Each year, Grace Village Foundation hosts a week-long camping retreat for foster and adoptive families, emergency-shelter residents, and orphaned children. I have been very fortunate to be a part of this amazing experience for three years. The theme and focus that was infused into the campers’ lives at this year’s retreat was “we get to choose.” Grace Village chose this theme as most of the kids they work with are just starting to make their own choices in life. This simple phrase can change their perspective and, in turn, their future.

Despite being so simple, why is this concept foreign to many people? We get to choose our friends, our lifestyle, our profession, our future, and everything in-between. Each of us makes hundreds of choices each day. For example, are you going to wear a red shirt or a grey shirt? While you might not think that the color of your shirt affects much in your day-to-day life, it actually does. Studies show that someone wearing red exudes energy, confidence, and power, while someone wearing grey seems more isolated and invisible.

What choices are you making each day? Do you choose to have gratitude, compassion, honesty, integrity, or a good work ethic? For me, these values are the most important things I can choose to incorporate into my life and the lives of my children every day. After all, I am raising members of America’s next generation. I want my children to know that their actions have a direct reaction. If you put out positivity, you will receive positivity. Conversely, if you put out negativity, you will receive negativity.

Today, I challenge you to choose gratitude, compassion, and honesty. Make the choice to either be happy with all that you have or choose a different path. Either way, you are in control of your life and where it goes.
I would like to thank Laura Bazo, David Bond, Bella Schneider, Bill and Janelle Stone, Tracy Holman, Willa-Dian Sheppard, RD Management, Skinmetics Inc, Aesthetic Science Institute, and Salonwear for their gracious donations to Grace Village Foundation. I would also like to thank Michelle De Leon and the Valenzuela family for volunteering at the retreat.

If you would like to learn more about Grace Village Foundation, volunteer for an event, or make a contribution to a family or young person in need, please visit grace-village.org.

Melissa Lawrence
Membership Director