1 00:00:04,160 --> 00:00:09,000 Speaker 1: Hello, friends, Welcome to Story Behind podcast. This is the 2 00:00:09,039 --> 00:00:12,200 Speaker 1: show for people who love hearing a good story and 3 00:00:12,240 --> 00:00:15,720 Speaker 1: who believe the world could use more positivity. We're the 4 00:00:15,720 --> 00:00:18,919 Speaker 1: team behind god Updates in God To and we hope 5 00:00:18,960 --> 00:00:22,520 Speaker 1: these weekly short stories will brighten your day. 6 00:00:27,360 --> 00:00:29,800 Speaker 2: Six Times a total stranger became a Good Samaritan and 7 00:00:29,840 --> 00:00:33,280 Speaker 2: save someone's life Written by Jully Provost, read by July Provost. 8 00:00:34,159 --> 00:00:36,600 Speaker 2: In The Parable of the Good Samaritan, Jesus shares the 9 00:00:36,640 --> 00:00:38,640 Speaker 2: story of a Jewish traveler who is beaten and left 10 00:00:38,680 --> 00:00:40,840 Speaker 2: for dead along the side of the road. A Jewish 11 00:00:40,880 --> 00:00:43,519 Speaker 2: priest and a Levi walk by, ignoring him. Then a 12 00:00:43,560 --> 00:00:46,000 Speaker 2: Samaritan walks by and helps him, despite the fact that 13 00:00:46,040 --> 00:00:48,879 Speaker 2: Samaritans and Jewish people didn't tend to get along. The 14 00:00:48,880 --> 00:00:51,920 Speaker 2: parable has inspired the phrase good Samaritan to describe someone 15 00:00:51,960 --> 00:00:54,760 Speaker 2: who helps a stranger. Today's world, helping the stranger is 16 00:00:54,760 --> 00:00:57,000 Speaker 2: one of the most selfless things you can do, whether 17 00:00:57,040 --> 00:00:59,200 Speaker 2: it's putting your life at risk to save someone from 18 00:00:59,240 --> 00:01:02,279 Speaker 2: a burning building or simply returning a lost wallet. While 19 00:01:02,320 --> 00:01:04,840 Speaker 2: helping a friend is always important, there is something about 20 00:01:04,840 --> 00:01:07,680 Speaker 2: helping someone who is a stranger that brings tears to 21 00:01:07,760 --> 00:01:10,680 Speaker 2: our eyes, reminding us that in fact, there is still 22 00:01:10,720 --> 00:01:13,640 Speaker 2: good in the world. Here are six examples of when 23 00:01:13,840 --> 00:01:16,679 Speaker 2: a total stranger became a good Smeraton and helped save 24 00:01:16,760 --> 00:01:19,880 Speaker 2: someone else's life. Five boys and their father were saved 25 00:01:19,880 --> 00:01:23,119 Speaker 2: by a good Smeraton after an explosion. A father of five, 26 00:01:23,200 --> 00:01:25,280 Speaker 2: Tom Ritchie, and his boys decided to take a trip 27 00:01:25,319 --> 00:01:28,479 Speaker 2: to the storage unit. However, one hundred pound propane tank 28 00:01:28,640 --> 00:01:32,080 Speaker 2: was leaking gas Tom little lighter and it triggered an explosion. 29 00:01:32,440 --> 00:01:35,160 Speaker 2: The family was severely burned and needed help. This is 30 00:01:35,200 --> 00:01:37,759 Speaker 2: when a neighbor, Dallas Lee, saw the explosion and rushed 31 00:01:37,760 --> 00:01:40,240 Speaker 2: to the scene. He helped Tom get all the kids 32 00:01:40,280 --> 00:01:43,399 Speaker 2: out safely. Thirteen year old jumps into lake the save 33 00:01:43,520 --> 00:01:46,640 Speaker 2: child stuck under the dock one summer afternoon at Silver 34 00:01:46,720 --> 00:01:49,800 Speaker 2: