Heartwarming

One man's unexpected heartwarming act after he heard someone's bike was stolen will bring you to tears and momentarily restore your faith in humanity. It was likely that no one saw what was about to happen. Watch the short but powerful clip to witness the man's unbelievable act of kindness and love.

Kindness is in very short supply today. Ask anyone, and they will likely fully and completely agree with that statement. Far too many people have this dog-eat-dog mentality, where they are only concerned about themselves and couldn’t care else about anyone else. This selfish, uncaring, cold-hearted thinking is on full display nearly everywhere – social media, television news broadcasts, the workplace and in government.

While examples of people acting in a cruel and uncaring manner are plentiful, some still go out of their way to show others kindness and love. Gentle, caring and considerate people still exist, but their efforts don't get nearly enough attention. A clip posted on YouTube shows how one man responded when he learned that another person's bike had recently been stolen.

The video shows the inside of a restaurant and points out that a man's bike was stolen while he was enjoying his breakfast. What kind of person steals a bike? You have to be a special kind of evil to take someone else's bike or to steal anything, for that matter.

Well, while the man in the restaurant was the victim of a theft, little did he know he was about to be the recipient of a heartwarming, unbelievably kind and loving gesture. The video mentions that when someone in the restaurant heard about the bike theft, he went out and purchased a bike for the man, replacing the one that was stolen.

The kind gesture obviously meant a lot to the individual. After being presented with the bike, he turns to the camera and is all smiles!

Ephesians 4:32 "And be kind to one another, full of pity, having forgiveness for one another, even as God in Christ had forgiveness for you."

A young business owner gave $1,000 to his church and thanked God for his success. This hardworking and entrepreneurial young man is thoroughly impressive, yet he remains humble and understands who is responsible for his success. Watch the short but powerful clip to learn about this young business owner and the tear-jerking thing he did to help out his church.

Everyone wants instant success, and with that highly desired, sought-after success, they hope a fair amount of money follows. Of course, that's not typically what happens. Most individuals don't simply wake up and are handed tons of cash. People who live in the real world understand that before success, a lot of hard work and dedication come first. That doesn't sound like much fun, right?

Children who learn and understand that hard work and dedication are necessary to achieve anything worthwhile will be much better off than their peers who have difficulty grasping this lesson. Parents who don't teach and show their youngsters this are only doing them a disservice. They will learn it one way or the other, eventually.

In a clip posted on YouTube, one young man, 12-year-old Quentin Hines Jr., knows all about hard work. He has his own business, which allows him to do something he absolutely loves: mowing lawns.

"I really, really love it," Quentin said. "I really love it."

The young man said his ultimate dream is to get a job mowing the lawn at one unexpected location.

"Ever since I was younger, I always wanted to get a contract with the Charlotte airport," he said. "And, like, sometimes when I go out there, they will have the mowers out there. So, I would like stand there for a while."

As the clip mentions, the young man's business is growing rapidly, and he's acquiring new customers at an impressive rate. But he's not keeping all his profits for himself. He gave $1,000 to his church to help it pay off its mortgage.

"When you put things into the world, it always finds a way to come back to you," he said.

Even with all of his success, the 12-year-old business owner understands who is ultimately responsible for it.

"It mostly feels like God really just opened a lot of opportunities for me," he said. "And He really just showed me that this is what He wants me to do on this Earth. I love it, and I will never stop, never."

Colossians 3:23 "Whatever you do, do it readily, as to the Lord and not to men;"

A child’s sweet advice for her mother will melt your heart. The young lady had some suggestions for what her mom could do to help her destress and calm down. Watch the short but sweet clip to hear the little lady’s adorable advice for her mother.

Everyone has work and family obligations that pull them in 100 different directions on a daily basis. Most people agree that there is not enough time in the day to complete everything. If only our days were extended an hour or two, right? Since that doesn’t appear to be a possibility, many people have become experts at multitasking.

