Influence — Part 1
Our lives influence others more than we realize. “For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself” (Romans 14:7).
In 1921 Lewis Lawes became warden at Sing Sing Prison, one of the toughest prisons that ever existed in the United States. When he retired 20 years later it had become a humanitarian institution. On retirement Lewis gave the reason for the transformation, He said, “I owe it all to my wife Catherine, who is buried outside the prison walls.”
Catherine Lawes, against all advice from friends and relatives, said, “My husband and I are going to take care of these men and I believe they will take care of me! I don’t have to worry.” She introduced Braille for the blind and sign language for the deaf. She went to basketball games and sat in the stands with the inmates. She visited their cells, and showed love to those who had never known what love and kindness is. Then in 1937 she was killed in a car accident. The next morning Lewis Lawes didn’t come to work so the acting warden took his place. Almost instantly the prison knew that something was wrong.
Would you be missed if that had been you?
