Loving You, Thinking of You, Don't Forget to Pray: Letters to My Son in Prison

by Jacqueline L. Jackson, Jesse L. Jackson Jr. (With)

From a mother, role model, and civil rights veteran, an inspiring gift of love to a child in his darkest hour. Jacqueline Jackson promised her son, Congressman Jesse L. Jackson, Jr., that she would write him every day during his incarceration in federal prison to serve his thirty-month sentence. This book is an inspiring and moving selection of the letters she wrote him. Together, they comprise a powerful act of love―nurturing and ministering to her son's heart, health, and mind and maintaining his essential connection with home. Frank, anecdotal, imbued with faith, and sometimes humorous, they offer intimate details from the family’s daily life, along with news of friends and the community and glimpses of such figures as Nelson Mandela, Winnie Mandela, and Mayor Marion Barry. They also touch eloquently on issues of social justice, politics, and history, as when Mrs. Jackson recalls growing up in Jim Crow Florida, and they reflect the qualities, instilled by her own mother, that made her a role model for much of her life. Ultimately, these letters offer a blueprint for why we have to support our families not just as they elevate but when they fall. This collection is Mrs. Jackson's contribution to healing during a time when our prisons are full and our communities are suffering. She provides the road map for ensuring that the individuals serving sentences understand that prison is where they are, not who they are and for helping them sustain the courage to keep hope alive.

Audio CD

Published February 5, 2019

Reviews

[Carol Slater · Rating 4 out of 5]

Former Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr shares letters that his mother wrote to him while he was imprisoned for using campaign money for personal expenses in this book. I must say that Mrs. Jackson offers her son amazing advice throughout the book as well as attempts to keep him updated on friends, family, and the world news.

Many of these letters are personal and many of them are filled with advice, but her most important words throughout the book are " don't forget to pray" and encouragement to remember that you are important even if incarcerated. The book is a true show of a mothers' love for her son. It also offers a glimpse into life of a loved one that has a son or daughter locked up.

It is a nice read and an easy read.

[Lynn Dixon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loving You, Thinking of You, Don’t Forget to Pray (Letters to My Son in Prison) is a host of letters written to young Congressman Jesse Jackson, Jr. by his loving and dedicated mom during his imprisonment. She daily checked in on his well-being through biblical passages, family news during his absence, humor and encouragement to help him hold on and hold out. This book can easily fit into anyone’s personal library to be revisited during moments of despair, This is a touching and reflective read penned by the iconic Jacqueline L. Jackson, (Wife and now, Widow of Jesse Jackson, Sr.)

[Aliesha Hill · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a pretty good book. A nice easy read, a reminder of a mother's love, hope, faith, prayer, and the need to take responsibility for our own actions. I don't think you will be disappointed in this quick read at all.

[Debbie Prevost · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book! It really shows a Mother’s love.

[Megan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Did not care for the book!!!!

[Pamela · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the book, she is very insightful, protective of her son, regardless of the situation he is in.

[Kendall Hill · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Loving Yoy, Thinking of You, Don't Forget To Pray" by Jacqueline Jackson is a great model of how a mother's concerted effort saved an incarcerated child. "Loving You" is a collection of Ms. Jackson's daily letters to her son while he was in prison.

[Brenda Middleton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book

I chose this rating, because I loved how his Mother saw the need to keep her son's spirit alive by writing him. It encourages me to continue to live my children even though they are adults.

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Highly Recommended!