Prison Wives

What is it like to be the wife of someone who is in prison? The majority of us can only imagine what that horror must be like. I happen to know a handful of these women and it is anything less than easy. To sleep in a bed alone, have dinner staring at an empty chair, or even have your children asking were daddy is is simply heart breaking. Just recently I was talking to a wonderful friend of mine who wanted to do something more. She came to me with the idea of doing make-up for women who's spouses were in prison and therefore unable to celebrate Valentine's day with them. I thought it was a great idea! So we teamed up forces and set up a miniature beauty table right outside the prison and did make-up on these women. I heard all sorts of stories, but the majority of them seemed to have one thing in common...depression. Depression is a monster that creeps in to try and guard the beauty from enjoying her prince, and we were determined to help slay that dragon. With every swipe of eyeshadow and every stroke of foundation we silently said  prayers in our hearts.

Photo by Faviola Olivero

I am a believer that when we deliver the natural needs to someone's heart, it helps deliver what they need for their spirit and their soul. There is a prince that desires to save the heart of every woman. He is willing to use whatever and whomever to make it happen...even make-up. With a simple act of love it can change a persons moment of sadness into one of joy and excitement. Sure, make-up never changed the situation, but it did make the moment a little bit more bearable, and that is what love is. Even for just that moment, if it can bring grace and joy and beauty, it is worth it. It is planting a seed to later on watch something flourish. 

Photo by Faviola Olivero

While doing make up it began to drizzle.  I remember looking up and saying, 'I trust you". My friend grabbed an umbrella to hold over us and all I could do was keep going. Sometimes we need someone to keep going even through the rain. Someone to hold the umbrella over us when we can't do it ourselves. Someone to help us keep going. The drizzle stopped less than five minutes later...and He came to our rescue.

Photo by Faviola Olivero

This was more than make-up. This is about being able to talk to these women. To let them know that there are people from the outside that care. That there is hope. That they are LOVED! That there is a creator that cares for them more than they can ever imagine...

Thank you to my photographer Faviola! Couldn't have done it without you!

A special thank you to my friend Clarimar. Thank you for your gorgeous heart. Thank you for finding the need. For creating beauty in the midst of sorrow. For allowing me take a glimps of what these women go through daily. I can't thank you enough.-MUA!