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 00:01:11,571 --> 00:01:14,170 Speaker 1: the link in the show notes and join our community today. 12 00:01:14,471 --> 00:01:19,471 Speaker 1: We'd love to have you. Life Audio. 13 00:01:21,661 --> 00:01:27,240 Speaker 2: Welcome back, friends, loyal listeners, and welcome any newcomers to 14 00:01:27,881 --> 00:01:32,581 Speaker 2: this episode of Story Behind Podcast brought to you from 15 00:01:33,301 --> 00:01:39,881 Speaker 2: GodTube.com where you can watch without worry and LifeAudio.com. At 16 00:01:39,920 --> 00:01:44,161 Speaker 2: Story Behind, we bring you inspiring stories and positive headlines 17 00:01:44,200 --> 00:01:47,200 Speaker 2: that might be tucked behind some of the other things 18 00:01:47,321 --> 00:01:49,311 Speaker 2: in your newsfeed just a little bit. The kind of 19 00:01:49,351 --> 00:01:51,231 Speaker 2: things that used to run at the end of your 20 00:01:51,251 --> 00:01:54,191 Speaker 2: local news that just leave you feeling good and remind 21 00:01:54,251 --> 00:01:58,011 Speaker 2: you of what's still going on in the world. My 22 00:01:58,071 --> 00:02:01,071 Speaker 2: name is Sean McAvoy and the theme I've picked out 23 00:02:01,111 --> 00:02:03,741 Speaker 2: for you this week is Now, don't worry, I'm not 24 00:02:03,781 --> 00:02:08,321 Speaker 2: going to sing the Peaches and Herb 70s hit reunited 25 00:02:08,401 --> 00:02:12,651 Speaker 2: for you, but these stories do feel so good. And 26 00:02:12,891 --> 00:02:15,451 Speaker 2: I will be back with you in just a second 27 00:02:15,550 --> 00:02:18,451 Speaker 2: after these messages to tell you a couple of cool 28 00:02:18,490 --> 00:02:23,380 Speaker 2: stories about folks or maybe even animals who were reunited. 29 00:02:23,541 --> 00:02:35,231 Speaker 2: And it does feel so good right after this. All right, 30 00:02:35,310 --> 00:02:38,331 Speaker 2: let's get into it. Our first story comes to us 31 00:02:38,391 --> 00:02:43,131 Speaker 2: from Heather Riggleman today, and this is titled Nearly Three 32 00:02:43,211 --> 00:02:47,841 Speaker 2: Years After Their Dog Disappeared. One scan leads to the 33 00:02:47,881 --> 00:02:53,241 Speaker 2: reunion they never expected. For so many years, a family 34 00:02:53,281 --> 00:02:58,141 Speaker 2: in San Diego, California, lived with an unanswered question. Where 35 00:02:58,511 --> 00:03:05,270 Speaker 2: was Colby? Their little Maltipoo disappeared in September of 2023. 36 00:03:05,681 --> 00:03:09,020 Speaker 2: His family reported him missing to the company that registered 37 00:03:09,461 --> 00:03:14,701 Speaker 2: his microchip. Then came the waiting. Somewhere out there was 38 00:03:14,761 --> 00:03:17,001 Speaker 2: a dog they loved, but they had no way of 39 00:03:17,041 --> 00:03:22,821 Speaker 2: knowing whether he was safe or would ever come home. Eventually, 40 00:03:22,861 --> 00:03:26,761 Speaker 2: they gave up hope of finding Colby, but they never 41 00:03:26,811 --> 00:03:32,050 Speaker 2: stopped missing him. We missed him so much every day 42 00:03:32,071 --> 00:03:40,041 Speaker 2: I was thinking about him, Cindy said. Then, on September 8, 2026, 43 00:03:40,041 --> 00:03:43,361 Speaker 2: an ordinary act of care opened the door to an 44 00:03:43,481 --> 00:03:49,921 Speaker 2: extraordinary homecoming. Humane officers with the San Diego Humane Society 45 00:03:50,841 --> 00:03:55,141 Speaker 2: responded to a report of an abandoned dog at a 46 00:03:55,181 --> 00:04:01,001 Speaker 2: Jewish family surface safe sleeping site. They brought the six-year-old 47 00:04:01,041 --> 00:04:04,021 Speaker 2: pup in for care and scanned him for a microchip. 