Although he has four life sentences, Benjamin Case has been saved in prison by God and the remarkable and unrelenting support of three strong women in his life: his mother, his daughter and his wife.

Hope can seem impossible to find when you’re sentenced to time that would take five lifespans to complete. Yet, by the grace of God, I am blessed with three beautiful pillars of strength in my life. Each of these women, in their own unique way, has provided the love and encouragement I needed at exactly the right time. In the reality of mass incarceration in America, it is often women who play the most crucial role in the rehabilitation and redemption of the men removed from their lives. While society calls these institutions “Departments of Corrections,” the true motivation for change often comes from the women who stand by us, even when the system tries to keep us apart. As men, it is our responsibility to recognize and honor these women by striving to be better sons, fathers, husbands, and friends.

My mom sat across from me in the visitation room as I began explaining the tattoos I was getting on my back. I told her how the word “Immortal” would run down my spine and how the entire piece would depict different gods at war for my soul. She listened in loving silence until I finally paused from my narcissistic rant to let her respond. “You better make sure the right God wins,” she stated, matter-of-factly. I don’t remember how I replied or how the rest of that visit went, but those words have stayed with me ever since.

There’s an old newspaper article showing my mom on a roof in the summer heat, putting on shingles. I grew up in the business she ran—Greenwood Aluminum. My mom made storm windows and doors for a living. Lucy Case is tough as nails. Yet, despite her toughness, she is also incredibly kind and loving. She prayed for us, fed us, clothed us, and made sure we never went without. If you knew my mom, you’d wonder how I ended up in prison, serving life without parole.

The support I’ve received from my mother throughout my incarceration has been nothing short of incredible. When I was in county jail, she wrote me every single day. Sometimes it was just a note that said, “We love you, we miss you, we’re praying.” But those letters, those notes, and those prayers held immense power. My mom has sent me thousands of dollars for canteen, cigarettes, phone calls, and books. I could fill a library with all the books she’s bought me. Even when I was at my worst, my mother never gave up hope that I was redeemable. The world had given up on her son, but she never lost faith in the Redeemer. It’s through her nurturing strength that I came to know the Redeemer she held on to so tightly.

My daughter sat across the table from me in the visitation room, concentrating on the chessboard, trying to figure out her next move. Having been locked up since she was four, it was incredible to finally teach her how to play chess. But it wasn’t just chess—I was passing down my competitive spirit. In our family, winning is earned. We don’t take it easy on you, no matter the reason. With each game, I watched as new strategies formed in her young mind, a reflection of the strength she’s carried throughout her life.

For a man like me, it’s a blessing beyond words to have such a remarkable daughter. She’s weathered countless struggles without her dad by her side. There are a couple of things she said that I’ll never forget.

When she was around seven or eight, her mom told her about my charges, explaining that I had done some bad things. Her response was, “I hope nobody expects me to hate my daddy.” I didn’t hear her say it, but those words have given me strength in my darkest moments. She once wrote, “On top of all his struggles, he still carries me on his back from a distance. He knows every little thing about me, good and bad, and never judges me. He constantly builds me up without blinking an eye.” The words of my daughter have been a powerful source of strength when I had none left. The love of my baby girl—now a college graduate, working at a retirement community, and working toward her MBA—has sustained me in my lowest moments. The thought of my responsibility to her has kept me from losing all hope time and again.

I have a big folder filled with all the letters, cards, report cards—everything she’s ever sent me. Through her love, God has taught me many things and shown me grace more times than I deserve.

As I look across the table, I know the feeling that Adam had when God brought Eve to him. I can get lost in her eyes, and her smile melts my heart. She flew all the way from Colorado to see me for the first time. Rose Anna is the kind of woman songs are written about. Against everyone’s advice and against all odds, she chose to give me her hand in marriage. For eight years now, she’s shown me her unwavering love in countless ways.

Though South Carolina offers no clear path for prisoners to marry, Rose Anna has become the very model of a devoted wife. She left a high-paying career in Colorado to return to her native South Carolina, without any promise of employment. I don’t have enough paper to write about all the ways God opened doors to bring us closer together. While I was attending college at Columbia International University, she teamed up with my parents to help remodel our house—the transformation is nothing short of incredible. We’ve been through four different prisons together, and now that I’m a little closer to home, it makes things easier on her.

While building our home, Rose Anna also built a career as a banker. She started as a teller and now she’s a financial sales representative. The only thing holding her back from becoming a branch manager or even a regional manager is her modesty. As the wife of an incarcerated man, she’s had to learn how to repair our home, fix lawn mowers and weed eaters, handle general maintenance, and so much more. Each time she conquers a new challenge, I tell her to add it to her resume. My wife is a constant source of strength in my life, one that I could never deserve.

Through my mother’s faith, my daughter’s support, and my wife’s devotion, I’ve found the strength to be obedient to God’s purpose for my life. A life without parole is a heavy burden, but they have consistently lightened the load. In the testosterone-fueled environment of prison, it has been the feminine strength of my support system that has empowered me to stand firm in the face of all opposition. My deepest dream is that God will grant my release so that I can one day support these three remarkable women as they have so selflessly supported me. I also want to extend my gratitude to all of the women who have not given up on the men they love, may God continue to bless you with favor and strength.

Benjamin Case #305097

Tyger River CI / 10A-105

200 Prison Rd

Enoree, SC 29335

The post Saved in Prison by God and 3 Angels first appeared on Prison Writers.