08/17/2026
Itās good to be seen.
That idea has been sitting with me lately as I think about a personal photography project Iām calling 52 Stories: one story each week worth noticing, remembering and sharing.
And on National Nonprofit Day, I canāt think of a better story to share than Ralana Ball and 4ever 4given.
Recently, I had the opportunity to step inside the home Ralana has transformed into something much bigger than four walls.
It is a place where women can come to get sober, stay sober, heal, rebuild their lives, grow in their faith and discover what hope can look like on the other side of brokenness.
You can see the intention everywhere.
Bedrooms have been prepared for women to share. A calendar and chore chart help create the structure and accountability that are so important to life in the home. There is room for eight women, but more than that, there is room for community.
I had the privilege of sitting in the living room with some of the women who live there. We talked. We shared stories. I listened as they spoke about turning points, second chances and hope.
One of the most powerful pieces in the home is a painting of a woman who appears broken, yet beautifully put back together with gold, much like repaired pottery.
Beside her is the hand of God, gently lifted toward her. To me, it feels almost as though He is admiring what has been restored.
The cracks are still visible.
But they are no longer the end of the story.
They have become part of something beautiful.
It is such a fitting image for the work happening inside this home every day.
Restoration. Hope. Community. A new beginning.
4ever 4given is a 12-month, Christ-centered program helping women work through trauma, abuse, addiction and brokenness while rebuilding sustainable lives.
And now, we have an opportunity to become part of that story.
Their 4th Annual Legacy Gala is coming September 26, and the organization is still collecting items for its silent auction. Proceeds from the Gala support the ministry and the women it serves.
One donation they would especially love to receive this year? A pair of tickets to see the Houston Astros or Houston Texans. ā¾š
Maybe you have season tickets.
Maybe your company has access to tickets.
Maybe you know someone who does.
Or maybe your business has another product, service or experience that would make a wonderful auction item.
What may feel like one simple donation to you can become part of something so much bigger: a safe place, a fresh beginning, and another woman's opportunity to build a life she once may not have believed was possible.
Today, I'm thankful for people like Ralana who see a need and choose to do something about it. I'm hopeful because I've sat in that living room and seen what community can do. And I'm inspired by the women doing the brave work of rebuilding their lives.
Will you help 4ever 4given continue that work?
If you or your business can contribute an item for the Gala, please reach out to 4ever 4given. And if you know someone who might have those Astros or Texans tickets, tag them or share this post with them. ā¤ļø
Sometimes making a difference starts simply by helping the right people be seen.
Itās good to be seen. Itās even better to be remembered.