48 00:04:05,381 --> 00:04:10,161 Speaker 2: Within moments, the little dog had a name, Colby. And 49 00:04:10,261 --> 00:04:16,041 Speaker 2: somewhere nearby, he still had family. Officers confirmed the contact 50 00:04:16,091 --> 00:04:21,050 Speaker 2: information and called his owner, Cindy. It was a late-night call, 51 00:04:21,091 --> 00:04:23,830 Speaker 2: but when she received the news, she had waited nearly 52 00:04:24,611 --> 00:04:29,991 Speaker 2: three years to hear it. Colby had been found. Cindy 53 00:04:30,051 --> 00:04:33,471 Speaker 2: immediately woke her children. This was news that couldn't wait 54 00:04:33,510 --> 00:04:37,591 Speaker 2: until morning. the dog they thought they might never see again, 55 00:04:38,270 --> 00:04:42,871 Speaker 2: was finally coming home. Cindy spent that night and the 56 00:04:42,911 --> 00:04:49,831 Speaker 2: following morning gathering supplies to welcome Colby back. Meanwhile, gentle 57 00:04:49,871 --> 00:04:54,590 Speaker 2: hands helped Colby get ready. He arrived with fleas, matted fur, 58 00:04:55,151 --> 00:04:59,531 Speaker 2: and a possible skin infection. Staff bathed and groomed him, 59 00:04:59,711 --> 00:05:04,811 Speaker 2: administered vaccines, and performed a wellness check. On September 9th, 60 00:05:05,471 --> 00:05:09,991 Speaker 2: Cindy and her young son Gregory reunited with their beloved dog. 61 00:05:11,271 --> 00:05:14,491 Speaker 2: Following a neutering procedure requested by the family, Colby went 62 00:05:14,531 --> 00:05:20,421 Speaker 2: home the next afternoon. There are still unanswered questions about 63 00:05:20,481 --> 00:05:25,200 Speaker 2: Colby's years away. But for a family that had almost 64 00:05:25,241 --> 00:05:30,161 Speaker 2: stopped believing this day would come, his return feels like 65 00:05:30,341 --> 00:05:36,210 Speaker 2: a little miracle. A microchip kept their connection alive. and 66 00:05:36,271 --> 00:05:42,021 Speaker 2: caring people followed at home. Sometimes a moment of unexpected 67 00:05:42,081 --> 00:05:48,200 Speaker 2: grace comes through something woefully ordinary, a routine scan, a 68 00:05:48,281 --> 00:05:52,361 Speaker 2: ringing phone, and the chance to hold someone you thought 69 00:05:52,421 --> 00:06:00,021 Speaker 2: you had lost. I'm reminded of Psalm 126, verse 1. 70 00:06:00,021 --> 00:06:04,751 Speaker 2: When Yahweh brought back those who returned to Zion, We 71 00:06:04,791 --> 00:06:09,141 Speaker 2: were like those who dream. And what a dream come 72 00:06:09,201 --> 00:06:14,601 Speaker 2: true for Colby's family. Three years later, imagine if that 73 00:06:14,661 --> 00:06:19,341 Speaker 2: dog could talk the adventures and stories he would tell. 74 00:06:19,421 --> 00:06:22,931 Speaker 2: But now he is safe back home, just like so 75 00:06:22,971 --> 00:06:27,570 Speaker 2: many of us who left and were returned to the 76 00:06:27,611 --> 00:06:32,051 Speaker 2: kingdom or restored to rightness with our family. I'll leave 77 00:06:32,071 --> 00:06:34,431 Speaker 2: you with those thoughts and I'll be back just a 78 00:06:34,451 --> 00:06:46,320 Speaker 2: minute with our second story. Reunions can be so special. 