Unfortunately, even the best multitaskers may not be able to complete all their tasks and meet every demand and obligation. Understandably, this can and does lead to stress and anxiety for many people. But even when the stress becomes overwhelming, it’s good to remember that the sun will come out tomorrow. The world will not end if we don’t get to this or that obligation. In a clip posted on YouTube, that was the message a child tried to get across to her mother.

The video begins with a mom carrying her 5-year-old daughter as they walk through the kitchen. As they come to a stop, it’s clear that Mom is stressed and worried about something, but the child has some sage advice for her.

“I just want you to breathe and be calm,” the little girl says. “Get your Kindle or, like, get a real book and, like, make some coffee and, like, bring it outside. And, like, calm down and chill, and we can hang out together.”

We don’t know what bothered Mom and had her on edge, but after hearing those sweet and loving words, she must have felt better instantly and at ease. That’s advice we’d all be better off remembering when our stress and anxiety levels increase and become worrisome.

1 Peter 5:7 “Putting all your troubles on him, for he takes care of you.”

On this episode of the Tiny Pulpit, hear Dorian talk about our identity in Christ, community, and Christian maturity. #christ #spirituality #servingchrist

Tears started flowing as the groom delivered an unforgettable wedding day surprise. His sweet and heartwarming move will likely have you brushing away a tear or two. Watch the short, but tear-jerking clip to see what the groom did and hear the reason for his touching gesture.

Weddings are significant, momentous and life-changing occasions for every couple. They are the opportunity to recognize and witness the formation of a family as two people vow to remain with one another regardless of what life may throw their way. What could be better than that?

Typically, weddings are a chance to celebrate the couple standing at the altar in front of family, friends and God, and rightfully so. We should be so honored to be able to share the bride and groom’s big day with them.  All we, as guests, ask for is a plate of food at the reception and the slightest bit of cake, and that’s it, I promise!

However, in one clip posted on YouTube, a groom, Zach, used the occasion to surprise his bride, Hallie, her parents and everyone in attendance. When it came time to recite his vows, he also used American Sign Language. Both of his bride’s parents are deaf, and he wanted to show them how much he loves and is committed to them as well. He wanted them to feel included, as he said, and signed his vows to their daughter.

The clip mentions that no one knew what Zach was about to do when it came time for him to say his vows. The young man attended night classes for four months before the wedding for that big, tear-jerking moment.

“The moment Zach started signing and saying his vows, I immediately started tearing up,” Hallie said. “The way he included my parents made it even more meaningful, and it reminded me why I chose him, and I’ll keep choosing him every day.”

But that wasn’t all.

After the ceremony, the video captures the moment Zach presents his in-laws with his ASL certificates at the reception.

What a powerful moment and a beautiful way to show someone how much they matter and are loved.

1 Corinthians 16:14 “Let all that you do be done in love.”

One dad invited the stepdad to join him in walking his daughter down the aisle. This sweet and completely unexpected move will have you brushing away tears from your eyes. Watch the short but heartwarming clip to see the stepfather’s response and everyone else’s reaction.

Weddings are often incredibly emotional events, causing many to carry tissues just in case they spring a leak from their eyes. You may even get a little teary-eyed thinking about the last wedding you attended. It’s entirely understandable why people would become emotional during a wedding ceremony. It’s a big, life-changing event for the happy couple standing at the altar as they pledge their unending love to one another.

Nearly everything that’s involved in a wedding ceremony carries much significance and meaning with it. That’s likely part of the reason why planning a wedding typically requires several months. You want everything to be just right, with nothing out of place, which is entirely understandable.

Another great thing about weddings, as captured in a video posted on YouTube, is that they can bring people together. A bride was about to make her grand entrance, walk down the aisle and meet her future husband waiting at the altar. Everything was set to go, but the father of the bride had something he had to do first. He made his way up the aisle by himself, approached the bride’s stepfather, and asked him an important, and heartwarming question. He asks him to assist in walking his daughter down the aisle.

What a beautiful and classy move from the biological father. He did not have to do that, but he wanted the wedding to be about his daughter and her groom, not himself. That’s likely to be a memory the bride will remember for years.

