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 --> 00:01:11,530 Speaker 1: thank you truly for helping us shape this. Head to 11 00:01:11,571 --> 00:01:14,150 Speaker 1: the link in the show notes and join our community today. 12 00:01:14,471 --> 00:01:15,441 Speaker 1: We'd love to have you. 13 00:01:18,461 --> 00:01:25,321 Speaker 2: Life Audio. Come on in to another episode of Story 14 00:01:25,381 --> 00:01:31,221 Speaker 2: Behind Podcast. Inspiring stories, positive headlines. Brought to you from 15 00:01:31,341 --> 00:01:34,481 Speaker 2: GodTube.com and LifeAudio.com. 16 00:01:34,541 --> 00:01:36,840 Speaker 3: My name is Sean McAvoy. 17 00:01:37,481 --> 00:01:40,011 Speaker 2: And if you are unfamiliar with us, or this is 18 00:01:40,051 --> 00:01:43,591 Speaker 2: your first time, Story Behind tries to give you a 19 00:01:43,631 --> 00:01:46,911 Speaker 2: glimpse into the good and positive things that are going on, 20 00:01:46,971 --> 00:01:49,681 Speaker 2: maybe behind what you see in your. 21 00:01:49,561 --> 00:01:50,861 Speaker 3: Newsfeed or podcast. 22 00:01:51,271 --> 00:01:53,931 Speaker 2: Experience on your nightly news. 23 00:01:54,011 --> 00:01:56,091 Speaker 3: God is still moving in the world. 24 00:01:56,531 --> 00:02:00,501 Speaker 2: Today, I have a few questions in advance for you. 25 00:02:00,581 --> 00:02:03,721 Speaker 2: I'm going to be about what makes a best friend 26 00:02:03,741 --> 00:02:08,041 Speaker 2: a best friend. I did a little bit of research online, 27 00:02:08,081 --> 00:02:10,800 Speaker 2: which is to say I googled it and saw a 28 00:02:10,841 --> 00:02:13,501 Speaker 2: couple articles, and I want you to think about that 29 00:02:13,541 --> 00:02:16,161 Speaker 2: this morning because I've got two stories for you about 30 00:02:16,201 --> 00:02:19,081 Speaker 2: the things that best friends can do with each other. 31 00:02:19,771 --> 00:02:22,041 Speaker 2: think about the friends you've had in your life that 32 00:02:22,081 --> 00:02:27,400 Speaker 2: you've called a BSS and what makes them that to 33 00:02:27,461 --> 00:02:30,761 Speaker 2: you in your life and what makes you that to them. 34 00:02:31,740 --> 00:02:36,160 Speaker 2: Some of the qualities that define a best friend, one 35 00:02:36,201 --> 00:02:40,440 Speaker 2: includes being able to be completely honest with each other, 36 00:02:41,041 --> 00:02:45,101 Speaker 2: interestingly enough, and even talk about where we may be 37 00:02:45,211 --> 00:02:48,430 Speaker 2: coming up short and where someone sees that we could 38 00:02:48,490 --> 00:02:53,291 Speaker 2: be doing better. Deep reciprocity that you don't have to, 39 00:02:53,311 --> 00:02:56,271 Speaker 2: you know, you both make sure that you're keeping up 40 00:02:56,451 --> 00:02:58,881 Speaker 2: with each other and investing time in each other. 41 00:02:59,861 --> 00:03:01,240 Speaker 3: You can be emotionally. 42 00:03:00,921 --> 00:03:04,641 Speaker 2: Safe and other people just say that they can handle 43 00:03:05,421 --> 00:03:09,921 Speaker 2: conflicts and disagreements and any brief friction because the core 44 00:03:09,961 --> 00:03:14,061 Speaker 2: attachment and the memories you've built up are so strong. Finally, 45 00:03:14,561 --> 00:03:19,261 Speaker 2: best friends show up when things are messy and inconvenient, painful, 46 00:03:19,300 --> 00:03:22,221 Speaker 2: and sometimes, as we'll see in our stories today, right 47 00:03:22,281 --> 00:03:25,971 Speaker 2: after this, they can change the world, even if it's 48 00:03:26,131 --> 00:03:28,131 Speaker 2: one small bit at a time. 49 00:03:28,351 --> 00:03:29,751 Speaker 3: We'll be right back with those stories. 50 00:03:37,831 --> 00:03:42,101 Speaker 2: Our first story today about best friends is from Heather Riggleman. 