79 00:06:46,781 --> 00:06:50,361 Speaker 2: Welcome back to our second story on Story Behind. I'm 80 00:06:50,440 --> 00:06:54,181 Speaker 2: Sean McAvoy, your host and the executive director of content 81 00:06:54,661 --> 00:06:59,201 Speaker 2: here at Salem Web Network. Yeah, many of us do 82 00:06:59,261 --> 00:07:04,361 Speaker 2: hold family reunions once a year, maybe even, and that 83 00:07:04,461 --> 00:07:07,741 Speaker 2: can be special enough and sometimes a little bit full 84 00:07:07,791 --> 00:07:11,311 Speaker 2: of stress, if we're being honest. But what about those 85 00:07:11,371 --> 00:07:15,231 Speaker 2: occasions where you're reunited after a long time or you 86 00:07:15,371 --> 00:07:20,051 Speaker 2: unexpectedly run across a special family member or long lost 87 00:07:20,111 --> 00:07:22,501 Speaker 2: friend in a place you didn't expect to see them? 88 00:07:23,411 --> 00:07:26,211 Speaker 2: Those types of things are worth thinking about and how 89 00:07:26,291 --> 00:07:31,291 Speaker 2: God orchestrates our paths and how sometimes those paths cross. 90 00:07:32,811 --> 00:07:37,031 Speaker 2: In this story by Michaela Gordonei, those paths crossed in 91 00:07:37,051 --> 00:07:42,311 Speaker 2: a hospital with tragedy and with hope. But eight years 92 00:07:42,541 --> 00:07:47,701 Speaker 2: after a special delivery, a nurse and a child share 93 00:07:47,741 --> 00:07:55,221 Speaker 2: this beautiful reunion. Eight years ago, At a hospital in Lafayette, Louisiana, 94 00:07:55,601 --> 00:08:01,081 Speaker 2: an elderly man passed away. At that very moment, a 95 00:08:01,141 --> 00:08:06,951 Speaker 2: lullaby played, signaling the birth of a baby. This heartwarming 96 00:08:07,121 --> 00:08:09,371 Speaker 2: nurse story will give you the best feeling as you 97 00:08:09,391 --> 00:08:13,471 Speaker 2: learn about a special connection that a death and a 98 00:08:13,491 --> 00:08:19,951 Speaker 2: birth created between two families. When Jamie Fontenot, the daughter 99 00:08:20,011 --> 00:08:23,961 Speaker 2: of the veteran who passed away, heard the lullaby, She 100 00:08:24,021 --> 00:08:27,861 Speaker 2: believed that the baby must be her father's angel. So 101 00:08:27,981 --> 00:08:32,300 Speaker 2: she wrote him a letter. To my dad's angel, it read, 102 00:08:33,521 --> 00:08:36,781 Speaker 2: even though I will never know your name. You were 103 00:08:36,800 --> 00:08:41,151 Speaker 2: the first child born here after my dad's passing. When 104 00:08:41,491 --> 00:08:45,051 Speaker 2: one life is taken, another is given. So you are 105 00:08:45,091 --> 00:08:49,430 Speaker 2: the angel that I will relate with my dad. She 106 00:08:49,511 --> 00:08:51,491 Speaker 2: asked a nurse on duty to give the letter to 107 00:08:51,530 --> 00:08:56,810 Speaker 2: the mom who delivered the baby. CBS News host David 108 00:08:56,871 --> 00:09:00,371 Speaker 2: Beno's mom, Sydney Beno, was the labor and delivery nurse 109 00:09:01,111 --> 00:09:06,591 Speaker 2: who helped deliver the