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 --> 00:01:11,560 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 --> 00:01:20,001 Speaker 1: We'd love to have you. Life Audio. 13 00:01:22,080 --> 00:01:28,031 Speaker 2: Good day. Welcome to another episode of Story Behind Podcast. 14 00:01:28,631 --> 00:01:33,530 Speaker 2: Encouraging stories from GodTube.com, where you can watch without worrying. 15 00:01:33,991 --> 00:01:38,911 Speaker 2: and lifeaudio.com. I am Sean McAvoy, your host for Story 16 00:01:38,971 --> 00:01:41,721 Speaker 2: Behind Podcast, where we try and give you some of 17 00:01:41,771 --> 00:01:44,461 Speaker 2: the stories that you may be missing behind your newsfeed, 18 00:01:44,961 --> 00:01:48,421 Speaker 2: some positive and encouraging thoughts to take your way to 19 00:01:48,501 --> 00:01:51,641 Speaker 2: share with others to remind you that it's not all 20 00:01:51,681 --> 00:01:56,871 Speaker 2: bad out there. It never was. It was always a sinful, 21 00:01:56,911 --> 00:02:01,971 Speaker 2: broken place, and there have always been elements of, as 22 00:02:02,031 --> 00:02:08,490 Speaker 2: Tolkien put it, Numenor, nobility, the goodness, the light of 23 00:02:08,611 --> 00:02:10,831 Speaker 2: men that God created within us. It's one of the 24 00:02:10,870 --> 00:02:15,270 Speaker 2: special things about being in tune to goodness and looking 25 00:02:15,331 --> 00:02:17,471 Speaker 2: around and seeing in the middle of it all, and 26 00:02:17,550 --> 00:02:21,291 Speaker 2: even if you believe that we're all at nature sinful, 27 00:02:21,370 --> 00:02:23,990 Speaker 2: where does the good, where does the beauty, where does 28 00:02:24,031 --> 00:02:27,731 Speaker 2: the love come from? Still breaking through all of it. 29 00:02:27,921 --> 00:02:31,361 Speaker 2: It's a really encouraging thought to me. I'm excited today 30 00:02:31,401 --> 00:02:34,550 Speaker 2: because in our most recent episode, which you'll want to 31 00:02:34,671 --> 00:02:36,570 Speaker 2: go back and check out. If you missed, I told 32 00:02:36,591 --> 00:02:39,601 Speaker 2: you a couple of stories about really young men, four 33 00:02:39,620 --> 00:02:41,681 Speaker 2: and five year olds who were making a difference in 34 00:02:41,721 --> 00:02:45,461 Speaker 2: their neighborhood. And this week I've picked out a couple 35 00:02:45,481 --> 00:02:48,461 Speaker 2: of stories where we're all getting a little bit older together, 36 00:02:48,561 --> 00:02:51,701 Speaker 2: where we've moved on to teens. Yes, that is right. 37 00:02:51,881 --> 00:02:55,471 Speaker 2: Not all teens are rotten or only looking at their 38 00:02:55,511 --> 00:02:59,381 Speaker 2: phone or looking out for themselves. These are some special folks, 39 00:02:59,681 --> 00:03:02,001 Speaker 2: and I've got a couple of great stories lined up 40 00:03:02,061 --> 00:03:12,881 Speaker 2: for you right after this. Our first story today is 41 00:03:13,901 --> 00:03:18,870 Speaker 2: brought to us by Heather Riggleman. And this is really cool. 42 00:03:19,071 --> 00:03:21,171 Speaker 2: And you're going to want to see the picture that 43 00:03:21,431 --> 00:03:23,911 Speaker 2: goes along with the article so you can find the 44 00:03:23,951 --> 00:03:26,550 Speaker 2: link in our show notes. But this is about a 13-year-old. 45 00:03:27,651 --> 00:03:30,770 Speaker 2: who used his summer project to turn it into a 46 00:03:30,931 --> 00:03:37,261 Speaker 2: life-changing gift for a toddler. A 13-year-old's summer project became 47 00:03:37,301 --> 00:03:41,621 Speaker 2: a life-changing gift for a toddler. While plenty of kids 48 00:03:42,421 --> 00:03:46,821 Speaker 2: spend their summer counting the days until school starts again, 49 00:03:46,841 --> 00:03:52,651 Speaker 2: 13-year-old Zach Waters spent roughly 300 hours building something that 50 00:03:52,691 --> 00:03:57,381 Speaker 2: would give a little girl more freedom. The Lehigh, Utah 51 00:03:57,441 --> 00:04:02,311 Speaker 2: teen loves 3D printing. He also loves helping people, and 52 00:04:02,331 --> 00:04:04,371 Speaker 2: he found a precious way to put the two together. 