thadeus, are we good dogs now?

I had arrived just in time for the the beginning of "The Star".
I had chosen it because I seem to be on a Christmas kick this week... go figure.
(smile)
Besides the radio hour play on Sunday, I've also seen "A Bad Moms Christmas" a week or so ago.
Then, on Tuesday, it was "Daddy's Home 2", with Mel Gibson being the odd man out when it came to singing.
(Bless his heart, he can't carry a tune in a bucket, but he certainly did try.)
In case you're counting, that makes three Christmas-themed movies and one Christmas play.
I'm definitely getting into the holiday spirit!
In the animated film this afternoon, a beastly hunter has his two snarly beasts hot on the trail of Mary and Joseph, and nearly caught up with them, had not a donkey gotten in the way. In a struggle to keep from falling, the hunter drops his companions toward certain doom. However, it is the hunter who plummets to his death, as the donkey has saved the two curs, Thadeus and Rufus.
Soon, the animals are gathered in the stable to admire the new-born babe. The two beasts approach timidly, and the donkey waves them in.
That's when the not-so-bad Rufus asks his question.
Thadeus replies, "We have to try."
I nearly cried, it was such a poignant moment for me.
You see, Smitty and I had attended the Visitor Orientation this afternoon at the Transitional Center.
There, Assistant Superintendent Locke had thoroughly explained the regulations and our roles in helping our loved ones re-enter society.
We observed two families - one white, one black - sitting near us who clearly did not understand that they were to set a good role model to insure their incarcerated family member would never have to return here.
I feel for those two young men.
Without the support of law-abiding loved ones, without good attitudes to envelop them, they'll be part of the sixty-seven percent of those who return to prison.
Their families do not understand how important this transition from prison is. It's as if they thought their sons were being released from county lock-up, one more time, nothing new.
How very sad.
The onus will be completely on those young men to choose a right path and make good choices.
I pray that God will help them find that path and stay on it.
Please, God, help them, help Tony, help us.
i thank You, God.