Fayetteville, North Carolina—the middle of the night, on the interstate. She was on her way to start a new life in a new place.
She pulled over at a rest area.
It was dark. She was young. A man came from nowhere, forced her into a car, and held a gun to her. He told her what he was about to do to her.
Then, someone kicked open the window and pulled him off. There was a fight. Her attacker was never caught. Her hero was never found. She was unharmed.
“My mom thinks it was an angel,” she says. “I think so, too.”
Birmingham, Alabama—Daryl saw a man walking the highway. He offered the man a ride.
The man said, “No thanks,” and mumbled something nonsensical.
Daryl dove past him the next afternoon. And the next. One day he pulled alongside the man and said, “Please let me do SOMETHING for you, sir.”
The man said, “I’m so scared, dude. Help me.”
Daryl brought him home. He made contact with the man’s sister, who said her brother suffered from schizophrenia. He’d gone missing days earlier.
In a few hours, the family was reunited on Daryl’s front lawn.
“You saved my brother’s life,” said the man’s sister. “And mine.”
Flowood, Mississippi—on Tuesday afternoons, Mary instructs a gymnasium of women, of varying ages and fitness levels, how to dance hip-hop.
One of her students—an elderly woman—had chest pains.
The ambulance came. Mary rode with her to the hospital. She lied to nurses, claiming to be the woman’s daughter so they’d let her into the woman’s room. She called the family.
One emergency open-heart surgery later, the old woman is alive and moving.
“Anybody woulda done what I did,” said Mary.
No. They wouldn’t have.
Southside, Florida—a boy and his mother walked into a supermarket. He pitched a tantrum and kicked her. She let go of his hand. He ran through the parking lot.
A man loading groceries saw the boy sprinting toward an oncoming vehicle.
He chased the boy and pushed him aside. Tires screeched.
The man sustained a series of facial fractures from landing on the pavement.
“Yeah, it messed me up,” he says. “But I’m glad it was me, ‘cause it woulda killed that boy.”
“Glad,” was the word he used.
Anyway, I watched the news last night. It was a mistake. I could only handle a couple minutes.
A few headlines:
Teenager killed by best friend. Man murders wife. Woman raped in home invasion. Politician gets caught with hand in the cookie jar. Amelia Earhart found. Sex scandals. Wildfires. Bear attacks. Nuclear holocaust. Armageddon.
Listen, I know this world isn’t all confectioners sugar and honey bees. I know life is hard, I’m no fool. I know hatred is out there, just waiting to beat the hell out of another victim.
But I haven’t given up yet. I can’t seem to—no matter what the news anchors say.
I don’t mind telling you that I still believe in big things. I believe in people. I believe in kids. Teachers. Janitors. Stay-at-home daddies. I believe in aerobics instructors. Guardian angels at rest areas.
And I believe in you.
34 comments
Connie - July 10, 2017 1:16 pm
Thank you for seeing the good and sharing it with us.
Sherrie - July 10, 2017 1:35 pm
Thank you for this. We do need to remember that there is still so much good in the world, so much love, despite all the hate and negativity broadcast 24/7. God bless!
Petey Kaletta - July 10, 2017 1:42 pm
Thank you, thank you, thank you….. I really needed to read this today. You are a blessing each day as I read your blog.
Judy - July 10, 2017 1:54 pm
I so look forward to your writings each day. And I also don’t watch any news- there is enough negativity just getting through each day sometimes- sure don’t need to add more with news that always seems to be sensationalized. Keep up the good work. You make each of my days better.
Linda - July 10, 2017 1:57 pm
My father in law passed away and he and my husband had a very conflicted relationship. His funeral was one my husband’s hardest days.
We all had done our best to comfort him. The day of the funeral arrived. I knew that last hour at the funeral home was going to be very hard on my husband. A high school friend showed up. My husband had not been in touch with him but the friend was home visiting and saw the obit in the local paper…. he came and for the next hour sat with my husband and reminisced about their young adventures and their dads.
He got my husband through it and before he left I went to him and thanked him for being the angel that he was….
Mary - July 10, 2017 2:18 pm
Guardian angels don’t usually have wings.