Lake near Everett, Washington. Kids were playing on a dock 35 00:01:50,320 --> 00:01:53,040 Speaker 2: having a fun day in the water. Then an eleven 36 00:01:53,120 --> 00:01:56,120 Speaker 2: year old boy vanished underneath the water. That's when thirteen 37 00:01:56,200 --> 00:01:58,800 Speaker 2: year old Gage Brandt jumped into the lake and saved 38 00:01:58,840 --> 00:02:01,160 Speaker 2: the young boy. He was quite the hero even at 39 00:02:01,160 --> 00:02:04,560 Speaker 2: his young age. Young girl was saved by good Smaritan 40 00:02:04,640 --> 00:02:08,000 Speaker 2: after falling fifteen feet into a waterfall. Keia Livingston was 41 00:02:08,040 --> 00:02:11,040 Speaker 2: at the Tannered Creek Nature Trail in Arkansas with their 42 00:02:11,080 --> 00:02:13,400 Speaker 2: three year old daughter, Melody. Hop The water in the 43 00:02:13,480 --> 00:02:16,720 Speaker 2: river was higher than when they had visited before. Key 44 00:02:16,800 --> 00:02:18,919 Speaker 2: looked away just for a few seconds, and Melody fell 45 00:02:18,960 --> 00:02:21,280 Speaker 2: into the water and was swept away. A man who 46 00:02:21,280 --> 00:02:23,519 Speaker 2: spotted her along the river jumped in and pulled her out, 47 00:02:23,639 --> 00:02:26,760 Speaker 2: saving her life. Key and her family were forever grateful 48 00:02:26,800 --> 00:02:31,040 Speaker 2: for the stranger's actions. That day, three superherotines saved man 49 00:02:31,040 --> 00:02:34,680 Speaker 2: on railroad tracks after spotting him from their classroom. In 50 00:02:34,680 --> 00:02:38,720 Speaker 2: the small city of Ottawawah, Iowa. Three Gateway High School 51 00:02:39,120 --> 00:02:43,600 Speaker 2: seniors Clinton Rigg, Paul Clarney, and Davison Hartman were at 52 00:02:43,600 --> 00:02:45,920 Speaker 2: school one day when Paul saw a man in distress 53 00:02:45,960 --> 00:02:49,000 Speaker 2: through the window. Paul grabbed Clinton and Davison, and all 54 00:02:49,040 --> 00:02:51,640 Speaker 2: three ran outside to help the man. It was truly 55 00:02:51,680 --> 00:02:53,639 Speaker 2: a selfless act going out of the way to help 56 00:02:53,639 --> 00:02:57,720 Speaker 2: a stranger. When floodwaters rose, one teen's courage became a 57 00:02:57,760 --> 00:03:01,320 Speaker 2: lifeline for strangers. Eighteen year old Mammas Ersenel and his 58 00:03:01,400 --> 00:03:05,560 Speaker 2: girlfriend had finished watching a movie at Minster Park in Bocawton, Florida, 59 00:03:05,960 --> 00:03:08,480 Speaker 2: when the weather turned and the floodwaters began to rise. 60 00:03:08,919 --> 00:03:11,240 Speaker 2: More than eight inches of rain sell in a downpour. 61 00:03:11,760 --> 00:03:14,600 Speaker 2: Cars were strained and the water kept climbing. That's when 62 00:03:14,639 --> 00:03:16,600 Speaker 2: Thomas jumped in, went car to car and made sure 63 00:03:16,639 --> 00:03:19,760 Speaker 2: everyone was okay. One man was stuck, and Thomas and 64 00:03:19,800 --> 00:03:22,560 Speaker 2: a few others had to help get him out into safety. 