“Grace comes into the soul as the morning sun into the world; first a dawning; then a light; and at last the sun in his full and excellent brightness.” – Thomas Adams

Rudeness, selfishness, swift judgment, constant complaining, holding grudges, bullying — these are behaviors we see in the world beyond, and if we’re being honest, at times, within camp boundaries. Sometimes we even participate in such negativity, often directing it inward when we make a mistake or outward when finding fault with others. This bandwagon is a fast track to bitterness and division — and there is a far better way.

It seems to me, we could all do with a little more grace in our lives, and camp is the perfect place to exercise those positive vibes this summer. Your campers and your psyche will thank you.

What is grace?

If you look at it through a theological lens, you might define it as “unconditional acceptance given to an undeserving person by an unobligated giver” (Tchividjian, n.d.). More secular descriptions of grace include “a proactive acceptance, love, and caring for our fellow human beings,” “courteous goodwill” (Oxford University Press, n.d.), or as natural creation theorist J.X. Mason puts it, “the sum of all the good stuff in the universe” (2023).

Leadership educator and executive coach John Baldoni further breaks grace down into five attributes:

G = generosity, the will to do something more for others

R = respect, the dignity of life and work

A = action, the mechanism for change

C = compassion, concern for others

E = energy, the spirit that catalyzes us (Baldoni, 2019)

“Each attribute is distinct, but each works with the others to make the notion of grace something that is tangible and therefore actionable,” says Baldoni (2019).

I like to think of it as intentional love, compassion, and acceptance — no strings attached.

Grace Heals

Whichever definition speaks loudest to you, the practice of giving grace — to yourself and others — offers considerable benefits to your emotional and mental well-being. Grace:

Reduces stress and anxiety. Removing self-pressure to be perfect naturally reduces cortisol levels (the stress hormone) in your body and quiets negative thoughts.

Replaces shame with self-compassion. Feelings of guilt and shame are often a result of harsh self-judgment. Leading with self-forgiveness instead considerably lightens the mental load.

Increases resilience. Grace sustains us through hardship, trauma, and unforeseen life changes, empowering us to rebuild and move forward in the face of challenges.

Releases resentment and bitterness. By giving others grace, you free yourself from the weight of carrying grudges and nurture a healthier emotional state.

Validates self-worth. While working hard is admirable, grace affirms your emotions and reminds you that your value isn’t defined by how much you accomplish, easing the impulse and pressure to constantly strive harder.

Creates balance and emotional stability. Grace cultivates inner peace and calm, creating a space where you can experience your full range of emotions without being overwhelmed by them.

Enhances emotional intelligence. Grace fosters self-awareness and empathy, improving our ability to recognize our own emotional triggers and understand others’ feelings.

Improves relationships. Extending grace to friends, coworkers, and loved ones builds trust, reduces conflict, and leads to positive, more effective communication (Masters Counselling, n.d.; Zessin, Dickhäuser, & Garbade, 2015).

Practicing grace also provides some very real benefits to your physical well-being. According to experimental psychologist and cognitive neuroscientist Dorota Styk, showing yourself grace has “been shown to reduce physiological stress responses, such as heart rate and sweat response, and may support immune system functioning. Self-compassion is also strongly linked to healthier habits, such as regular exercise, better sleep, and effective stress management” (Styk, 2025).

Grace Gives Back

Elisha Beach, founder of The Mom Forum, says, “Practicing grace is making daily choices to interact in the world with courtesy and good will. That doesn’t mean you disregard boundaries, but you give yourself space to be flexible with your perceived reality with acceptance and kindness” (2026).

“Practicing grace is a process of trial and error that calls for consistent application. It is really about slowing down and being mindful about how we interact with ourselves and others,” Beach further explains. “Think of it as giving people, including yourself, the benefit of the doubt”

Writer Anne Lamott said that grace “ . . . meets us where we are but does not leave us where it found us” (1999). One act of grace often inspires another, and it is reciprocal. When others show us kindness, forgiveness, or empathy, that act unleashes in us a desire to show similar warmth and acceptance. And when we are the initiators and step forward with grace, we also plant seeds of forgiveness, patience, and tenderheartedness in those around us.

In other words, the more grace you give, the more you will receive.

Grace in Practice

So how can we live out such happy, healing vibes throughout camp season and act with grace this summer at camp?

