The following is an excerpt from my mentoring class for the younger inmates, ages 18-25.
“Okay, men, calm down. I just walked into the room, and I could hear all of you down the hall arguing loudly over whose woman looks the best, whose woman is sending the most money, etc. That is childish talk, and not what I had in mind for today’s discussion. Plus, you’re disrespecting the women in your life. This is a mentoring program, so I guess I will have to remind you all of that. So now we are going to talk about the value of a woman.
Do you men have any clue about what the woman in your life is, besides her looks, body, and the job she has? I want all of you to understand that women are inventors, life givers, and they sacrifice like no other living being on this planet. They all have the God-given ability to bring children into this world. Now I am 47 years old, and old enough to be each of your father. I’m telling you as a man and as your mentor, we are going to get all of you to respect your woman and any other women in your life who are there for you during your time of need. I want all of you young men in this mentorship to listen carefully.
First, I want you to understand your women can make something out of nothing, and have your back better than your homeboys. I want you to think about the women in your lives and think about why they always try to help you if you tell them you’re having a bad day. Think about why they push you to follow through with your goals. I’ll tell you why. They do that because women are FIXERS! They like to fix things that are not right. It’s in a woman’s nature to do that. I want you to know that women are like scientists. They can take something so plain and make it beautiful. Look at how they do their hair, makeup, clothes, and how they dress your kids and the outfits always match. Do you men know what the word “manifest” means? It means creating what wasn’t there. Women, since the beginning of time, know how to manifest and turn nothing into something. I personally take my hat off to all single mothers who do all they do by themselves: get the kids up, feed them, and get them ready for day care or school; go to work full time, pick the kids up from school, make dinner, help with homework, get them into bed, and then have a little time for themselves. Then, do it all over again day after day. We men can barely take care of ourselves.
So, I hope NOW all of you can be a little more respectful and appreciative, if you’re blessed to have a woman in your life while you’re doing this time.
Advocate/Mentor
Leonard E. Love