51 00:03:42,881 --> 00:03:46,561 Speaker 2: This is about best friends who were pregnant together then 52 00:03:46,941 --> 00:03:54,241 Speaker 2: became grandparents to the same sweet baby. This is honestly 53 00:03:54,561 --> 00:03:57,821 Speaker 2: every best friend's dream and feels a little like someone 54 00:03:57,901 --> 00:04:01,781 Speaker 2: borrowed a plot line from Gilmore Girls. Except this time, 55 00:04:02,501 --> 00:04:06,301 Speaker 2: God started writing the story at a church in Texas 56 00:04:06,301 --> 00:04:11,381 Speaker 2: 25 years ago. Leslie and Alexis met at church in 57 00:04:11,381 --> 00:04:14,291 Speaker 2: 2001 when they were both in their late 20s, early 30s, 58 00:04:16,010 --> 00:04:20,831 Speaker 2: They quickly became best friends. Soon, they discovered they were 59 00:04:20,871 --> 00:04:24,891 Speaker 2: pregnant at the same time, with Leslie expecting her daughter 60 00:04:24,951 --> 00:04:28,440 Speaker 2: Macy and Alexis expecting a son who would be born 61 00:04:28,541 --> 00:04:32,400 Speaker 2: just two days apart from her. They couldn't have known 62 00:04:32,461 --> 00:04:35,741 Speaker 2: that one day they would share something even sweeter than 63 00:04:35,801 --> 00:04:41,280 Speaker 2: pregnancy and friendship. When Macy was about a year old, 64 00:04:41,841 --> 00:04:46,410 Speaker 2: her family moved to Washington. while Alexis' family eventually moved 65 00:04:46,630 --> 00:04:52,061 Speaker 2: to California. Still, the women refused to let distance unravel 66 00:04:52,101 --> 00:04:55,681 Speaker 2: their friendship, traveling back and forth to visit over the years. 67 00:04:56,981 --> 00:05:01,821 Speaker 2: Macy knew about Alexis' older son, David, but she recalled 68 00:05:01,861 --> 00:05:06,421 Speaker 2: that she didn't really see him growing up. Then, Macy 69 00:05:06,461 --> 00:05:09,961 Speaker 2: and David ended up at the same college, and apparently 70 00:05:10,001 --> 00:05:13,871 Speaker 2: their mothers decided 20 years of friendship qualified them to 71 00:05:13,911 --> 00:05:18,621 Speaker 2: expand into matchmaking. The best part was that Macy already 72 00:05:18,661 --> 00:05:23,181 Speaker 2: had a crush on the cute family friend. So Leslie 73 00:05:23,281 --> 00:05:28,741 Speaker 2: and Alexis hatched a plan. Alexis convinced David to text Macy. 74 00:05:30,021 --> 00:05:32,841 Speaker 2: They went on a date, and by October 2020, the 75 00:05:32,880 --> 00:05:38,031 Speaker 2: mom's scheme was officially working. The couple became engaged in 76 00:05:38,091 --> 00:05:44,161 Speaker 2: May 2021 and married that December. When David told Alexis 77 00:05:44,181 --> 00:05:47,400 Speaker 2: they planned to marry, she actually made sure he wasn't 78 00:05:47,440 --> 00:05:51,571 Speaker 2: proposing simply because she had wanted them together. David laughed 79 00:05:51,630 --> 00:05:55,671 Speaker 2: and assured her mom, I love her. And Macy later joked, 80 00:05:56,711 --> 00:05:59,131 Speaker 2: I know that not only does my mother-in-law like me, 81 00:05:59,591 --> 00:06:05,561 Speaker 2: she picked me. Then came the sweetest chapter yet. Macy 82 00:06:05,681 --> 00:06:09,691 Speaker 2: and David discovered they were expecting in November 2025 and 83 00:06:09,751 --> 00:06:15,131 Speaker 2: surprised their parents with a tiny newborn onesie. Their daughter, Juliet, 84 00:06:15,431 --> 00:06:19,811 Speaker 2: arrived at the end of July, making Leslie and Alexis 85 00:06:19,851 --> 00:06:23,961 Speaker 2: not only best friends and in-laws, but grandmothers to the 86 00:06:24,021 --> 00:06:28,981 Speaker 2: same little girl. They were so happy for us, Macy said, 87 00:06:30,181 --> 00:06:32,801 Speaker 2: adding that both women kept talking about how excited they 88 00:06:32,841 --> 00:06:37,961 Speaker 2: were to share a grandbaby. 