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 00:01:21,621 --> 00:01:26,101 Speaker 2: There are more things in heaven and earth Horatio than 14 00:01:26,221 --> 00:01:31,761 Speaker 2: are dreamt of in your philosophy. Welcome to an episode 15 00:01:32,061 --> 00:01:39,201 Speaker 2: of Story Behind Podcasts. inspiring stories, positive headlines from GodTube.com, 16 00:01:39,241 --> 00:01:42,901 Speaker 2: where you can watch without worry, and where today we 17 00:01:43,261 --> 00:01:47,511 Speaker 2: are pondering some of the stories that happen that make 18 00:01:47,551 --> 00:01:51,831 Speaker 2: you just go, I have questions. Have you ever had 19 00:01:51,971 --> 00:01:56,391 Speaker 2: those insights as you were reading, say, a story in 20 00:01:56,491 --> 00:02:00,501 Speaker 2: the Bible, and you just wonder how and did this 21 00:02:00,641 --> 00:02:04,701 Speaker 2: come about? What story is going on here, and yet 22 00:02:04,861 --> 00:02:07,681 Speaker 2: it doesn't mean that it did not happen. It doesn't 23 00:02:07,721 --> 00:02:12,501 Speaker 2: mean that the story is not true. With that tease, 24 00:02:12,800 --> 00:02:16,911 Speaker 2: I will leave you to ponder strange and amazing events 25 00:02:17,011 --> 00:02:19,791 Speaker 2: that may have occurred in your own life that, hey, 26 00:02:19,911 --> 00:02:22,671 Speaker 2: I wish there were a way for you to share 27 00:02:22,731 --> 00:02:26,550 Speaker 2: those with us wherever and whenever you may be listening 28 00:02:26,611 --> 00:02:29,970 Speaker 2: to this episode. I'm Sean McAvoy, your host, and I 29 00:02:30,011 --> 00:02:32,881 Speaker 2: will be right back after this. with a couple of 30 00:02:32,941 --> 00:02:44,411 Speaker 2: those stories that just make us wonder. All right, our 31 00:02:44,511 --> 00:02:48,031 Speaker 2: first story this week is brought to us by Heather Riggleman. 32 00:02:48,931 --> 00:02:52,241 Speaker 2: And it is about, imagine being in this woman's shoes, 33 00:02:52,981 --> 00:02:56,000 Speaker 2: finding your own picture on a thrift store shelf. And 34 00:02:56,281 --> 00:02:58,281 Speaker 2: as we teased in the beginning, the rest of the 35 00:02:58,321 --> 00:03:02,910 Speaker 2: title says, and she has so many questions. There are 36 00:03:03,071 --> 00:03:07,191 Speaker 2: things you expect to find while thrift shopping. Maybe someone's 37 00:03:07,231 --> 00:03:14,081 Speaker 2: abandoned bread machine, approximately 47 baskets, a questionable floral couch, 38 00:03:15,041 --> 00:03:18,780 Speaker 2: and enough decorative roosters to populate a small farm. What 39 00:03:18,800 --> 00:03:23,261 Speaker 2: you do not expect to find is yourself. Yet somehow, 40 00:03:23,751 --> 00:03:27,691 Speaker 2: a decades-old family portrait of Ansley Martin ended up sitting 41 00:03:27,731 --> 00:03:30,591 Speaker 2: on a thrift store shelf about an hour from where 42 00:03:30,631 --> 00:03:34,411 Speaker 2: she grew up. Her parents have been divorced for 15 years, 43 00:03:34,550 --> 00:03:39,391 Speaker 2: and neither one donated the picture. And absolutely no one 44 00:03:39,411 --> 00:03:42,951 Speaker 2: in the family knows how it got there. This is 45 00:03:43,051 --> 00:03:46,051 Speaker 2: precisely the kind of family mystery that deserves its own 46 00:03:46,111 --> 00:03:51,841 Speaker 2: group text. Ansley's sister's friend actually spotted the portrait first 47 00:03:51,951 --> 00:03:54,441 Speaker 2: and texted that the people in it were really giving 48 00:03:55,061 --> 00:03:58,601 Speaker 2: Ansley and Amelia vibes. There was an excellent reason for