TEARJERKER: Watch these incarcerated moms hug their kids on Easter

A non-profit organization partnered with the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) allowed incarcerated mothers to spend Easter with their children.

Key Takeaways:

• God Behind Bars works with inmates and their families to deliver the Gospel to them, and transform their lives.

• Incarcerated mothers at Federal Prison Camp Alderson were able to spend Easter with their children, some for the first time.

• Each mother received an Easter dress and shoes along with gifts to give to their children, and had their hair and makeup done for the occasion. They also had an Easter egg hunt.

The Details:

God Behind Bars has partnered with different ministries since 2009 to bring the gospel to prison inmates and their families. Family reunification is also a big part of their mission, with their website explaining:

These events help show the love of Jesus in tangible ways to these families, begin the process of healing past hurts, and assist in growing their relationships together to break the generational patterns of the future.

They also allow children to experience time with their loved one in a setting that doesn’t involve a stale visitation room- they get to play games, receive presents, do crafts, and enjoy a warm meal around the dinner table with their incarcerated parent.

In a recent event, God Behind Bars partnered with Federal Prison Camp Alderson, where 23 incarcerated mothers were able to enjoy Easter with their children.

Some of the women were able to hold their children for the very first time ever, and most had been separated for over three years.

Each woman received an Easter dress and shoes, and had someone to do their hair and makeup so they could feel their best during the special event.

"It's been three years, and I left my daughter when she was one, so I haven't been able to touch her, feel her," one mother said. "So she's really excited about this. I'm excited more than anything. I think I'm more excited than the baby. She's literally calling here last night. She's like, 'I get to see you.' I'm like, 'I know!' She just wants to play in my hair, she said. And just feed me food. And just play. She said, 'Can I sit on your lap?' I said, 'You can do whatever you want, baby. It's your day.'"

FIRST TIME Incarcerated Moms Wear Dresses to Reunite With Their Children | Alderson Federal Prison

In addition to the Easter makeover, God Behind Bars arranged for the mothers to be able to select gifts for their children, choosing from items like Squishmallows, kites, games, candy, bubbles, and more. The prison was even decorated to make the event cheerful, and each family had a private reunion, filled with tears and emotion.

The families also enjoyed an Easter egg hunt, complete with a visit from the Easter bunny.

"I'm very grateful for this opportunity to have with my kids," one mother said. "I got on the dress with the shoes. I felt like a mother. And I'm really excited to carry this on the outside, and just remember what I've been through."

Another woman added, "It's been so long since I touched my little boy that I didn't know how I was going to react. I didn't know if I was going to cry, I didn't know if I was going to smile. I didn't know. And just to see him, and just to be able to touch him, has meant the world to me."

Another mother said:

"I'm happy just to hold my daughter for the first time. I'm blessed out of the earth. And then her asking me can I go home with her broke my heart. 

But one day, like I told her, I'll be there soon, and I will make that promise: I will do everything in my power to never leave you again. I'm going to make the right choices to stand by you, one more time, for the rest of your life."

Through tears, another mother shared how much the event meant to her.

"I try to find gratitude in the everyday things that we have in prison, like a hot shower, a nice sunny day. But I can honestly say, this is one of the nicest things that's ever been done for me. And I feel like, in a place like this, where we're so low, it just feels good to have somebody do something really nice for us."

Zoom Out:

While time in prison may be unavoidable, mothers and their children need parenting help, support, and resources. Programs like this one help strengthen the possibility of further rehabilitation, which is why more prisons are instituting resources to give families the best chance of remaining together.

Missouri, for example, has created a prison nursery program, allowing pregnant inmates to stay with their babies after being born. These mothers remain with their children, take classes, go through treatment programs, and learn life skills. The program includes communal spaces, an infant development center, a private kitchen and yard, and seven bedrooms for up to 14 babies and their moms.

An Illinois women's prison also has a pregnancy wing, where pregnant inmates receive more space and the opportunity to undergo parenting classes. A previous report from Live Action News noted that "women in the pregnancy wing receive 'around the clock education, training and treatment,' and even real beds with pillows, access to both electric and manual breast pumps, and even a refrigerator for snacks."

The Bottom Line:

The separation of mothers and children is an incredibly traumatic experience. These opportunities give incarcerated parents the hope they need to turn their lives around, and the chance for families to stay together.