Doing Good Things

 

Natalie Gunderson was recently on a Southwest flight to North Carolina.  There was a man onboard the plane who told of his dad giving him a $2 bill when he was 16.  He was told, “As long as you keep this, you’ll never be broke.”  In honor of his dad, who had recently died, the man gave everyone on their flight a $2 bill with the wish they would never be broke.  While telling the story, Natalie commented, “He just wanted to spread the love.  Good people doing good things.”

After Hurricane Beryl, a photograph was posted of several women in a line at a location where utility trucks were parked each evening.  The ladies had volunteered to wash clothes for the linemen and return them the next day.

 

Cristian Felix, 18 years old, works at a fast-food restaurant in Phoenix, Arizona.  He walks 6 miles to and from work each day.  Because he works the late shift, no busses are running.  One night, Phoenix Police Sgt. Natalie Simonick noticed Felix walking in an unsafe area.  She pulled over to see if he would like a ride home.  While talking, Sgt. Simonick asked Cristian if he had a bike, since that would be safer than walking.  He responded that he had never ridden a bicycle.  When she arrived home, Sgt. Simonick asked her husband if they could give Cristian one of their extra bikes and if he would be willing to teach him how to ride the bike.  Natalie said, “We brought him to the precinct and we taught him how to ride in the parking lot.”  They also bought Cristian a helmet, lock, and light.

 

Emily Carter is a teacher.  She knows this is the time of year when parents are making lists, purchasing, and sometimes complaining about the cost of school supplies.  One year, a parent arrived in Mrs. Carter’s class with a second set of school supplies.  She asked that they be given to a student who didn’t have anything.  There are usually children who are embarrassed when they see others with new pencils, crayons, glue sticks, notebooks and they have nothing.  Mrs. Carter commented, “That year, I was able to hand a child a bag of their own because of that parent’s kindness.”  That is something that Emily now does with her daughter Kylee each year.  They buy double supplies to share.  She also chooses not to label the supplies, in hopes that Kylee will share if another child needs something.  Mrs. Carter challenged, “At the end of the day, we can complain or we can help.  One of those choices will do absolutely nothing, but the other will do something good.”

 

May we, too, find opportunities to do something good this week.

 

This is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone.

Titus 3:8