65 00:03:23,000 --> 00:03:25,480 Speaker 2: Thomas was there when it mattered, helping fathers get to 66 00:03:25,520 --> 00:03:27,120 Speaker 2: where they needed to go and out of harm's way. 67 00:03:28,160 --> 00:03:31,400 Speaker 2: Good Samaritan saves pregnant woman from sinking car. She then 68 00:03:31,480 --> 00:03:34,040 Speaker 2: had baby on her birthday. A man in Florida spotted 69 00:03:34,040 --> 00:03:36,640 Speaker 2: a car that was sinking into a pond. His instincts 70 00:03:36,680 --> 00:03:38,600 Speaker 2: took over and he went to save the woman inside. 71 00:03:38,840 --> 00:03:41,000 Speaker 2: The man Logan ran to the water, swam to the car, 72 00:03:41,080 --> 00:03:43,040 Speaker 2: opened the door, and helped the pregnant woman to safety. 73 00:03:43,520 --> 00:03:45,520 Speaker 2: Not only did Logan save the woman, but he also 74 00:03:45,560 --> 00:03:48,760 Speaker 2: saved the baby, who was born soon after. These stories 75 00:03:48,760 --> 00:03:50,760 Speaker 2: remind us that when others are in need, we can 76 00:03:50,800 --> 00:03:53,800 Speaker 2: step in and help them. However, we can love the 77 00:03:53,800 --> 00:03:55,280 Speaker 2: Lord your God with all your heart and with all 78 00:03:55,320 --> 00:03:57,200 Speaker 2: your soul, and with all your strength, with all your mind, 79 00:03:57,400 --> 00:04:16,280 Speaker 2: and love your neighbor as yourself. Seven twins have daughters 80 00:04:16,320 --> 00:04:18,520 Speaker 2: on the very same day. The greatest thing we could 81 00:04:18,520 --> 00:04:21,880 Speaker 2: have been given? Written by the Riggleman, read by Juley Provost. 82 00:04:22,760 --> 00:04:24,960 Speaker 2: Twins have daughters on the very same day, The greatest 83 00:04:24,960 --> 00:04:27,359 Speaker 2: thing we could have been given. Some bonds begin before 84 00:04:27,400 --> 00:04:31,760 Speaker 2: words ever exist. Anna Ashbaugh Jones and Alice and Ashbaugh 85 00:04:31,839 --> 00:04:35,800 Speaker 2: Wilson have shared a lifetime side by side, twin sisters 86 00:04:35,880 --> 00:04:38,720 Speaker 2: raised in the same North Carolina town, walking through childhood 87 00:04:38,760 --> 00:04:41,800 Speaker 2: milestones and dreams together. When they discovered that they were 88 00:04:41,839 --> 00:04:44,440 Speaker 2: pregnant just three days apart, it felt like another chapter 89 00:04:44,480 --> 00:04:47,279 Speaker 2: written in the same handwriting their lives have always known, 90 00:04:47,800 --> 00:04:49,640 Speaker 2: but nothing could have prepared them for the way their 91 00:04:49,720 --> 00:04:52,440 Speaker 2: daughters would enter the world on the same day, only 92 00:04:52,520 --> 00:04:56,360 Speaker 2: hours apart. Alis's journey began first, though her due date 93 00:04:56,440 --> 00:04:59,640 Speaker 2: came later. Her water broke around three am, setting into 94 00:04:59,640 --> 00:05:02,960 Speaker 2: motion a wirl one of anticipation and emotion. After hours 95 00:05:02,960 --> 00:05:04,960 Speaker 2: of waiting and praying, she welcomed her baby girl into 96 00:05:04,960 --> 00:05:08,200 Speaker 2: her arms at three thirty eight am, quiet miracle, wrapped 97 00:05:08,200 --> 00:05:11,360 Speaker 2: in tiny breaths and sleepy cries. Later that very night, 98 00:05:11,400 --> 00:05:14,160 Speaker 2: as if the story refused to be separated, Anna gave 99 00:05:14,200 --> 00:05:17,320 Speaker 2: birth at ten fifty eight pm, holdering her own daughter close. 