Genesis 2:24 “For this cause will a man go away from his father and his mother and be joined to his wife; and they will be one flesh.”

A young man was spotted doing something truly unexpected and heartwarming. What the little guy did will have you brushing away tears from your eyes and restore your faith in humanity. Watch the short but oh so adorable clip to see the little boy’s precious move.

Generally, siblings do not get along well. At least while they are young children, siblings typically have a lot of animosity toward one another. Those little ones have the surprising (and incredibly annoying) ability to turn everything into a disagreement. Between siblings, the most minor, most insignificant thing can soon become a matter of life and death.

Those with two or more kids understand that anything and everything can become an annoyingly loud, ear-piercing disagreement. Take any situation, subject or object, and children can turn it into a shouting or shoving match. A lot of parenting, and many will also agree with this, involves acting as a referee, stepping into arguments and keeping them from one another.

So, any time siblings are halfway civil to one another, parents must cherish and hold onto those moments, those instances, especially when they are little, because they can be few and far between. A video posted on social media captures one of those precious moments between siblings. 

The clip starts with the little guy digging around in the kitchen. At first glance, it’s a bit unclear what he’s doing. Then, seconds later, it appears he’s making himself a bowl of cereal. 
However, the kitchen is not where he wants to enjoy his breakfast.

The camera is right behind the young man as he enters the hallway and unexpectedly ducks into a room. It turns out that the bowl of cereal was not for him at all. Instead, he made his baby sister, who is in her crib, breakfast in bed.

What an absolutely adorable moment!

1 John 4:20 “If a man says, ‘I have love for God,’ and has hate for his brother, his words are false: for how is the man who has no love for his brother whom he has seen, able to have love for God whom he has not seen?”

A woman finished cancer treatments and was met with the sweetest surprise. She was understandably ecstatic about completing all of her treatments for cancer, and then something unexpected happened. Watch the short but sweet clip to see the beautiful and tear-jerking surprise she received.

There are many truly terrible things in this fallen, broken and lost world. Sadly, pain and heartache are all around us and in overwhelming abundance. However, there’s likely nothing that has caused more suffering and agony to families than cancer. There isn’t much scarier in life than receiving a cancer diagnosis or learning that a friend or a family member is battling the deadly, life-threatening disease.

Fighting cancer is both mentally and physically taxing on the family, but especially the patient. From the moment you or a loved one receives that horrible diagnosis, it’s a roller coaster of good days and bad days. That’s why a surprise one woman received meant so much and made for such a beautiful moment.

In the clip, which was posted on YouTube, the woman shouts that she has just finished all of her cancer treatments. She is overjoyed, and this is certainly something to celebrate. She and her husband are then captured on video walking out the door, leaving the medical facility. However, little does she know what awaits her outside those doors.

The woman’s husband had planned a massive, heartwarming surprise for her. He had brought together her family and friends, who were waiting with signs and cheers to greet her after her enormous, beautiful, celebration-worthy accomplishment.

Immediately after seeing all the people she loves who had come out to show her support, she understandably becomes emotional and breaks down in tears.

What an incredible sight and an excellent way for her husband and everyone else she knows to show her how much they love and care for her.

1 Corinthians 16:14 “Let all you do be done in love.”

When the owner of a Wisconsin café fell ill and was hospitalized for months, a group of teens stepped up and ran the restaurant in her and her husband’s absence. The youngsters did anything and everything necessary to keep the business going. Watch the short but powerful clip to learn about this fantastic group of young men and women.

Opening a business is always risky and can be very costly. Sadly, as we all know, small businesses have a high failure rate. Of course, many factors play into a business's success or failure—demand or lack thereof for the business's goods or services, competition in the marketplace, the state of the national and local economy, the owner's business acumen and many others.

However, things can and do become increasingly more complicated for a business when the owner is unable to oversee the day-to-day operations. The number of unknowns and problems can multiply, making things exponentially more difficult for the business's survival. However, in a clip posted on YouTube, that was not the case thanks to a group of loving, devoted and caring young people who stepped up in a big way when a business owner fell ill.

