Amidst the media noise of hostile disagreements, money-making misinformation, and pop-culture circus acts, good news struggles to compete for airtime. Negativity, fear, and hopelessness are, unfortunately, on the rise, and when given free rein, they rob us of harvesting the good happening in the midst of it all. They can deceive us into believing that positivity is merely happy ignorance.
But the truth is, positivity isn’t living blind to the darkness; it’s looking at the world with eyes wide open, choosing to seek out and take hold of the silver linings even in the worst situations. Why? Because we know darkness does not win.
The lens we use to view our situations determines how they affect us. More often than not, we don’t get to choose what happens to us, but we do get to direct our response and our steps onward. While we may not have control over the world’s headlines, we certainly have the power to determine our own.
It’s something the rescued kids model and live out passionately - life is what you make of it.
For young people who have suffered through some of the very worst our world has to offer, you would think they would live with a permanent chip on their shoulders. Instead, rooted in gratitude, they offer us a masterclass in the art of positive outlooks. They live thankful for every good thing: the food on their plates, the friends by their sides, and their bright futures ahead.
As we step into this season of gratitude, know this. Beyond the headlines of hopelessness, goodness is ripe for the picking. These child traf ficking survivors live thankful for you each day and embrace every good thing in the lives you’ve made possible for them.
“Even in the bad times, there were reasons to be thankful. Now, there are so many. Making new friends, seeing new places, spending time with ani mals, learning to swim, and riding my bike. The world has so much to offer.”
“Freedom has given me the gift of dreaming about my future - of a lit tle blue house with marigold garland above the door. A garden to grow food in. A simple and beautiful life.”
If there's one lesson I've learned from the rescued kids, it's this: good things grow even in the harshest of circumstances. At times, the positives in life are unmistakable. In others, you have to squint just to catch a glimmer of that silver lining. Once you do, then it’s time to muster the strength to take charge and color them in.
Despite all they've been through, the rescued kids have mastered this art of illuminating the good in any circumstance — the chances to play, wear a school uniform, try out hobbies, enjoy nature, make friends, and soak up all that childhood offers.
Whether the outlook is bleak or bright, they forge a path of gratitude for us to follow. And along the way, they teach us it’s not our circumstances that determine our enjoyment of life, but our own mindset and determination to see the good through gratitude. It’s not always easy to uncover, but it's there— waiting to be found by those willing to seek it.
In Iron Station, North Carolina, Jan Reel and her family have built a life rooted in gratitude, surrounded by the peaceful pastures of their family land. For Jan, the power of positivity isn’t about ignoring life’s challenges but embracing God’s faithfulness and seeing the blessings in every situation.
Jan and her husband Brent first connected with Child Freedom Coalition (CFC) through friends at their church. While it was painful to hear about the suffering of children worldwide, they were inspired by CFC’s mission and the tangible hope it offers.
“When our minds are focused on the Truth of Who God is, we are filled with this power and peace that transcends all understanding,” Jan shared. This outlook fuels their commitment to supporting the rescued kids, specifically through our Operations Fund.
“Brent is an accountant, so we have always been mindful of income and
SOWING
POSITIVE IMPACT
THE REEL FAMILY’S GIVING STORY
expenses,” Jan explained. “Having served many times on various finance committees at church, he understands that there is always a business side of things, even for charitable organizations. We saw the integrity and mindfulness in how CFC utilized the donations and gifts and chose to have our monthly donation go towards The Operations Fund.”
Jan’s advice to others who feel overwhelmed by the challenges these children face is simple: trust in God’s ability to multiply our efforts. “In faith, we give as He leads; and we leave the rest to Him,” she encouraged.