53 00:04:05,751 --> 00:04:09,051 Speaker 2: It combines my two favorite things in life, 3D printing 54 00:04:09,311 --> 00:04:12,771 Speaker 2: and helping people in need, Zach said. It just makes sense. 55 00:04:13,551 --> 00:04:19,461 Speaker 2: And somehow, it does. After discovering 3D printing through YouTube, 56 00:04:19,681 --> 00:04:24,971 Speaker 2: Zach connected with MakeGood.com. a nonprofit that provides free designs 57 00:04:25,041 --> 00:04:29,111 Speaker 2: for volunteers to create assistive devices for people with disabilities. 58 00:04:30,171 --> 00:04:34,831 Speaker 2: His summer project became a custom pediatric wheelchair for a 59 00:04:34,890 --> 00:04:42,320 Speaker 2: toddler whose family needed one. For hundreds of hours, Zach designed, printed, tested, 60 00:04:42,981 --> 00:04:46,761 Speaker 2: and assembled the chair. He thought about the details a 61 00:04:46,801 --> 00:04:50,471 Speaker 2: growing little girl would need. The footrest and the headrest 62 00:04:50,571 --> 00:04:54,141 Speaker 2: adjust as she grows. There is room for medical equipment, 63 00:04:54,581 --> 00:04:58,921 Speaker 2: along with a detachable tray and cup holder. And because 64 00:04:58,961 --> 00:05:03,061 Speaker 2: she loves pink. Zach made sure her chair had pink accents. 65 00:05:04,161 --> 00:05:09,791 Speaker 2: That detail gets me. Because somewhere between the measurements, plastic pieces, 66 00:05:10,731 --> 00:05:15,210 Speaker 2: an hour spent waiting on a 3D printer. This stopped 67 00:05:15,251 --> 00:05:19,521 Speaker 2: being a project. Zach was simply thinking about a little 68 00:05:19,561 --> 00:05:22,611 Speaker 2: girl he hadn't met yet. and what might make her smile. 69 00:05:24,190 --> 00:05:25,771 Speaker 2: And you can see how much he cares just by 70 00:05:25,791 --> 00:05:28,971 Speaker 2: the way he talks about it. It makes me so 71 00:05:29,011 --> 00:05:31,751 Speaker 2: happy to print it and see the smiles and how 72 00:05:31,791 --> 00:05:34,781 Speaker 2: happy the family is that really need the wheelchair, he said. 73 00:05:36,401 --> 00:05:41,121 Speaker 2: There are grown adults who spend years wondering whether they 74 00:05:41,161 --> 00:05:44,701 Speaker 2: have enough money, influence, or experience to make a difference. 75 00:05:44,981 --> 00:05:48,911 Speaker 2: But Zach is 13. And he simply saw something he 76 00:05:48,951 --> 00:05:51,871 Speaker 2: knew how to do and someone who needed it done. 77 00:05:53,391 --> 00:05:58,031 Speaker 2: His grandmother, Charlotte Waters, put it beautifully. His age does 78 00:05:58,071 --> 00:06:01,771 Speaker 2: not define his ability to make a difference. His character does, 79 00:06:02,811 --> 00:06:09,390 Speaker 2: she said. That's the part worth carrying with us. Like 80 00:06:09,431 --> 00:06:14,051 Speaker 2: it says in Proverbs 3.27, Do not withhold good from 81 00:06:14,111 --> 00:06:16,681 Speaker 2: those to whom it is due when it is in 82 00:06:17,421 --> 00:06:21,511 Speaker 2: your power to act. I love this story and I 83 00:06:21,751 --> 00:06:25,401 Speaker 2: love the picture of the wheelchair Zach created. So I 84 00:06:25,440 --> 00:06:29,421 Speaker 2: highly recommend you check out that link while I go 85 00:06:29,861 --> 00:06:32,921 Speaker 2: and get another cup of coffee and introduce you to 86 00:06:32,981 --> 00:06:38,781 Speaker 2: another inspiring story about teens making a difference. Be right back. 87 00:06:47,281 --> 00:06:50,801 Speaker 2: All right. Welcome back. Our, Second story today, also by 88 00:06:51,021 --> 00:06:54,981 Speaker 2: Heather Riggleman, has a special place in my heart because 89 00:06:55,421 --> 00:06:58,881 Speaker 2: as a freshman myself in high school, it was a 90 00:06:58,880 --> 00:07:03,340 Speaker 2: little bit awkward for me. Coming out of eighth grade, 91 00:07:03,401 --> 00:07:06,031 Speaker 2: my three best friends I'd hung around with, one moved 92 00:07:06,061 --> 