When my 81-year old mother saw this photo of me she wrote, "I've never seen you look so full of joy." It was a curious comment given that I'd been in tears most of the week working at the Angel Faces retreat, where the photograph was taken. But then, that is the irony of Angel Faces and why I treasure my role as volunteer and member of the Board of Directors.  I'd like to explain-because as you get more involved with Angel Faces this could happen to you, too!

Initially my involvement with Angel Faces was emotional. Lesia's story was heart breaking, but hearing the tragedies, trials, and tribulations faced by the girls at the retreat was gut wrenching. Each night as we recounted the happenings of the day, it was all I could do to keep it together. Then as the week proceeded I began to see the change in the girls; literally see it.  Compare the before-the-week-begins with the after-the-week-ends photos. The miracle of Angel Faces is that when the girls leave, their photos reveal a light reignited in their eyes, genuine smiles, and deep gratitude.

But here's the irony: The girls are not the only ones who experience a miracle.  As a volunteer, I realized that the tears I had shed out of compassion had shifted to tears of pride and amazement in these girls.  As the girls were exposed to relevant tools and pragmatic skills, their energy changed. When I was exposed to their strength, determination, and potential, my energy changed.

That's when I knew I needed to be on the Board of Directors.  I needed to take my emotional connection and work with it to help these girls and take advantage of the positive energy generated during the retreat.

I think I speak for Angel Faces volunteers and Board members when I say that through our work we find ourselves being affected in ways we never anticipated.  We have been given the opportunity to not only help heal others, but ourselves as well. We have the chance to challenge our own self concept, vanity, and capacity for growth.

I've come to realize that shedding tears of compassion is a wonderful human thing to do; but acting on that compassion and turning it into meaningful work, give me energy.  That's why I feel privileged to be a member of the Board of Directors and an Angel Faces volunteer.  That is the source of the joy my mother sees in this photograph.