Linda - July 10, 2017 2:56 pm
Today you wrote about all the negativity we are bombarded with daily and it is overwhelming to hear everyday. I have begun to watch shows that make you laugh. I have Carol Burnett, Red Skeleton and Ray Stevens tapes I can watch. Yeah they are dumb and soooo stupid that you have to laugh. We all need to focus more on enjoying life and not so much on all the troubles in it. Give those to God for the battle is in the heavenly places. Love your writing!
Phyllis - July 10, 2017 3:20 pm
I do too, Sean. I do too.
Karen - July 10, 2017 3:23 pm
Thank you Sean, I believe in you too. You write the bittersweet truth about life and people. Some good …some not so good. Life is one day at a time. News in tough to listen too, all so negative. Only God knows out future. Thank you for sharing your stories and life experiences. I look forward to them every day!!
Marisa Franca @ All Our Way - July 10, 2017 3:36 pm
Thank you!
Debbie Galladora - July 10, 2017 4:34 pm
❤️??
Wendy - July 10, 2017 4:37 pm
Of course I’m not old enough to remember when the song was a hit ☺ … but thank you for reminding us to “look on the sunny side of the street.”
Peg - July 10, 2017 4:40 pm
Thanks. You add so much to my day, each and every!!!
Janet Mary Lee - July 10, 2017 4:42 pm
We all need those stories. Good people and Angels do exist! Thanks for reminding us!!
Jenny Young - July 10, 2017 6:49 pm
Watching the news is a total waste of time!
Carol - July 10, 2017 7:10 pm
There are so many more good people than bad…they just don’t get the press! I BELIEVE!!! Thank you for always touching me in some way.
Bobbie - July 10, 2017 8:05 pm
Thank you, Sean….ditto!
Patricia Gibson - July 10, 2017 8:11 pm
Amen a thousand times!
Paul - July 10, 2017 9:43 pm
AMEN!
Allen - July 10, 2017 10:52 pm
Right back atcha, Sean.
Jim Luther - July 10, 2017 11:34 pm
You need to have your own TV station to put out the good news. Or we could just have a law that for the regular TV stations for every depressing story they put on they have to put on a corresponding good story. You make my day every day and I really appreciate it !!!
Kathy Daum - July 10, 2017 11:52 pm
Thank you for believing. We’re doing our best.
Michael Hawke - July 11, 2017 2:26 am
Thank you
Martha Dickson - July 11, 2017 2:48 am
I too believe there are good people still in this world. I enjoy reading your pieces. We cannot give up on our country.
Martha Howard Dickson
Tennessee
Jack Quanstrum - July 11, 2017 9:24 pm
Thank you Sean for believing in us. And I believe in you and those you write about. They are good and so are you. I can’t stand to watch any news program. But your news is always good and motivating me to do good. Keep up the good work. It makes a difference in my life.
Charles L. Scott II - July 12, 2017 12:07 am
Sean, A friend sending me a small note to tell me he was emailing me something I would like, Boy!! was he right! You Sir, are a Gentleman!!! I am a 75 yr. old Broadcast Journalist.
You take me back to the life I was raised around and I can only say “Keep them coming!!).
Sincerely
C. Scott
Mary Ellen Hall - July 12, 2017 10:15 pm
ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL-THANK YOU SEAN!!!
Elouise Billions - August 28, 2017 1:11 pm
Keep believing!
Deanna J - August 28, 2017 1:38 pm
Angles are among us!
philip - August 28, 2017 2:33 pm
until the trumpets sound all we have is god and each other.
Marie B - August 28, 2017 3:54 pm
Yes, Sean, we do need good news. All this negativity is breeding more of the same. Thank you for …..kindness.
Nancy - August 28, 2017 8:38 pm
Love your writing. It makes my day. My husband is a great writer, too. We just moved to Santa Rosa Beach. Hope to bump into you some day.
Clint Thompson - August 28, 2017 11:49 pm
That is all well and good Sean. I still believe in the things mentioned in your last sentence. Remember though, it may be a good idea to get your pistol permit and place a little faith in a Smith & Wesson. Just in case. We would enjoy reading your writing for a long time.
Melodie - August 29, 2017 12:50 am
Funny, just a couple of days ago, on my FB page, I posted a song by Anne Murray…♫ A Little Good News♫ Yep, sure could use, a little good news, today….. And, as I stated, It’s a shame, things really haven’t changed much from the past 34 yrs. when that song came out. THIS is why I love reading your blog, Sean. It’s my good news way, to start my day. Thank you!