Approximately 30 teenagers work at Urban Olive & Vine, a restaurant in Hudson, Wisconsin. The small business is owned by a husband and wife, Chad and Carol Trainor. When Carol suffered a seizure in the restaurant and was hospitalized for months, pulling both away from the restaurant, the teens took over the day-to-day operations of the business.

The video mentions that Chad said he did not have to ask any of the teenagers to do anything extra once. They just did it.

One of the teenagers began voluntarily arriving at 5:30 to start the day, and everyone else added to their responsibilities, taking on new and different jobs. They were doing what they had to keep the business thriving while Chad remained by Carol's side.

Sadly, Carol would eventually pass away.

With tears in her eyes, one young woman called the small business "a family."

"Without them, the restaurant would not exist," Chad said. "These kids became adults and ran our business and took care of me."

What an amazing group of young people.

Philippians 2:4 "Not looking everyone to his private good, but keeping in mind the things of others."

One police officer’s jaw-dropping jump-rope skills are getting a lot of attention. She demonstrated her skills while on duty after approaching a group of youngsters playing outside. Watch the short but powerful clip to see the officer’s jump-rope talent and hear why she joined the fun.

Many people spend much of their day with their faces buried in a screen. Sadly, at this point, our phones have essentially become an extension of our hands. We’re either texting, perusing the internet or scrolling on one of the many popular social media platforms. If we are ever separated from our phones at any time throughout the day, many become anxious and wonder when we’ll be reunited with our cellular device.

Technology is good and helpful; many great things have come from those recent advancements. However, seeing children outside playing with one another without their phones nearby has become odd and unusual. For that reason, a New York police officer decided to join a group of children when she saw them outside jumping rope. Not only did she jump rope with them, but she wowed many people with her incredible, jaw-dropping talent.

“We’re passing down a street, we saw them outside jumping,” Officer Sharrika Brent said. “I told them, ‘Pull over’ because I wanted to jump.”

The video of the officer’s fancy footwork has since gone viral, getting millions of views on social media.

Officer Brent added that her jumping rope with those neighborhood children is not out of the ordinary for her, saying that it’s something that she does all the time.

“You don’t see the kids outside playing anymore,” she said. You just see them on their phones, heads down, tablets, whatever. They don’t really play, like, outside, like, how I used to when I was a kid. So, it was kind of refreshing for them to see, and it was refreshing for me, that’s why I got out of the car and jumped.”

Her efforts and those of other officers reaching out to community members are making a difference. The clip mentioned that crime in that neighborhood is down over 20 percent.

Colossians 3:12 “Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;”

A 12-year-old brings comfort to shelter animals with his soothing, beautiful musical performances. The young man uses his musical talent to help calm and care for animals waiting for their forever homes. Watch the short but sweet clip to learn how the youngster comforts shelter animals.

Every animal wants to be with someone and somewhere where they are cared for and loved. That's the kind of treatment and environment we all want and deserve. Sadly, because of our world's lost, broken and fallen state, that is not a reality for far too many people and animals.

Instead, many animals are locked up in shelters, and that's a place where no animal wants to be. While those animals are cared for, they are often full, and none of the animals get the love and attention they deserve. They are simply there waiting and hoping someone will come along soon and adopt them.

That's why 12-year-old Yuvi Agarwal decided to take his musical talents to an animal shelter in Houston, Texas. He performs, hoping that his performance will comfort the animals as they anxiously await someone to come along and take them home.

"Many of them have come from very rough backgrounds with humans," he said. So, they associate humans with bad things, but once they see humans playing nice music for them, they will associate humans with good things."

Since playing in that Houston shelter, the 12-year-old has started a nonprofit, Wild Tunes, that performs music for shelter pets in a handful of states – Texas, Colorado, New Jersey, Virginia and California.

Not only does the music calm and soothe the animals, but one shelter employee stated it also increases their chance of adoption.

"So, this music allows them to calm down and make them ultimately more presentable to adopters," he said.

People often say that one person cannot make a difference, but 12-year-old Yuvi has proven that one person can make a huge difference.

