for sweetness and that extra tang,
And give my love to Angus and to Frank and Dolly,
Tell 'em all I'm sorry I screwed up this time,
And look after Rita, I'll be thinking of her early Christmas morning.
Volunteer prison chaplains from Carinity ministry Inside Out Prison Chaplaincy bring the hope and joy of the true meaning of Christmas with them at this time of year.
Many will organise Christmas concerts with the help of local churches, and they'll write meaningful Christmas cards for prisoners.
Often, prison chaplains will arrange gifts for the children of prisoners, who might otherwise go without on Christmas morning.
And they will host a special Christmas chapel service, where the good news of the Christmas story will be shared with prisoners.
Christmas is a wonderful time of year for prison chaplains to share the love of Jesus with men and women in prison, who are seeking hope and friendship and redemption.
In the words of Paul Kelly: "You know one of these days, I'll be making gravy; I'll be making plenty, I'm gonna pay 'em all back."
You can help Inside Out Prison Chaplaincy to place more prison chaplains in Queensland correctional centres by supporting the Carinity Christmas Appeal
