Stephen Owens

I was given a copy of the book for the purpose of review.

Set Free is a story about the life of Stephen Owens. This is a moving story about his need to forgive and be forgiven. Stephen Owens has lived a nightmare that many of us will never have the experience of. But there will be some who can fully understand and relate. Gaile Owens, Stephens' mother, was incarcerated most of his life and hers. Gaile says she had an abusive marriage and also was cheated on. She had tried to leave the marriage but threats of taking her sons and never being able to see them again kept her in the marriage. Thinking it was the only way out she hired a hit man and he beat her husband so badly that he would later die. Gaile took responsibility for setting it up and would serve 26 years on death row before her sentence was overturned and commuted to a life sentence. Stephen did not speak with his mother for decades, she had taken his hero from him and in turn took herself away from he and his brother. She had changed their lives so dramatically in one night with a terrible decision that he was unsure if he could ever forgive her. But the Lord intervened and put many opportunities in his path to reunite mother and son. In the end Stephen asked himself, "If God can forgive, who am I not to?".

My heart broke for this family. I saw how one bad decision can destroy not only the immediate family but the wider family circle. It can destroy friendships and split communities. I saw hope in forgiveness and the path to that forgiveness. I saw God as he worked his healing in the man, his mother and their family. Hopefully this book can be helpful for others who face this type of problem and it will let them know they do have options and can find help and not end up where Gaile Owens did.… (mer)