100 00:05:17,839 --> 00:05:20,800 Speaker 2: Two sisters becoming mothers on the very same day. It's 101 00:05:20,839 --> 00:05:24,640 Speaker 2: a kind of moment that feels almost too precious to describe, rare, sacred, 102 00:05:25,120 --> 00:05:27,440 Speaker 2: the sort of story that leaves you blinking back tears 103 00:05:27,440 --> 00:05:29,600 Speaker 2: because you know how unlikely it is for life to 104 00:05:29,640 --> 00:05:32,400 Speaker 2: align so beautifully to kind of dream all sisters and 105 00:05:32,440 --> 00:05:34,720 Speaker 2: best friends dream of, And it's the kind of movement 106 00:05:34,960 --> 00:05:37,200 Speaker 2: movies are made of. They're going to have a built 107 00:05:37,240 --> 00:05:40,279 Speaker 2: in best friend, Anna shared, imagining the little girls growing 108 00:05:40,360 --> 00:05:43,039 Speaker 2: up together, just as she and Allison always have. The 109 00:05:43,080 --> 00:05:45,760 Speaker 2: sisters live only minutes apart, work at the same hospital, 110 00:05:45,760 --> 00:05:48,240 Speaker 2: and now hold babies who will show birthdays, milestones, and 111 00:05:48,320 --> 00:05:50,880 Speaker 2: gentle rhythm of growing up side by side. You can 112 00:05:50,920 --> 00:05:54,119 Speaker 2: almost picture it already, matching birthday candles, tiny hands reaching 113 00:05:54,120 --> 00:05:58,320 Speaker 2: for each other, laughing, echoing throughout family gatherings. Two little 114 00:05:58,320 --> 00:06:01,400 Speaker 2: girls stepping into a French ship that began long before 115 00:06:01,440 --> 00:06:04,159 Speaker 2: they were born, carried forward by the deep love between 116 00:06:04,200 --> 00:06:07,039 Speaker 2: their mothers. Moments like this are rare in a world 117 00:06:07,040 --> 00:06:09,440 Speaker 2: that often feels hurried and heavy. This story feels like 118 00:06:09,480 --> 00:06:12,960 Speaker 2: a soft reminder that God still writes beautiful things. Stories 119 00:06:12,960 --> 00:06:16,960 Speaker 2: where sisterhood stretches across generations, and love multiplies in ways 120 00:06:16,960 --> 00:06:20,520 Speaker 2: you never expect. Because sometimes the sweetest miracles didn't just 121 00:06:20,560 --> 00:06:24,920 Speaker 2: happen once. Sometimes they happen twice, only hours apart. She's 122 00:06:25,000 --> 00:06:27,720 Speaker 2: clothed with strength and dignity. She can laugh at the 123 00:06:27,800 --> 00:06:30,640 Speaker 2: days to come. Proverbs thirty one to twenty five. 124 00:06:38,720 --> 00:06:41,880 Speaker 1: Thank you so much for listening to Story Behind podcast. 125 00:06:42,400 --> 00:06:44,719 Speaker 1: We're really glad you joined us for this week's story. 126 00:06:45,480 --> 00:06:47,920 Speaker 1: To see photos and videos that may have been referenced 127 00:06:47,920 --> 00:06:50,800 Speaker 1: in this episode, check out the links and the show notes, 128 00:06:51,320 --> 00:06:54,240 Speaker 1: and if you enjoyed what you heard today, subscribe to 129 00:06:54,279 --> 00:06:57,840 Speaker 1: our podcast and please tell a friend about us. We'd 130 00:06:57,839 --> 00:06:59,800 Speaker 1: also love it if you'd rate us and leave us 131 00:06:59,800 --> 00:07:02,840 Speaker 1: a law. It really does help more people find us. 132 00:07:03,440 --> 00:07:06,120 Speaker 1: Story Behind is a Salem Web Network production.