baby. Jamie's dad was James. The 110 00:09:06,631 --> 00:09:10,391 Speaker 2: new baby's mom, Connie Hall, and her husband named their 111 00:09:10,431 --> 00:09:15,301 Speaker 2: baby Kingston, but they hadn't picked a middle name. When 112 00:09:15,321 --> 00:09:18,441 Speaker 2: they got the letter, they decided to make his middle 113 00:09:18,481 --> 00:09:24,201 Speaker 2: name James. Quote, of course. When Sydney told David about 114 00:09:24,241 --> 00:09:28,251 Speaker 2: what happened, He coordinated the story and set up the 115 00:09:28,271 --> 00:09:33,241 Speaker 2: meeting between the families, and they've been close ever since. Now, 116 00:09:33,381 --> 00:09:37,961 Speaker 2: Kingston got to meet Sidney as an eight-year-old, and he, 117 00:09:38,041 --> 00:09:41,441 Speaker 2: his mom, Sidney, and Jamie got to attend Mass together. 118 00:09:43,081 --> 00:09:47,111 Speaker 2: Miss Jamie thinks of Kingston like another of her grandchildren. 119 00:09:48,351 --> 00:09:52,351 Speaker 2: When Kingston was asked what he thinks of her, he said, Awesome. 120 00:09:54,151 --> 00:09:57,701 Speaker 2: It's such a beautiful story. They could have ended just 121 00:09:57,721 --> 00:10:00,910 Speaker 2: with that letter. But thank God that these people have 122 00:10:00,991 --> 00:10:07,041 Speaker 2: this wonderful relationship because someone took the time to write it. 123 00:10:07,051 --> 00:10:15,241 Speaker 2: I'm reminded of Deuteronomy 30, verse 19. This day I 124 00:10:15,301 --> 00:10:17,641 Speaker 2: call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you 125 00:10:17,681 --> 00:10:20,901 Speaker 2: that I have set before you life and death, blessings 126 00:10:20,961 --> 00:10:25,561 Speaker 2: and curses. Now choose life. so that you and your 127 00:10:25,601 --> 00:10:34,441 Speaker 2: children may live. Thanks for listening to the Story Behind podcast. 128 00:10:35,721 --> 00:10:40,011 Speaker 2: I hope today's reunion stories encourage you, gave you hope, 129 00:10:40,091 --> 00:10:43,851 Speaker 2: and maybe even lit a little small fire in your 130 00:10:44,101 --> 00:10:47,920 Speaker 2: mind to setting up your own reunion with someone special 131 00:10:47,971 --> 00:10:50,901 Speaker 2: or someone who's been absent from your life for just 132 00:10:50,941 --> 00:10:53,981 Speaker 2: a little bit too long. God is still moving in 133 00:10:54,021 --> 00:10:57,601 Speaker 2: the world around us. You can visit the links in 134 00:10:57,621 --> 00:11:01,021 Speaker 2: the show notes to find the original articles, photos, videos, 135 00:11:01,851 --> 00:11:04,711 Speaker 2: And any resources mentioned in today's episode on the God 136 00:11:04,831 --> 00:11:09,591 Speaker 2: Updates blog at GodTube.com. If you enjoyed this story, be 137 00:11:09,611 --> 00:11:12,430 Speaker 2: sure to follow Story Behind wherever you listen to podcasts 138 00:11:13,191 --> 00:11:15,971 Speaker 2: and share with someone who could use a little encouragement. 139 00:11:16,931 --> 00:11:21,131 Speaker 2: Story Behind is a Life Audio production. For more faith-based podcasts, 140 00:11:21,171 --> 00:11:26,371 Speaker 2: visit LifeAudio.com. I'm Sean McAvoy. Thanks again for joining me. 141 00:11:27,171 --> 00:11:30,451 Speaker 2: And we'll see you next time on Story Behind.