Friday Five Items of Good News (Vol. 8)

It’s Friday! Since most of our news consumption consists of bad news, especially during this time with a pandemic, rioting, protests, murder hornets, and alcoholic killer monkeys (that I learned is actually a thing), 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.

I apologize for missing last week.

1. An unusual pregnancy announcement

I saw this video on Twitter yesterday. I did a quick search and found it is from 2017. Oh well, I saw it this week, so I’ll include it. With all of the negative news we are seeing about the police, it’s important to share positive stuff as well because the vast majority are dedicated public servants.

Here’s the original video.

2. Church Clap

I love this song from KB and LeCrae. Heard it for the first time recently. It’s been out since 2013, but love it. Not to often I hear Spurgeon or Calvin name dropped in a hip hop (or any song) for that matter. Love the lyrics.

Here’s the link for it on Spotify.

3. My kids are blessings.

I rarely share personal news at Caffeinated Thoughts, but I wanted to take time to praise my kids. The last couple weeks I’ve struggled with a sciatica flare-up. It wasn’t so bad at first so I was just trying to do home remedies to relieve the pain.

It got progressively worse to the point where standing for longer that four or five minutes or walking around the house I was in agony. As you can imagine mowing my yard has been an issue. When this first started up, my son Morgan jumped in to help and mowed my yard.

This week I finally went to see my physician (I know, I know, I should have done it days ago). She prescribed Prednisone. I had taken it for two days and could actually do things like stand and walk around the house. So, the genius that I was I thought I could go out to mow. It is supposed to rain the next couple of days and the grass was already getting long. I start on my back yard first because it takes the longest, it’s not flat, like at all except for a small section by the back fence.

I mowed about a third of the yard and with pain shooting down my right leg, my body said, “you are done.”

I sheepishly text my oldest daughter Kelvey and ask if she’d be willing to do her father a favor. I’m sure she was thrilled with the opportunity to come mow my lawn after her work day, but did it and knocked it out like a champ.

My youngest daughter Lily has also helped take dogs to the vet and some things I’ve been unable to handle.

So, I just wanted to give them a shout out to let them know I love them and I’m am so thankful.

And I’m under strict orders from my chiropractor not to mow my law until we get this resolved. Rough, I know.

4. Black Lives Matter protester saves counter-protester.

I generally don’t share political posts, but this doesn’t quite qualify, it’s a story that reminds us that those we oppose politically are human beings. They have dignity and worth. They are made in the image of God, just as you and I are. So if someone is in trouble, we should help. Their political position or ideology doesn’t matter. Rise above.

So Reuters captured this story of a Black Lives Matter protester, Patrick Hutchinson, carrying a counter-protester to safety when he was injured during a protest that turned violent in the United Kingdom.

“His life was under threat,” he recalled to Bloomberg Quick Take in the video below. “I sort of just thought, ‘well, if he stays here, he’s not gonna make it.’”

Watch:

5. Lending a helping hand.

Adam Graham pointed this story out to me, but I haven’t been able to share it yet. This comes from Boise, Idaho when the business community stepped in to help Ben Barrus, a father of 18 children, (yes, 18 children, 14 of them are adopted) was diagnosed with ALS, Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, which is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord.

KTVB 7 in Boise reports:

Last year, Ben was diagnosed with A-L-S, which was a devastating blow to this growing family. The disease is progressing quickly, and they were really struggling because their home wasn’t handicapped accessible for Ben’s wheelchair. He just couldn’t get around safely.

That’s when a local businessman and developer stepped in and saved the day for the family of 18. BVA Development CEO Tommy Ahlquist was so touched by the Barrus’ story, that he offered to renovate the home at no charge, an unbelievable act of generosity.

Watch the story below:

Have good or positive 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.