Genesis 1:21 "And God created great whales, and every living creature that moves, which the waters brought forth abundantly, after their kind, and every winged fowl after their kind: and God saw that it was good."

A daughter had a beautiful response to her mom’s engagement. The little girl could not contain her emotions when she learned that her mother was engaged to be married. Watch the short but sweet clip of the child’s adorable reaction after she spotted the ring on her mom’s finger and learned about her mother’s engagement.

Getting engaged is a massive step for every couple. Of course, picking out that diamond ring and then popping that big, all-important question comes before standing up at that altar and saying, “I do,” in front of your family, friends and God. While the wedding is clearly the most critical part of that whole process, none of it would be possible without getting engaged first.

Everyone says that when someone gets engaged and eventually married, they become part of another family. But nowhere is that demonstrated more clearly than when one of the people already has kids, especially if they are young children who still live at home. That person has to win over the approval of those kids as well because they will become a massive part of their lives.

A clip posted on social media shows a young woman who seemed to understand this, and she was thrilled for her mother. The child immediately burst into tears after hearing what had happened. It’s one of the sweetest reactions you’ll likely ever see.

But the mother wasn’t the only one who received a new piece of jewelry. Mom’s fiancée had a ring for the little girl. It was a sweet move that showed he understood that he was getting a wife and a daughter.

The clip ends with Mom’s fiancée and the little girl snuggling on the couch together. What a beautiful sight!

May the Lord greatly bless that precious little family!

Genesis 2:24 “For this cause will a man go away from his father and his mother and be joined to his wife; and they will be one flesh.”

A heartwarming surprise stole the show at the end of this play. No one, especially those in the audience, saw this beautiful ending coming. Watch the short but unbelievably adorable clip to see this production’s conclusion that no one saw coming.

For the most part, movies, television programs and plays are very scripted, down to the smallest, most minute detail and line. Yes, there are instances in all of those in which the actors are allowed to improvise and make up a line or two on the spot. However, unless it’s an improv show, there is typically a script everyone tries to adhere to and use.

Using a script everyone knows makes for a better production. Can you imagine entering a workplace where no one was given instructions but was forced to make everything up as they went? More often than not, that is a recipe for disaster and madness. But there are those special times when improvisation can be a good, even a great and sweet thing. One of those moments was captured on camera in a clip posted on social media.

The cast was wrapping up their production and speaking directly to the audience. However, as one of the actors talked to the audience, things quickly took an unexpected turn. He spoke about how he had met his Cinderella “10 summers ago” in the basement of a theater. He quickly went through how they had worked together in several productions and eventually started dating.

His address to the audience ends with him getting down on bended knee and presenting the woman he loves with a ring and a proposal.

Several in the audience were utterly blown away by what they were witnessing. There were audible gasps as they were seeing this young man ask this young lady to be his wife.

Sometimes improvisation can make for some of the best, sweetest moments!

Genesis 2:24 “For this cause will a man go away from his father and his mother and be joined to his wife; and they will be one flesh.”

Driven by faith, this man has devoted his life to helping the homeless. He is focused on helping those without a place to lay their heads at night. Watch this short but powerful clip to learn about this man’s beautiful and loving mission to help the homeless people in his community.

Many people are hurting and struggling in this world. Simply making it through another day is a significant win and accomplishment for many people, especially those who are homeless and without food. How awful would it be to be in a position where you had no idea where or when your next meal was coming or where you would sleep that night?

Christians are called to care for and look after the less fortunate and the poor, which, of course, includes the homeless and the hungry. Numerous verses throughout the Bible mention how Christians are to treat the poor and tend to their needs. Jesus, in the book of Matthew, specifically talked about the poor, saying, “The King will answer them, ‘Most certainly I tell you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these, my brothers, you did it to me.’”

The Bible, specifically Christ’s words about helping the poor, fuels Vincent Pannizzo and his mission. He said reading the Bible and discovering what Jesus said about the poor and less fortunate changed his life and perspective.

“I started reading the Bible to get some information,” he said. “And I started to read the words of Jesus, and I was really surprised at what I found in there, particularly about caring for people, which I never really did before.”