that. 49 00:03:59,561 --> 00:04:04,431 Speaker 2: They were Ansley and Amelia. When the family realized what 50 00:04:04,491 --> 00:04:08,251 Speaker 2: she had found, Ansley said she, her sister, and her 51 00:04:08,271 --> 00:04:13,691 Speaker 2: mom were, quote, literally crying laughing. The portrait had been 52 00:04:13,731 --> 00:04:18,761 Speaker 2: taken during a church photo shoot around 2002 and hung 53 00:04:18,821 --> 00:04:23,661 Speaker 2: in Ansley's childhood home for years. Apparently, it disappeared so 54 00:04:23,741 --> 00:04:27,861 Speaker 2: quietly that no one noticed, which feels like most early 55 00:04:28,281 --> 00:04:32,890 Speaker 2: 2000s family portrait ending possible, I think. Her mother didn't 56 00:04:32,991 --> 00:04:37,421 Speaker 2: remember donating it either, leaving everyone, as Ansley remarked, confused 57 00:04:37,661 --> 00:04:42,541 Speaker 2: and bamboozled by the mystery. Meanwhile, employees at the thrift 58 00:04:42,581 --> 00:04:45,901 Speaker 2: store had been entertaining themselves by giving the mystery family 59 00:04:46,380 --> 00:04:51,091 Speaker 2: fake names and backstories. Then one of the actual children 60 00:04:51,171 --> 00:04:54,751 Speaker 2: from the photograph walked through the door, which is the 61 00:04:54,771 --> 00:04:58,291 Speaker 2: thrift store equivalent of a character climbing out of a book. Finally, 62 00:04:59,011 --> 00:05:04,491 Speaker 2: the mystery family had names. Naturally, people assumed Ansley would 63 00:05:04,531 --> 00:05:07,070 Speaker 2: buy the portrait and take this priceless piece of family 64 00:05:07,111 --> 00:05:12,741 Speaker 2: history home. Absolutely not. When someone suggested she purchase it, 65 00:05:12,831 --> 00:05:17,971 Speaker 2: Ansley responded, The thing is, I don't want it. Later adding, Honestly, 66 00:05:18,051 --> 00:05:23,231 Speaker 2: it's just not that cute of a picture. Ha ha ha. Honestly, Ansley, 67 00:05:23,491 --> 00:05:26,801 Speaker 2: every woman who survived family portraits in the early 2000s, understands. 68 00:05:29,471 --> 00:05:32,510 Speaker 2: The portrait has since disappeared from the sales floor, meaning 69 00:05:32,571 --> 00:05:36,231 Speaker 2: it could be hanging in the employee's back office, or 70 00:05:36,331 --> 00:05:41,601 Speaker 2: even better, decorating a complete stranger's home. Ansley said leaving 71 00:05:41,641 --> 00:05:47,440 Speaker 2: it behind was, quote, way funnier than taking it home myself. Somewhere, 72 00:05:48,001 --> 00:05:51,841 Speaker 2: a complete stranger may now have Ansley's family portrait hanging 73 00:05:52,041 --> 00:05:56,471 Speaker 2: over the fireplace, and honestly, I hope they tell guests 74 00:05:56,571 --> 00:06:02,551 Speaker 2: they're distant relatives. As it says in Psalm 65, 8, 75 00:06:02,551 --> 00:06:05,431 Speaker 2: the whole earth is filled with awe at your wonders. 76 00:06:06,731 --> 00:06:11,190 Speaker 2: Where morning dawns, where evening fades, you call forth songs 77 00:06:11,431 --> 00:06:15,541 Speaker 2: of joy. And we'll hope for more of those songs 78 00:06:15,581 --> 00:06:18,621 Speaker 2: being called forth in just a minute when I tell 79 00:06:18,681 --> 00:06:23,640 Speaker 2: you a story about literally a silly goose. We'll be 80 00:06:23,681 --> 00:06:35,591 Speaker 2: back in just a second. Welcome back to this I 81 00:06:35,661 --> 00:06:42,091 Speaker 2: Have Questions episode of Story Behind Podcast. Behind what? Well, 82 00:06:42,130 --> 00:06:47,711 Speaker 2: we do our best here at GodTube.com and LifeAudio.com to 83 00:06:48,331 --> 00:06:50,991 