25 years ago, two pregnant 89 00:06:38,001 --> 00:06:42,491 Speaker 2: women met at church and became friends. Now they get 90 00:06:42,531 --> 00:06:46,431 Speaker 2: to sit side by side, probably arguing over whose turn 91 00:06:46,471 --> 00:06:50,051 Speaker 2: it is to hold Juliet, and watch their friendship live 92 00:06:50,271 --> 00:06:54,291 Speaker 2: on in a little girl they both get to call granddaughter. 93 00:06:56,241 --> 00:06:56,861 Speaker 3: I can't help but. 94 00:06:56,801 --> 00:07:01,880 Speaker 2: Be reminded of Proverbs 18, 24. One who has unreliable 95 00:07:01,921 --> 00:07:06,070 Speaker 2: friends soon comes to ruin, but There is a friend 96 00:07:06,831 --> 00:07:11,601 Speaker 2: who sticks closer than a brother. We'll be back with 97 00:07:11,641 --> 00:07:13,431 Speaker 2: our second story right after this. 98 00:07:22,241 --> 00:07:23,461 Speaker 3: All right, we are back. 99 00:07:23,561 --> 00:07:27,801 Speaker 2: I have refilled the coffee mug and we're ready for 100 00:07:27,881 --> 00:07:33,641 Speaker 2: our second story about best friends. These two saw a need. 101 00:07:34,511 --> 00:07:37,851 Speaker 2: and came up with a clever way to help fill 102 00:07:37,891 --> 00:07:42,081 Speaker 2: that need. This story is by Michaela Gordoni, and this 103 00:07:42,141 --> 00:07:45,541 Speaker 2: is about best friends who cruised Route 66 for a cause, 104 00:07:46,401 --> 00:07:51,981 Speaker 2: raising awareness about the need for blood donors. Two best 105 00:07:52,041 --> 00:07:56,111 Speaker 2: friends decided to share information about blood donation through a 106 00:07:56,171 --> 00:08:02,071 Speaker 2: very creative idea. They bought an old ambulance, plastered their 107 00:08:02,131 --> 00:08:05,721 Speaker 2: faces on it, and drove on Route 66 to raise 108 00:08:05,781 --> 00:08:08,731 Speaker 2: awareness of a nationwide blood shortage, and they had a 109 00:08:08,791 --> 00:08:14,271 Speaker 2: blast doing it. I want to drive Route 66 talking 110 00:08:14,331 --> 00:08:19,611 Speaker 2: about kindness through blood donation. And what friend is crazy 111 00:08:19,651 --> 00:08:21,641 Speaker 2: enough that would want to do it, said one of 112 00:08:21,671 --> 00:08:26,301 Speaker 2: the friends, Marie Forrestal. Her best friend, Lori Talbot, lost 113 00:08:26,341 --> 00:08:30,581 Speaker 2: her husband to cancer a few years ago. Blood donations 114 00:08:30,621 --> 00:08:34,131 Speaker 2: helped improve his care and quality of life. And her 115 00:08:34,171 --> 00:08:37,811 Speaker 2: daughter also needed transfusions when she was born. Marie is 116 00:08:37,851 --> 00:08:44,241 Speaker 2: a cancer survivor herself. They call their mission Miles of Kindness. 117 00:08:45,341 --> 00:08:50,481 Speaker 2: Marie says that only 2% of the nation's ambulances carry blood. 118 00:08:51,861 --> 00:08:53,401 Speaker 3: Up to 10,000 people. 119 00:08:53,181 --> 00:08:56,341 Speaker 2: Die every year because they don't get a transfusion soon enough. 120 00:08:57,421 --> 00:09:01,281 Speaker 2: She believes the number would be much, much lower if 121 00:09:01,341 --> 00:09:06,811 Speaker 2: more people donated. Because of the shortage, there aren't enough 122 00:09:06,911 --> 00:09:11,670 Speaker 2: young people or people of color donating. Their website notes 123 00:09:11,751 --> 00:09:14,971 Speaker 2: that over the last few years, donations from people under 124 00:09:14,971 --> 00:09:20,901 Speaker 2: 30 have decreased by 50%. Only 30 minutes of somebody's 125 00:09:20,941 --> 00:09:24,501 Speaker 2: time can save so many lives with one pint of blood. 