1 00:00:38,001 --> 00:00:41,440 Speaker 1: Hey friends, it's Kelly from Life Audio. We just launched 2 00:00:41,501 --> 00:00:45,181 Speaker 1: something new. It's called The Good Word, our free weekly 3 00:00:45,241 --> 00:00:48,120 Speaker 1: newsletter built for people who want to go a little 4 00:00:48,161 --> 00:00:54,011 Speaker 1: deeper in their faith. Think devotionals, guided prayers, curated podcast recommendations, 5 00:00:54,191 --> 00:00:57,311 Speaker 1: and a little community all in one place. No ads, 6 00:00:57,651 --> 00:01:00,091 Speaker 1: just good content. This one means a lot to us. 7 00:01:00,491 --> 00:01:03,271 Speaker 1: We built The Good Word based on the audience survey 8 00:01:03,491 --> 00:01:05,671 Speaker 1: so many of you filled out a few months back. 9 00:01:05,991 --> 00:01:08,571 Speaker 1: You told us what you wanted and we listened. So 10 00:01:08,611 --> 00:01:11,550 Speaker 1: thank you truly for helping us shape this. Head to 11 00:01:11,580 --> 00:01:14,181 Speaker 1: the link in the show notes and join our community today. 12 00:01:14,481 --> 00:01:19,481 Speaker 1: We'd love to have you. Life Audio. 13 00:01:21,501 --> 00:01:26,000 Speaker 2: Welcome back, everyone, to another episode of Story Behind. I'm 14 00:01:26,041 --> 00:01:30,041 Speaker 2: your host, Sean McAvoy. And today I've picked out a 15 00:01:30,061 --> 00:01:33,621 Speaker 2: couple of stories that will just make you go, no way, 16 00:01:33,941 --> 00:01:38,531 Speaker 2: the kind of tales that You just know, wow, God 17 00:01:38,571 --> 00:01:41,511 Speaker 2: must be up to something in the world still today, 18 00:01:41,791 --> 00:01:44,821 Speaker 2: even with all the craziness, the kind of stuff that 19 00:01:44,861 --> 00:01:47,761 Speaker 2: we love to bring you on The Story Behind. I'll 20 00:01:47,781 --> 00:01:51,761 Speaker 2: be back right after this with a story about a 21 00:01:51,881 --> 00:01:58,231 Speaker 2: train ride changing lives. Like I told you, how does 22 00:01:58,311 --> 00:02:08,210 Speaker 2: that happen? Be right back. All right, let's get going 23 00:02:08,271 --> 00:02:12,381 Speaker 2: with this episode. We've got a story by Heather Rigolin 24 00:02:13,041 --> 00:02:16,900 Speaker 2: this morning about a simple train ride leading to a 25 00:02:17,101 --> 00:02:25,071 Speaker 2: life-changing act of kindness between strangers. Some of life's greatest 26 00:02:25,430 --> 00:02:29,231 Speaker 2: blessings begin with the simple decision to take out an 27 00:02:29,331 --> 00:02:36,891 Speaker 2: earbud and listen. So when Molly Sy, 27, boarded a 28 00:02:37,011 --> 00:02:40,351 Speaker 2: New York commuter train after a long day of traveling, 29 00:02:40,531 --> 00:02:44,251 Speaker 2: she wasn't looking for conversation. She wanted to zone out 30 00:02:44,310 --> 00:02:50,761 Speaker 2: and relax. But when Maria Alvarez, 81, noticed that Molly 31 00:02:50,800 --> 00:02:55,060 Speaker 2: had been somewhere she longed to travel, she asked where 32 00:02:55,101 --> 00:03:00,851 Speaker 2: Molly had been. Luckily, Molly paused long enough to answer, 33 00:03:01,811 --> 00:03:05,191 Speaker 2: and that one small act of kindness changed both of 34 00:03:05,270 --> 00:03:09,891 Speaker 2: their lives. That's when Maria shared that she had left 35 00:03:09,990 --> 00:03:16,251 Speaker 2: Puerto Rico