00:07:09,011 Speaker 2: to Egypt, one moved to Ohio, and one went to 93 00:07:09,130 --> 00:07:12,371 Speaker 2: a private Catholic high school. So I was suddenly left 94 00:07:13,891 --> 00:07:17,271 Speaker 2: mostly alone. Especially at lunch hour, I kind of would 95 00:07:17,311 --> 00:07:21,611 Speaker 2: wander about by myself in those days until I found 96 00:07:21,651 --> 00:07:25,701 Speaker 2: some new friends. So to hear this story about a 97 00:07:25,721 --> 00:07:28,201 Speaker 2: freshman who was sitting alone at lunch who found friends 98 00:07:28,261 --> 00:07:33,081 Speaker 2: who would promise we've got his back was special to hear. 99 00:07:35,221 --> 00:07:37,861 Speaker 2: A freshman sitting alone at lunch finds friends who promise 100 00:07:37,881 --> 00:07:41,361 Speaker 2: we've got his back. As you know, the first day 101 00:07:41,381 --> 00:07:43,641 Speaker 2: of school for any kid is nerve wracking, but high 102 00:07:43,681 --> 00:07:48,261 Speaker 2: school is It's a whole new ballgame. 14-year-old Caleb Wren 103 00:07:48,561 --> 00:07:52,081 Speaker 2: walked into Reidsville Senior High School in Reidsville, North Carolina, 104 00:07:53,401 --> 00:07:57,161 Speaker 2: expecting that being the new kid might be hard. What 105 00:07:57,181 --> 00:07:59,761 Speaker 2: he didn't expect was how quickly a group of older 106 00:07:59,841 --> 00:08:03,081 Speaker 2: students would notice him and make sure he never felt 107 00:08:03,141 --> 00:08:07,481 Speaker 2: invisible again. On his first day of high school, Caleb 108 00:08:07,541 --> 00:08:13,561 Speaker 2: ate lunch alone. He was also teased about his height. Sadly, 109 00:08:13,601 --> 00:08:16,121 Speaker 2: that part didn't surprise him. I was used to getting 110 00:08:16,181 --> 00:08:20,331 Speaker 2: picked on for my height, Caleb said. When he got home, 111 00:08:20,471 --> 00:08:24,791 Speaker 2: Caleb told his sister, Leah Edwards, what happened. She shared 112 00:08:24,831 --> 00:08:29,031 Speaker 2: his experience on social media, where students from Reidsville saw it. 113 00:08:30,291 --> 00:08:34,131 Speaker 2: And instead of scrolling past, her friends put feelings, thoughts, 114 00:08:34,191 --> 00:08:39,850 Speaker 2: and kindness into action, and they showed up. Senior DeMontes 115 00:08:39,911 --> 00:08:43,851 Speaker 2: Canada and other upperclassmen, including members of the football and 116 00:08:43,911 --> 00:08:49,851 Speaker 2: basketball teams, decided to surprise Caleb at lunch. We decided 117 00:08:49,891 --> 00:08:51,931 Speaker 2: to catch him off guard at lunch and have lunch 118 00:08:51,971 --> 00:08:54,891 Speaker 2: with him and show him around the school and make 119 00:08:54,971 --> 00:08:58,751 Speaker 2: sure he was okay and give him new friends, DeMontes said. 120 00:09:00,411 --> 00:09:05,391 Speaker 2: For Senior Tyvon Smoot, Caleb's story felt personal. He remembered 121 00:09:05,491 --> 00:09:10,231 Speaker 2: being the new kid without friends, sitting alone, I didn't 122 00:09:10,271 --> 00:09:12,751 Speaker 2: have any friends. I used to sit by myself, so 123 00:09:12,811 --> 00:09:17,211 Speaker 2: I know how he feels, Tyvon said. Sometimes the people 124 00:09:17,231 --> 00:09:20,881 Speaker 2: who remember what loneliness feels like are the first to 125 00:09:20,921 --> 00:09:22,840 Speaker 2: pull up a chair so no one else has to 126 00:09:22,881 --> 00:09:27,261 Speaker 2: go through that kind of pain. Soon, Caleb wasn't eating 127 00:09:27,321 --> 00:09:31,461 Speaker 2: alone anymore. He had older students walking beside him, talking 128 00:09:31,481 --> 00:09:36,641 Speaker 2: with him, and making sure he knew he belonged. I'm 129 00:09:36,660 --> 00:09:38,931 Speaker 2: just glad that he has friends that he can count on, 130 00:09:38,961 --> 00:09:41,611 Speaker 2: that he can talk to, and that he can know 131 00:09:41,671 --> 00:09:45,571 Speaker 2: that we've got his back, Tyvon said. For a boy 132 00:09:45,631 --> 00:09:50,521 Speaker 2: accustomed to feeling like, quote, the outsider, the