126 00:09:25,561 --> 00:09:28,881 Speaker 2: It's definitely worth it to make time to go out there, 127 00:09:30,201 --> 00:09:34,591 Speaker 2: said one donor, Becky Ray. The two women hope to 128 00:09:34,651 --> 00:09:38,391 Speaker 2: create a movement that will have a significant impact in America. 129 00:09:39,381 --> 00:09:43,241 Speaker 2: Matt Payne Media has filmed them as they've traveled, hoping 130 00:09:43,261 --> 00:09:47,681 Speaker 2: to make a documentary about their cause. This project is 131 00:09:47,741 --> 00:09:51,571 Speaker 2: reminding people how powerful kindness can be, and showing the 132 00:09:51,671 --> 00:09:56,310 Speaker 2: real lives impacted every day by blood donors. It's personal 133 00:09:56,931 --> 00:10:02,091 Speaker 2: for Lori and me, said Marie. Saving lives is so important. 134 00:10:03,551 --> 00:10:08,411 Speaker 2: What these women are doing is very admirable. Hopefully, they 135 00:10:08,471 --> 00:10:12,771 Speaker 2: are able to get enough attention to have a serious impact. 136 00:10:14,731 --> 00:10:19,571 Speaker 2: I'm reminded of Ephesians 1, 4-8, for He chose us 137 00:10:19,651 --> 00:10:21,681 Speaker 2: in Him before the creation of the world to be 138 00:10:21,731 --> 00:10:26,281 Speaker 2: holy and blameless in His sight, in love. He predestined 139 00:10:26,341 --> 00:10:29,481 Speaker 2: us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ in accordance 140 00:10:29,521 --> 00:10:32,501 Speaker 2: with His pleasure and will. to the praise of his 141 00:10:32,541 --> 00:10:35,881 Speaker 2: glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the 142 00:10:35,981 --> 00:10:39,780 Speaker 2: one he loves. In him we have redemption through his blood, 143 00:10:40,771 --> 00:10:43,911 Speaker 2: the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of 144 00:10:44,211 --> 00:10:48,690 Speaker 2: God's grace that he lavished on us with all wisdom 145 00:10:48,731 --> 00:10:53,231 Speaker 2: and understanding. Blood does save in more ways than one, 146 00:10:53,271 --> 00:10:58,871 Speaker 2: we believers know. Let's help these two best friends and 147 00:10:58,931 --> 00:11:01,131 Speaker 2: get out there and do our part in the world 148 00:11:01,171 --> 00:11:05,831 Speaker 2: today and help create more stories for The Story Behind. 149 00:11:09,731 --> 00:11:13,151 Speaker 2: I'm Sean McAvoy. Thanks for listening to The Story Behind podcast. 150 00:11:14,351 --> 00:11:17,961 Speaker 2: I hope today's stories about best friends encouraged you, reminded 151 00:11:17,991 --> 00:11:20,021 Speaker 2: you of the ways God is still moving in the 152 00:11:20,081 --> 00:11:22,941 Speaker 2: world around us, and who knows, maybe even gave you 153 00:11:22,981 --> 00:11:24,461 Speaker 2: some ideas about how you and. 154 00:11:24,421 --> 00:11:27,001 Speaker 3: Your bestie can change. Do something special. 155 00:11:28,381 --> 00:11:30,201 Speaker 2: Visit the links in the show notes to find the 156 00:11:30,261 --> 00:11:34,361 Speaker 2: original articles, photos, videos, and any resources mentioned in today's 157 00:11:34,421 --> 00:11:38,661 Speaker 2: episode on the God Updates blog at GodTube.com. If you 158 00:11:38,701 --> 00:11:41,421 Speaker 2: enjoyed the story, be sure to follow Story Behind wherever 159 00:11:41,461 --> 00:11:44,371 Speaker 2: you listen to podcasts and share with someone who could 160 00:11:44,491 --> 00:11:47,310 Speaker 2: use a little encouragement. Maybe today you share it with 161 00:11:47,351 --> 00:11:51,111 Speaker 2: your best friend. Story Behind is a Life Audio production. 162 00:11:51,891 --> 00:11:53,431 Speaker 3: For more faith-based. 163 00:11:52,971 --> 00:11:58,141 Speaker 2: Podcasts, visit LifeAudio.com. Thanks for joining me today, and we'll 164 00:11:58,181 --> 00:12:00,971 Speaker 2: see you next time on Story Behind.