after her husband died in 1972. For more 36 00:03:16,311 --> 00:03:19,951 Speaker 2: than 50 years, she dreamed of returning home but was 37 00:03:20,391 --> 00:03:26,341 Speaker 2: too afraid to fly and couldn't afford the trip. Without hesitation, 38 00:03:26,581 --> 00:03:32,300 Speaker 2: Molly made an unexpected offer. This sounds crazy since we 39 00:03:32,341 --> 00:03:35,571 Speaker 2: don't really know each other, but If you ever want 40 00:03:35,591 --> 00:03:37,831 Speaker 2: to go somewhere, I'd be happy to fly with you, 41 00:03:38,311 --> 00:03:44,631 Speaker 2: Molly said. The invitation didn't end there. Maria invited Molly 42 00:03:44,671 --> 00:03:48,621 Speaker 2: to her Brooklyn home for Puerto Rican food. And what 43 00:03:48,701 --> 00:03:53,421 Speaker 2: started as one meal became a cherished Monday tradition filled 44 00:03:53,441 --> 00:03:58,691 Speaker 2: with laughter, homemade dinners, and an unlikely friendship that felt 45 00:03:58,751 --> 00:04:03,011 Speaker 2: more like family. What Molly didn't know was that the 46 00:04:03,051 --> 00:04:08,841 Speaker 2: day they met... was especially difficult for Maria. I was 47 00:04:08,901 --> 00:04:13,661 Speaker 2: really hurting inside because my sister, it was going to 48 00:04:13,701 --> 00:04:19,460 Speaker 2: be her birthday, Maria shared. Molly was overcome with emotion 49 00:04:20,801 --> 00:04:26,021 Speaker 2: and decided to share this chance encounter online. She was 50 00:04:26,581 --> 00:04:29,940 Speaker 2: surprised that thousands of people were touched by their friendship. 51 00:04:30,401 --> 00:04:35,901 Speaker 2: But then came the miracle. Companies stepped in to help, 52 00:04:36,441 --> 00:04:42,391 Speaker 2: with Delta providing flights and Hilton providing accommodations, allowing Molly 53 00:04:42,991 --> 00:04:47,670 Speaker 2: to keep her promise to travel with Maria to Puerto Rico. There, 54 00:04:48,711 --> 00:04:51,831 Speaker 2: Maria walked the island she hadn't seen in half a 55 00:04:51,880 --> 00:04:55,901 Speaker 2: century and relived part of her life she thought would 56 00:04:56,001 --> 00:05:01,041 Speaker 2: always be a mere memory. I didn't believe that she 57 00:05:01,101 --> 00:05:05,150 Speaker 2: would travel with me for real. Maria said. My oldest 58 00:05:05,190 --> 00:05:08,871 Speaker 2: daughter told me, Ma, this is why you always give, give, give. 59 00:05:09,471 --> 00:05:14,111 Speaker 2: Now somebody is giving to you you never had. Now, 60 00:05:14,690 --> 00:05:18,931 Speaker 2: doesn't that comment just bring you to tears? Back home, 61 00:05:19,511 --> 00:05:23,971 Speaker 2: Molly had one more surprise waiting. She presented Maria with 62 00:05:24,051 --> 00:05:27,611 Speaker 2: letters from people around the world who had been inspired 63 00:05:27,690 --> 00:05:32,311 Speaker 2: by their story, along with donations from strangers sending gifts 64 00:05:32,341 --> 00:05:38,340 Speaker 2: and to help Maria pursue her dream of baking. Overcome 65 00:05:38,380 --> 00:05:42,341 Speaker 2: with emotion, Maria simply couldn't believe it. In a world 66 00:05:42,361 --> 00:05:47,201 Speaker 2: that often rushes past strangers, Molly and Maria remind us 67 00:05:47,221 --> 00:05:50,861 Speaker 2: that sometimes the most beautiful journeys don't begin with a 68 00:05:50,880 --> 00:05:55,501 Speaker 2: plain