After coming across Christ’s words, Vincent found his life’s calling. The clip posted on YouTube states that in 2012, he started a nonprofit, Mission for the Homeless. Vincent delivers food, blankets and clothes to the homeless and the hungry.

But that is not all. Vincent is so committed to helping those less fortunate than himself that he lives in a tent outside his house, allowing those without a place to stay to reside in his home.

“God does love them and care for them, and I want to bring the light and love of Christ to them,” he said.

Proverbs 19:17 “He who has pity on the poor gives to the Lord, and the Lord will give him his reward.”

A grandmother broke down in tears after realizing who was piloting her flight. She could not keep it together once she discovered who would be flying her plane. Watch the short but powerful clip to see why the elderly woman was moved to tears.

Flying is a fear for many people, and it’s understandable why that is the case. Being 30,000 feet in the air while moving hundreds of miles per hour is pretty insane when you think about it. If you’re slightly apprehensive about flying, it wouldn’t be helped at all by the flight attendants’ safety spiel either. They mention what happens if the plane hits a mountain or lands in the ocean. Those are frightening scenarios, for sure.

Not being a fan of heights, I can understand why flying might invoke a sense of fear in people. Oddly enough, I feel no anxiety or uneasiness when it comes to flying. A clip posted on YouTube shows one woman crying as she got up from her seat and started moving toward the front of the plane. However, it wasn’t her fear of flying that brought about those tears, but it was because of a much sweeter, heartwarming reason.

The short one-minute video begins with a young man on the plane’s intercom system. The gentleman welcomes all the passengers aboard the aircraft and then adds that he will be their pilot. He then mentions how this particular flight is special for him because who is onboard – his grandmother. 

This is the first time his grandmother has flown on a plane he will pilot. His grandmother then proceeds to get up and walk toward her grandson. He continues to speak, sharing how much his grandparents have loved and supported him. He adds how he wishes his grandfather were here today, but sadly, he had passed away earlier in the year.

The moving clip ends with the grandmother and grandson sharing a warm, loving embrace while she is brought to tears by the special moment.

Proverbs 17:6 “Children’s children are the crown of old men, and the glory of children is their fathers.”

A kindhearted mailman comforted a woman during some difficult moments. The government worker showed her some unexpected kindness and love following a loss. Watch the short but powerful clip to see how the mailman comforted her during a heartbreaking situation.

We are often blessed in life with happy and joyous occasions worth celebrating and remembering. However, not every moment will make you want to jump for joy. Unfortunately, loss is a part of life. It’s an aspect that no one enjoys, but sadly, it’s inevitable, as is the hurt, heartache and sorrow that often accompany a loss.

For those who have experienced those deep, dark valleys, it’s one of the worst experiences imaginable—nothing to wish on your worst enemy. But even when we are hurting and in despair, the Lord is still in control and offers comfort and healing. He remains faithful and loving, never leaving our side as He walks through those deep, dark valleys with us.

In a clip posted on YouTube, a mailman is a beautiful, shining example of the type of love and comfort the Lord provides during our times of sorrow and despair. Sitting on her steps as the mailman approached, the woman had recently lost her beloved pet. The mailman was delivering her the animal’s ashes.

However, instead of simply handing her the package and continuing his route, he sits beside her.  He did not want to leave her while she was hurting and distraught. Soon after sitting down, the woman, overcome with emotion, leaned over and hugged the kind and loving mailman.
While the man did not say a word, what he did meant the world to that woman in her time of immense grief and pain.

“Thank you so much,” the woman says through tears and sniffles.

What a beautiful example of kindness, gentleness and love when someone needed it the most.

Psalm 23:4 “Yes, though I go through the valley of deep shade, I will have no fear of evil; for you are with me, your rod and your support are my comfort.”

Watch a recap of “Come and See” from Veracruz and be encouraged by glimpses of powerful worship, Dr. Michael Youssef’s Gospel message, and the overwhelming response as people made decisions for Christ. To see a list of all upcoming celebrations, visit our website: https://www.ltw.org/global-work/celebrations. If you'd like to help Leading the Way reach more people with the Gospel, you can donate online at: https://ltw.org/donate. Subscribe to our channel and be part of a global ministry that is transforming lives every day.