Speaker 2: dig through the muck and the mire and find the 84 00:06:51,130 --> 00:06:54,411 Speaker 2: stories that affirm that God is still working in the world, 85 00:06:54,551 --> 00:06:58,731 Speaker 2: even in the most of mysterious ways and through sometimes 86 00:06:59,391 --> 00:07:04,241 Speaker 2: some of his more unusual creatures. This story by Heather 87 00:07:04,380 --> 00:07:09,801 Speaker 2: Riggleman is about a heroic goose who warned the family 88 00:07:09,841 --> 00:07:15,341 Speaker 2: of fire and helped save other animals. That's right. This 89 00:07:15,381 --> 00:07:19,281 Speaker 2: family's goose sounded the alarm during a fire and helped 90 00:07:19,341 --> 00:07:23,411 Speaker 2: save barn animals. If you've ever lived out in the country, 91 00:07:23,511 --> 00:07:28,731 Speaker 2: you may know barnyard animals come with their own personalities, routines, 92 00:07:29,551 --> 00:07:34,231 Speaker 2: and opinions about nearly everything. Heather says her family has 93 00:07:34,291 --> 00:07:38,491 Speaker 2: more than 30 chickens, and you quickly learn their quirks. 94 00:07:39,511 --> 00:07:43,071 Speaker 2: You know the normal clucking and squawking, and you also 95 00:07:43,111 --> 00:07:49,391 Speaker 2: learn to pay attention when one of them sounds suddenly different. Well, 96 00:07:49,411 --> 00:07:53,651 Speaker 2: thank God Bert and Chelsea Gerber listened when their goose, Goosey, 97 00:07:54,511 --> 00:07:59,051 Speaker 2: started making a noise they had never heard before. The Richmond, 98 00:07:59,151 --> 00:08:03,431 Speaker 2: Texas couple owns Chelsea's Chickens. a hatchery that was home 99 00:08:03,471 --> 00:08:07,251 Speaker 2: to roughly 100 chickens and turkeys, when a fire broke 100 00:08:07,331 --> 00:08:09,951 Speaker 2: out in their barn during the early morning hours of 101 00:08:10,091 --> 00:08:14,291 Speaker 2: August 3rd, and the family was asleep. But Goosey wasn't, 102 00:08:15,361 --> 00:08:17,061 Speaker 2: and she wasn't about to let them stay that way. 103 00:08:18,281 --> 00:08:22,321 Speaker 2: The goose began honking loudly enough to wake Bert, and 104 00:08:22,361 --> 00:08:26,701 Speaker 2: the commotion was captured on the family's security camera. Living 105 00:08:26,761 --> 00:08:29,041 Speaker 2: here with all these animals, you get used to certain 106 00:08:29,101 --> 00:08:32,980 Speaker 2: noises that you don't even pay attention to, But there 107 00:08:33,021 --> 00:08:36,201 Speaker 2: was one that night I hadn't heard before, Bert said. 108 00:08:37,741 --> 00:08:41,541 Speaker 2: That unusual honking made him get up and investigate, and 109 00:08:41,581 --> 00:08:44,450 Speaker 2: that was when he was utterly shocked at the sight 110 00:08:44,491 --> 00:08:48,131 Speaker 2: of his barn. He discovered the barn was on fire. 111 00:08:49,691 --> 00:08:53,491 Speaker 2: Bert quickly grabbed a garden hose and began fighting the flames. 112 00:08:55,050 --> 00:08:58,391 Speaker 2: The family believes old electrical wiring likely started the fire, 113 00:08:59,011 --> 00:09:04,681 Speaker 2: and thankfully their animals were saved. We got really, really, 114 00:09:04,841 --> 00:09:10,540 Speaker 2: really lucky. Really lucky, Chelsea said. Yeah, or perhaps there 115 00:09:10,581 --> 00:09:15,081 Speaker 2: was a little Providence tucked inside all that honking. And 116 00:09:15,121 --> 00:09:20,471 Speaker 2: Goosey almost wasn't there. Just three months earlier, the Gerber's daughter, Elena, 117 00:09:21,591 --> 00:09:24,151 Speaker 2: met Goosey at an expo and asked her parents if 118 00:09:24,171 --> 00:09:27,151 Speaker 2: they could bring him home. How do you say no 119 00:09:27,171 --> 00:09:32,420 Speaker 2: to that, Chelsea said. Turns out, saying yes to their daughter, 120 00:09:33,011 --> 00:09:38,791 Speaker 2: may have helped save their entire flock. Now, Goosey is 121 00:09:38,871 --> 00:09:43,331 Speaker 2: getting a well-earned promotion from family pet to feathered hero. 122 00:09:44,410 --> 00:09:48,550 Speaker 2: And the Gerbers have decided their brave goose deserves a companion. 