Beach (2026) offers these 10 tips for practicing grace daily with ourselves and each other:

1. Begin with the person in the mirror. Being kind and compassionate toward yourself is one of the most meaningful gifts you can give. The more grace you practice inwardly, the more naturally it flows outward to others.
2. Let go. As much as you might wish it, you can’t control everything in life. Letting go of what you can’t change is an important act of self-care. Holding on too tightly only keeps you stuck in a negative place.
3. Practice gratitude. Starting from a place of gratitude makes it far easier to respond with grace. When you’re thankful, your perspective shifts, helping you to act with kindness and goodwill.
4. Forgive. When you choose to forgive, you give yourself the freedom to move on, releasing the burden of anger and no longer spending your energy on negativity or ill will.
5. Apologize. Saying you’re sorry and meaning it is holding yourself accountable for your actions and enables all parties involved to move forward.
6. Be mindful. Be aware of how you move through your days at camp. Try to be conscious of your feelings, your surroundings, and those you interact with — but without judgment. Beach warns this is a challenging task, but the more you practice the easier it gets.
7. Speak kindly. People are far more likely to hear you if you speak with kindness and empathy.
8. Have compassion. “You never know what someone is going through,” says Beach. “When you act from a place of compassion, you are extending goodwill to those around you,” and kindness is catching.
9. Accept people for who they are. Seeing people for who they actually are enables you to make better decisions about how to interact with them. You’re not trying to fit them into a mold but to understand who they are at their core.
10. Have a sense of humor. Beach says, “We often take life too seriously. Everything is not a dire occurrence. Sometimes a good laugh will do you better than a good cry.”

Christian writer Max Lucado says, “When grace moves in . . . guilt moves out” (2010). And author Caroline Myss says, “Grace is a power that comes in and transforms a moment into something better” (n.d.). No doubt, grace is a powerful tool of positivity — one that you have the power to use to everyone’s benefit.

Embrace grace this summer at camp, and you will feel the warmth of its fierce hug in return as your campers and fellow staff react positively to the consistent kindness and acceptance you show. You will build trust, improve collaboration, and create the best kind of camp environment — one that fully supports campers, enabling them to grow and thrive.

And don’t be stingy with yourself. Make sure you are a frequent recipient of your own grace. Though incredibly rewarding, camp work is hard. It can be exhausting, try your patience, and stress you out. You may find yourself venting an unkind thought about a particularly difficult camper. Your first impulse may be to retaliate to a nasty comment directed at you by an overwhelmed coworker. Forgive yourself. Take a breath. Reset. As has been said by many, “Hold yourself to the standard of grace, not perfection.”

Wishing you a grace-filled summer.

Photo courtesy of Camp Rock, Unionville, IN.

References

Baldoni, J. (2019). Grace: A leader’s guide for a better us. Pensacola, FL: Indigo River Publishing.

Beach, E. (2026). 10 ways to practice grace in your daily life. The Mom Forum. themom-forum.com/bloglist/ways-to-practice-grace

Lamott, A. (1999). Traveling mercies: Some thoughts on faith. New York, NY: Pantheon Books.

Lucado, M. (2010). Max on life: Answers and insights to your most important questions. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson.

Mason, J. X. (2023, November 6). What’s the secular equivalent of “grace”? Nature’s Path of Continuing Creation. continuingcreation.org/whats-the-secular-equivalent-of-grace/

Masters Counselling. (n.d.). The power of grace in relationships. masterscounselling.com/s/stories/the-power-of-grace-in-relationships

Myss, C. (n.d.). Grace is a power that comes in and transforms a moment into something better. Awakening Intuition. Awakening-intuition.com/caroline-myss-quotes.html

Oxford University Press. (n.d.). Grace. In Oxford English Dictionary. oed.com

Styk, D. (2025, May 17). The science of self-compassion and self-forgiveness: Psychological and health benefits back by research. styk.ai/the-science-of-self-compassion-and-self-forgiveness-psychological-and-health-benefits-backed-by-research

Tchividjian, T. (n.d.). What is grace? Tullian Sinner & Saint. tullian.net/articles/what-is-grace

Zessin, U., Dickhäuser, O., & Garbade, S. (2015). The relationship between self-compassion and well-being: A meta-analysis. Applied Psychology: Health and Well-Being, 7(3), 340–364.

Marcia Ellett, MPW, is editor in chief of ACA’s Camping Magazine.