loner, the outcast, 133 00:09:51,741 --> 00:09:56,040 Speaker 2: their kindness changed something. It felt really nice to know 134 00:09:56,081 --> 00:09:59,780 Speaker 2: that there are people who care, Caleb said. They're literally 135 00:09:59,801 --> 00:10:03,781 Speaker 2: the most awesome people I've ever met. But perhaps the 136 00:10:03,821 --> 00:10:08,111 Speaker 2: most beautiful part came afterward. Caleb began thinking about the 137 00:10:08,171 --> 00:10:12,961 Speaker 2: other kids still sitting alone. I know I'm not the 138 00:10:13,001 --> 00:10:16,431 Speaker 2: only person that sits alone at lunch, he said. He 139 00:10:16,471 --> 00:10:19,410 Speaker 2: wished every student eating by themselves could have someone sit 140 00:10:19,451 --> 00:10:25,571 Speaker 2: beside them, too. Because sometimes changing someone's world doesn't require 141 00:10:25,731 --> 00:10:30,381 Speaker 2: a grand gesture. Sometimes it looks like noticing the person 142 00:10:30,481 --> 00:10:35,821 Speaker 2: everyone else overlooked. Pulling out the chair beside them and saying, 143 00:10:35,861 --> 00:10:39,971 Speaker 2: without needing many words, yes. belong here. We've got your back. 144 00:10:41,391 --> 00:10:45,111 Speaker 2: And in a thousand different ways, we saved you a seat. 145 00:10:47,231 --> 00:10:53,291 Speaker 2: I'm reminded of 1 Thessalonians 5, 11-14, Therefore encourage one 146 00:10:53,331 --> 00:10:55,841 Speaker 2: another and build each other up, just as in fact 147 00:10:55,901 --> 00:10:59,361 Speaker 2: you are doing. Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, 148 00:10:59,421 --> 00:11:02,581 Speaker 2: to acknowledge those who work hard among you, who care 149 00:11:02,641 --> 00:11:05,601 Speaker 2: for you in the Lord and who admonish you. Hold 150 00:11:05,641 --> 00:11:08,901 Speaker 2: them in the highest regard in love because of their work. 151 00:11:09,581 --> 00:11:13,081 Speaker 2: Live in peace with each other. And we urge you, 152 00:11:13,581 --> 00:11:17,821 Speaker 2: brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive. 153 00:11:18,841 --> 00:11:23,421 Speaker 2: Encourage the disheartened. Help the weak. Be patient with everyone. 154 00:11:27,321 --> 00:11:31,570 Speaker 2: I hope you enjoyed these special stories about teens making 155 00:11:31,631 --> 00:11:36,471 Speaker 2: differences in whatever ways they can with whatever assets they have, 156 00:11:37,431 --> 00:11:41,971 Speaker 2: whether it be social media or a talent for 3D printing. 157 00:11:43,631 --> 00:11:46,861 Speaker 2: It certainly is causing me to think of ways that 158 00:11:47,780 --> 00:11:50,540 Speaker 2: I can make a difference in my world and with 159 00:11:50,601 --> 00:11:54,181 Speaker 2: people I know and noticing that there are still needs 160 00:11:54,261 --> 00:11:56,871 Speaker 2: out there and there are ways that to meet them 161 00:11:57,071 --> 00:12:00,891 Speaker 2: that don't require lots of money or lots of effort, 162 00:12:01,131 --> 00:12:04,641 Speaker 2: sometimes it's just the simplest things. Thanks for listening to 163 00:12:04,681 --> 00:12:08,221 Speaker 2: this episode of Story Behind Podcast. You can visit the 164 00:12:08,261 --> 00:12:12,180 Speaker 2: links in the show notes to find the original articles, photos, videos, 165 00:12:12,280 --> 00:12:16,471 Speaker 2: and any resources mentioned in today's episode on the God 166 00:12:16,571 --> 00:12:21,531 Speaker 2: Updates blog at GodTube.com. If you enjoyed this story, be 167 00:12:21,571 --> 00:12:24,411 Speaker 2: sure to follow Story Behind wherever you listen to podcasts 168 00:12:25,111 --> 00:12:28,111 Speaker 2: and share it. with someone who could use a little encouragement. 169 00:12:29,371 --> 00:12:33,861 Speaker 2: Story Behind is a Life Audio production. For more faith-based podcasts, 170 00:12:33,881 --> 00:12:38,821 Speaker 2: visit lifeaudio.com. I'm Sean McAvoy. Thanks again for joining me, 171 00:12:39,041 --> 00:12:42,571 Speaker 2: and we'll see you next time on Story Behind.