Friday Five Items of Good News (Vol. 6)

It’s Friday! Since most of our news consumption consists of bad news, especially during this pandemic, I wanted to take the time to offer up some non-political positive and good news. Something that can inspire us or, at the very least, make us smile.

1. Students’ Acts of Kindness

Ashley Runge, a math teacher at Siouxland Christian School in Sioux City, Iowa, sent me this message:

“My final assignment for my Personal Finance class was to write a short essay about something kind they’ve done for someone else during our ‘at-home’ time. First off, they are all incredibly humble, starting their essays with ‘I haven’t done much…’ But some of the things they gave done include: going door to door in their community with notes offering assistance with groceries or whatever their neighbors need; watching nieces and nephews, helping their parents with house projects, sending uplifting notes to friends. What really got me excited though, was that they were already doing these things. They didn’t do something kind just because I asked them to. All of these things have made a positive impact on someone’s circumstance. I’m very encouraged by the kindness my students have in their hearts.”

2. Until Death Do Us Part

Two Indiana high school seniors planned to get married married after college. Chase Smith and Sadie Mills planned to attend college in Indianapolis. She was an elite diver and he was a nationally-ranked swimmer. They planned to compete at the collegiate level.

He battled Ewing’s sarcoma for six years, and it returned with a vengeance. He learned that with or without treatment he only had three to five months to live.

After four days, they planned a wedding. USA Today reports:

Through tears and laughs, creating a love story for the ages, the couple kissed to seal their vows on April 29. One of their promises: to spend every moment they have left together. Another: to latch onto their faith and God more than ever.

And so each morning when they wake up next to one another, they hold hands and pray. And every night before they go to sleep, they hold hands and pray.

“We, every day, pray for a miracle together because we trust in God,” said Sadie. “We pray that Chase would stay on this earth longer so we can bring more people our story of love.”

Watch:

3. What’s that sound again?

I loved this letter to the editor in the Cedar Rapids Gazette from April Neuendorf in Hiawatha:

On a recent Saturday I was grumping around, listening to loud music and cleaning house. In the midst of cleaning I heard a loud rickety noise followed by kids yelling, etc. Someone was on our street making that racket! I went back to cleaning and grousing but didn’t stop to see what it was.

My husband got home about a half-hour later with groceries and he was smiling. I turned down my music and asked him about the noise. Then I heard the noise again. He smiled and said “Its kids playing outside” Of course, kids playing! Between the weather and COVID-19, there has not been much fun-having in our neighborhood. We both went to the door and watched them.

They were having so much fun! Laughing and squealing and playing! Kev and I watched them about 15 more minutes then I got back to cleaning. Ugh! But I didn’t turn my music back on. Instead, I listened to the “noise” and I got done surprisingly fast. I was putting away towels in the bathroom and passed the mirror I was smiling!

4. Amazing Honesty

A Virginia family is being praised for their honesty after they found and returned $1 million in cash in the middle of the road after running over the bags of money when they were out for a Saturday afternoon drive.

Emily Schantz, a teacher, said they wanted to set a good example for their sons. So her family turned the money over to police and it was discovered that it belonged to a local bank.

“For someone so honest and willing to give that almost a million dollars back—it’s exceptional on their part,” Caroline County Police Major Scott Moser told WTVR-TV in Richmond, Va. “Their two sons were there, so I put the lights on for them, but we are proud that they represented this county well by being so honest.”

Watch:

5. A 12-Year-Old Homeschooled Entrepreneur

Mizan Rupan-Tompkins, a 12-year-old homeschooler in San Francisco, Calif., developed a hook-like device that he named the “Safe Touch Pro.” He designed it to help people avoid touch certain public surfaces such as doors or ATM keypads.

“I really made it for my parents and now it’s helping everyone,” Mizan told KTVU News in San Francisco.

He designed it using a plant-based plastic that is germ-resistant and printed it out on his 3-D printer.

“I wanted to make sure it was good for the environment—and the virus can’t survive on it,” Mizan explained.

Watch the story below:

Have good news that you would like to share? Drop me a line at shane@caffeinatedthoughts.com for your story to possibly be shared in next week’s Friday Five.