She’s one of my heroes.

Her name is Becky Shaeffer. She grew up with a mom who was mentally ill.

Many nights little Becky lay in bed, afraid for her life. Finally, she was rescued. She was placed in a group home. She had lots of new friends. She was always fed. She had a soft bed.

And then she was abused in that group home by someone who was supposed to keep her safe.

When Becky became an adult, she didn’t have a safe place to call home. No soft place to land.

Except for her faith.

Becky married, had children, and she was determined to do something good. The bad wasn’t going to win and one way to make sure that happened was to bring good out of it.

In 2010, Saving Grace was birthed. It was a real home — a group home, but founded on the principles of love and encouragement and transformation, safety and family. It’s for girls who age out of the foster system and who have no place to go.

It was my honor to speak at the Saving Grace Luncheon this past Thursday.

Over 1400 people showed up to celebrate and support Becky’s work.

This woman took the “bad” that happened to her and came alongside girls who feel like she once felt. Who aren’t sure if anyone sees them. Who don’t have a safe place to call home.

Becky had no idea that one day that this nonprofit ministry would eventually serve hundreds of girls who would walk through the doors of Saving Grace, and walk out whole.

I’ve met many of these girls and the transformation is stunning.

They came in broken, wounded, afraid and angry and left as women unfolding into all that God had destined them to be.

That happened because Becky and her team at Saving Grace shows these girls what family looks like — eating around the table together. Laughter. Games. Encouragement. Grace-filled discipline.

They show these girls who they are — they are worth protecting; they are worth loving; they deserve to feel safe; they deserve to learn all the skills needed to not just survive but thrive.

They walk in the nitty gritty with them until the past is no longer holding them tight.

What about us? How do we know when we are healing?

We know we are healing when the bad leads us to do good in His name.

I don’t know what “bad” happened to you, but I know that God redeems it.

I’d give anything if it hadn’t happened, but now that you are whole or on your way to healing, will you consider asking God to place someone God in your path.

Will you ask Him to help you do “good” in someone else’s life, someone who feels like you once did.

That might not look like Becky’s ministry to others, or mine, or anyone else’s.

Maybe you just let someone know that He sees them.

Maybe you just tell someone what God has done in you.

No matter what you do, when good comes from bad, it’s shaking a fist at the enemy — who thought he had won — by doing good with the bad that no longer holds you down.

Suzie