ticket. They begin with a conversation, an open heart, 69 00:05:56,841 --> 00:06:00,031 Speaker 2: and the willingness to take your headphones out and truly 70 00:06:00,121 --> 00:06:04,611 Speaker 2: see the person sitting beside you. As it says in 71 00:06:04,671 --> 00:06:11,151 Speaker 2: John 15, 12-15, This is my commandment, that you love 72 00:06:11,271 --> 00:06:14,970 Speaker 2: one another as I have loved you. Greater love has 73 00:06:15,111 --> 00:06:18,551 Speaker 2: no one than this, that someone lay down his life 74 00:06:18,601 --> 00:06:21,960 Speaker 2: for his friends. You are my friends if you do 75 00:06:22,281 --> 00:06:25,081 Speaker 2: what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, 76 00:06:26,241 --> 00:06:28,501 Speaker 2: for the servant does not know what his master is doing, 77 00:06:28,541 --> 00:06:31,901 Speaker 2: but I have called you friends. For all that I 78 00:06:31,940 --> 00:06:35,991 Speaker 2: have heard from my Father, I have made known to you. 79 00:06:38,031 --> 00:06:40,201 Speaker 2: While you think about all the people that might be 80 00:06:40,231 --> 00:06:43,041 Speaker 2: next to you today that might be a Molly or 81 00:06:43,061 --> 00:06:46,741 Speaker 2: a Maria in your life, I'll take this break to 82 00:06:46,801 --> 00:06:50,501 Speaker 2: reset and be back with another story that is just 83 00:06:50,801 --> 00:06:52,881 Speaker 2: as unbelievable as this one. 84 00:06:53,581 --> 00:06:54,121 Speaker 1: We'll be right back. 85 00:07:02,001 --> 00:07:06,061 Speaker 2: All right, Heather Riggleman also wrote our second story today 86 00:07:06,181 --> 00:07:10,801 Speaker 2: about the unbelievable. I've teased it enough. Let's get right 87 00:07:10,861 --> 00:07:15,921 Speaker 2: to it. This is a story about a toddler who 88 00:07:15,961 --> 00:07:21,621 Speaker 2: was found alive in a hospital morgue after the family's 89 00:07:21,681 --> 00:07:28,191 Speaker 2: heartbreaking scare. There are moments that remind us miracles didn't 90 00:07:28,231 --> 00:07:34,331 Speaker 2: stop in Bible times. For one Arizona family, what began 91 00:07:34,731 --> 00:07:40,191 Speaker 2: as every parent's worst nightmare became an extraordinary story of 92 00:07:40,251 --> 00:07:46,661 Speaker 2: hope when 18-month-old Vincent Lorenzo Fiorina was pulled from a 93 00:07:46,701 --> 00:07:51,541 Speaker 2: backyard swimming pool. He was rushed to the hospital, where 94 00:07:51,601 --> 00:07:57,631 Speaker 2: doctors worked to save his life. Despite their efforts, the 95 00:07:57,671 --> 00:08:02,371 Speaker 2: toddler was declared dead. his family left the hospital carrying 96 00:08:03,101 --> 00:08:08,021 Speaker 2: unimaginable grief. I cannot imagine how his mother felt at 97 00:08:08,081 --> 00:08:14,421 Speaker 2: that moment. But hours later, something incredible happened because Hope 98 00:08:14,971 --> 00:08:20,871 Speaker 2: refused to leave that hospital. When a transporter from the 99 00:08:20,931 --> 00:08:27,341 Speaker 2: medical examiner's office arrived to retrieve Vincent's body, he discovered 100 00:08:27,371 --> 00:08:30,741 Speaker 2: the little boy was still breathing. He had a pulse. 