“Jesus, Walk with Me Today” is a moving devotional song by Grammy-nominated songwriter Johnny Prill, known for creating music that uplifts the spirit and celebrates the beauty of faith and family. Inspired by a vivid dream of walking with Jesus through a busy city street, this song is a prayer for peace and divine companionship in everyday life. Each morning, we step into a world that can feel chaotic, uncertain, and overwhelming. But when we invite Jesus to walk with us, the path becomes illuminated—not always easy, but always guided. “I have sinned, but I believe your loving grace will pardon me. Forgive me for the times I've swayed—Jesus, walk with me today.” May this song be your companion in prayer, your comfort in stillness, and your light in the journey ahead. Psalm 23:4 – “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me…” For more information on Johnny Prill and his music, visit https://www.nationalgrandparentsday.com. #WalkWithJesus #DailyPrayerSong #FaithInEveryStep #JesusWalkWithMeToday #JohnnyPrillMusic

Meet the man on a mission to make 10,000 friends. This lofty friendship goal is one that he has spent years striving toward. Watch the short but powerful clip to learn about the man who has made friendship a big goal of his and how he is going about making it a reality.

Social media has exploded within the last decade or so. It’s nearly everywhere we look, having impacted many areas of our lives. On the popular platforms, in addition to needlessly arguing with complete strangers and posting and looking at photos of cats and dogs, people can collect followers, or friends, as Facebook refers to them.

But what does having a “friend” on Facebook mean if it’s someone you haven’t talked to or seen in years, or if they are someone you have never met and don’t even know? Not a whole lot is the correct answer. At that point, the number of friends someone has on Facebook is nothing more than some odd status symbol.

In a clip posted on YouTube, Rob Lawless explains how and why he set a goal of making 10,000 friends. He has been working on it for nearly 10 years.

“I thought it was fascinating, this idea that a chance interaction could change your path, and I wanted to ask myself, ‘What happens if you introduce 10,000 chance interactions to your life?’”

In the video, Rob states what he considers making a new friend and what he and they must do to consider that a new friendship.

“We just have to spend an hour together, one on one,” he said. “And there’s no set list of questions. It’s not an interview.”

Rob’s friends range in age from a 5-year-old boy to a 100-year-old woman. He has also traveled to many different countries while working toward his goal.

“You expand your perspective with every interaction that you have with someone,” he said.

Proverbs 17:17 “A friend is loving at all times, and becomes a brother in times of trouble.”

A retiring pilot stepped off his final flight and received an unforgettable surprise. He was making his final departure, walking into the airport, when he happened upon a scene he had not anticipated. Watch the short but heartwarming clip to see what the retiring pilot was surprised with when he stepped off the plane.

Nearly everyone has a lifelong goal of retirement. Looking toward to those Golden Years, sitting back and relaxing, without the stress and worry that comes with a 9-to-5, sounds fantastic. No one wants to be in a position where they must work until their last, dying breath.

While making a living is important and necessary, human beings were designed for more than work. The Lord wants us to explore and appreciation His creation and all that it offers. Why else would He have created such things as the Grand Canyon, the Rocky Mountains or the Swiss Alps? For that and many other reasons, working until one’s last second on Earth is not ideal.

In a clip posted on social media, a pilot is finishing his last flight. As the text in the video mentions, he had been a pilot for more than three decades. He can be seen making his way off the plane and into the airport, near an arrival gate.

Once he approaches the gate, the retiring pilot is greeted by his entire family, waiting with cheers, applause and signs. It’s clear from the look on his face that he was not expecting them at all and was utterly taken aback by what he witnessed.

In addition to being a heartwarming scene, it was likely an expensive celebration. While the text in the video never mentions this, those waiting to greet the pilot would have had to purchase a ticket to be in that position. They would not have been able to be there otherwise.

Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, said the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.”