4 powerful stories that obliterate the ‘doom and gloom’ news cycle
OPINION:
With the daily news filled with so much pain, desperation and negativity, it’s always refreshing to find stories that elevate positivity and point to human nature’s better side.
As we head into 2023, let’s explore four stories that show the positive forces of kindness, goodness and generosity. Each of these accounts is a reminder of what can happen when people choose to live their lives loving God and loving others.
• Good Samaritan saves man’s life. With winter storms in recent days claiming dozens of lives, a good Samaritan went above and beyond the call of duty. Sha’Kyra Aughtry of Buffalo, New York, took in a disabled man who was struggling amid record snowfall and frigid weather.
Ms. Aughtry saw Joe White yelling for help outside her home and promptly brought him inside to feed him, give him warmth and tend to his wounds.
Her actions were potentially lifesaving, as it took officers hours to get to Mr. White. He was taken to a hospital and is being treated for severe frostbite.
“Joe is mentally disabled, and he did not understand the true severity of the storm,” a GoFundMe reads. “Disoriented and crying out for help, he miraculously found himself at the doorstep of Sha’Kyra Rain Aughtry — a total stranger — who put her Christmas plans aside and tended to his wounds the best she could.”
• Cops stop Grinch from stealing Christmas. Then there’s the story of a real-life Grinch who broke into a South Bend, Indiana, house Christmas Eve morning. The culprit might have run off with food and gifts under the tree, but he didn’t ruin the holiday.
The South Bend Police Department, after learning about the break-in, discovered that the cops’ “Santa’s Elficers” program for kids and families in need had some leftover gifts.
So police officers stepped in to save the day, providing toys for the family’s children, who would have otherwise had nothing to unwrap Christmas morning.
“Officers then came back to the residence with several boxes of Christmas presents and food for the family,” the police department said. “This is what serving our community is all about.”
• Church brings Christmas joy to thousands. And the acts of kindness don’t end there. A New Mexico church gave Christmas gifts to 2,500 kids this holiday season, bringing joy to young people in need.
Calvary Church, which gave a total of 5,000 toys to the children, said the effort was rooted in celebrating the true meaning of the holiday season.
“We are tangibly showing the love of our Savior to people, which is what it’s all about,” Pastor Skip Heitzig said. “It’s a good time to give to people and to show them there’s a God in heaven who knows them by name and individually. It’s our privilege to do this.”
• Candace Cameron Bure shares the love of Jesus. Not all of our good deeds have to involve providing food, services, toys or basic needs. In fact, lending an ear to a person in need or sharing God’s love with them can help change hearts, minds and lives. Sometimes, it’s the simple things.
A fantastic example comes from former “Wonder Years” star Danica McKellar, who recently shared her newfound Christian journey. Ms. McKellar appeared on the podcast of fellow actress Candace Cameron Bure (“Full House”) to thank her for sharing Jesus and helping change her life.
“Candace, I don’t wanna brush over the huge, huge impact that you’ve had on my life this year. I don’t even know how to call that like friendship, it’s more than that,” she said. “Because of you helping me to find my relationship with God and Jesus, it’s been like a revolution in my life. It’s been a revelation in my life.”
The actress thanked Ms. Bure for giving her a Bible and sparking a spiritual journey — one that has led her to read the Bible, pray and attend church.
“You were just an angel in my life and you still are,” Ms. McKellar said. “And I just wanna thank you for that publicly.”
Each of these stories serves as a powerful reminder of the transformational impact each of us can have on others’ lives. While many of us focus on doing good deeds during the holiday season, the truth is that one of the best ways to refine our own hearts and minds going into a new year is to intentionally seek acts of kindness toward others throughout the year.
So, while many craft resolutions and self-focused goals and endeavors, look at ways to incorporate more kindness into your everyday life in the new year.
• Billy Hallowell is a digital TV host and interviewer for Faithwire and CBN News and the co-host of CBN’s “Quick Start Podcast.” Hallowell is the author of four books, including “Playing With Fire: A Modern Investigation Into Demons, Exorcism, and Ghosts,” and “The Armageddon Code: One Journalist’s Quest for End-Times Answers.” He was formerly the director of content and communications at Pure Flix and the former faith and culture editor at TheBlaze.