101 00:08:32,280 --> 00:08:34,991 Speaker 2: The family received the phone call no parent could have 102 00:08:35,030 --> 00:08:41,151 Speaker 2: imagined after saying goodbye. Their son was alive. Vincent was 103 00:08:41,251 --> 00:08:46,431 Speaker 2: immediately flown to Phoenix Children's Hospital, where he continues receiving care. 104 00:08:48,131 --> 00:08:51,251 Speaker 2: His family shared encouraging news that he did not suffer 105 00:08:51,661 --> 00:08:55,060 Speaker 2: brain damage, giving them hope as they walk the road 106 00:08:55,141 --> 00:09:01,170 Speaker 2: of recovery together. Isn't that just incredible? One moment you're 107 00:09:01,211 --> 00:09:06,111 Speaker 2: grieving the loss of your precious baby, and then, hours later, 108 00:09:06,911 --> 00:09:13,511 Speaker 2: you learn he's alive. Stories like Vincent's remind us why 109 00:09:13,571 --> 00:09:18,541 Speaker 2: we never stop praying, even when the outcome seems certain. 110 00:09:20,141 --> 00:09:24,040 Speaker 2: Sometimes God writes another chapter when we think the story 111 00:09:24,061 --> 00:09:28,641 Speaker 2: has already reached its final page. We don't always receive 112 00:09:28,660 --> 00:09:32,541 Speaker 2: the miracle we're praying for, And we may never understand 113 00:09:32,581 --> 00:09:36,841 Speaker 2: why some prayers are answered differently than others. But every 114 00:09:37,241 --> 00:09:40,701 Speaker 2: once in a while, we're given a glimpse that leaves 115 00:09:40,921 --> 00:09:46,581 Speaker 2: us in awe. A reminder that life is precious. Hope 116 00:09:47,231 --> 00:09:51,311 Speaker 2: is never wasted. And God is still at work in 117 00:09:51,351 --> 00:09:56,611 Speaker 2: ways beyond our understanding. For one Arizona family, they were 118 00:09:56,631 --> 00:10:02,091 Speaker 2: given what every grieving parent longs for. another chance to 119 00:10:02,131 --> 00:10:06,871 Speaker 2: hold their little boy. And that is nothing short of extraordinary. 120 00:10:09,011 --> 00:10:15,001 Speaker 2: I'm reminded of Jesus' prayer in John 17, 3, specifically 121 00:10:15,041 --> 00:10:18,161 Speaker 2: the part where he said, Now this is eternal life, 122 00:10:18,921 --> 00:10:23,971 Speaker 2: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, 123 00:10:25,091 --> 00:10:30,651 Speaker 2: whom you have sent. Thanks for listening to the Story 124 00:10:30,691 --> 00:10:36,901 Speaker 2: Behind Podcast. I hope today's stories encouraged you and reminded 125 00:10:36,941 --> 00:10:39,911 Speaker 2: you that amazing things happen. things still happen. God is 126 00:10:39,971 --> 00:10:43,941 Speaker 2: still moving in the world around us. Visit the links 127 00:10:43,981 --> 00:10:47,481 Speaker 2: in the show notes to find the original articles, photos, videos, 128 00:10:47,521 --> 00:10:51,121 Speaker 2: and any resources mentioned in today's episode on the God 129 00:10:51,181 --> 00:10:56,961 Speaker 2: Updates blog at GodTube.com. If you enjoyed today's episode, be 130 00:10:57,001 --> 00:10:59,841 Speaker 2: sure to follow Story Behind wherever you listen to podcasts 131 00:11:00,761 --> 00:11:03,280 Speaker 2: and share it with someone who could use a little encouragement. 132 00:11:04,501 --> 00:11:09,411 Speaker 2: Story Behind is a Life Audio production. For more faith-based podcasts, 133 00:11:09,491 --> 00:11:15,151 Speaker 2: visit lifeaudio.com. I'm Sean McAvoy. Thanks again for joining me, 134 00:11:15,851 --> 00:11:18,300 Speaker 2: and we'll see you next time on Story Behind.