123 00:09:49,871 --> 00:09:52,191 Speaker 2: They plan to get him a female feathered friend and 124 00:09:52,231 --> 00:09:58,721 Speaker 2: name her Lucy. Lucy, Goosey, okay. Because sometimes God's protection 125 00:09:58,821 --> 00:10:05,591 Speaker 2: comes through firefighter's or a perfectly timed warning. And sometimes 126 00:10:05,651 --> 00:10:10,111 Speaker 2: it waddles around the barnyard, has feathers, and honks until 127 00:10:10,251 --> 00:10:16,941 Speaker 2: somebody listens. I'm reminded today of Job 12, 7-10, but 128 00:10:17,061 --> 00:10:20,921 Speaker 2: ask the animals and they will teach you. The birds 129 00:10:20,981 --> 00:10:23,881 Speaker 2: in the sky and they will tell you, or speak 130 00:10:23,921 --> 00:10:26,221 Speaker 2: to the earth and it will teach you, or let 131 00:10:26,241 --> 00:10:29,961 Speaker 2: the fish in the sea inform you. Which of all these? 132 00:10:30,701 --> 00:10:32,910 Speaker 2: does not know that the hand of the Lord has 133 00:10:32,951 --> 00:10:36,771 Speaker 2: done this. In his hand is the life of every creature. 134 00:10:37,901 --> 00:10:43,301 Speaker 2: and the breath of all mankind. I still have questions, 135 00:10:43,780 --> 00:10:48,001 Speaker 2: and I always will, but thankfully there are times like 136 00:10:48,071 --> 00:10:51,511 Speaker 2: this where things that you just can't explain still happen, 137 00:10:52,410 --> 00:10:57,741 Speaker 2: and you just know that this sense of wonder and beauty, 138 00:10:58,381 --> 00:11:02,321 Speaker 2: the miracle and mystery of love, these things don't just 139 00:11:02,401 --> 00:11:07,330 Speaker 2: happen without a hand behind it. And it's good to 140 00:11:07,651 --> 00:11:11,391 Speaker 2: pause and take a moment to appreciate that that hand 141 00:11:11,471 --> 00:11:17,550 Speaker 2: is still moving. So thanks for listening to this episode 142 00:11:17,571 --> 00:11:22,511 Speaker 2: of Story Behind Podcast. I hope today's odd stories encouraged 143 00:11:22,571 --> 00:11:25,201 Speaker 2: you and gave you hope. and reminded you of the 144 00:11:25,241 --> 00:11:27,601 Speaker 2: ways God is still moving in the world around us, 145 00:11:28,051 --> 00:11:33,131 Speaker 2: even through a silly goose like me. Visit the links 146 00:11:33,191 --> 00:11:36,671 Speaker 2: in the show notes to find the original articles, photos, videos, 147 00:11:36,731 --> 00:11:40,491 Speaker 2: and any resources mentioned in today's episodes on the God 148 00:11:40,631 --> 00:11:45,501 Speaker 2: Updates blog at GodTube.com. If you enjoyed this story, be 149 00:11:45,521 --> 00:11:48,461 Speaker 2: sure to follow Story Behind wherever you listen to podcasts 150 00:11:49,061 --> 00:11:52,101 Speaker 2: and share with someone who could use a little encouragement. 151 00:11:53,481 --> 00:11:58,101 Speaker 2: Story Behind is a Life Audio production. For more faith-based podcasts, 152 00:11:58,121 --> 00:12:03,670 Speaker 2: visit lifeaudio.com. I'm Sean McAvoy. Thanks again for joining me, 153 00:12:03,871 --> 00:12:07,311 Speaker 2: and we'll see you next time on Story Behind.