Inspirational Videos

We all have questions about how to be intentional. This is an incredible interview on how to be an intentional grandparent to a teenager. 

In this interview, Focus on the Family has Mark Gregston as a special guest to talk about grandparenting. Mark has written a book called “Grandparenting Teens: Leaving a Legacy of Hope.” 

Mark shares that he was scared to become a grandparent. He says that grandparenting is kind of a “do-over.” This can be a positive or a negative based on someone’s viewpoint. Mark says that you learn what matters and what doesn’t matter. He shares that this is a completely different role.

Mark explains that he did not enjoy his own grandparents. He did not want to be cranky and uninvolved like his own. He chose to be involved with his kids and grandkids. Mark says that our grandkids have to grow up in this culture, and we have a responsibility to influence them. They need wisdom, “A little bit of gray hair.” They need someone outside of a parent to hear from. 

They talk about how to honor the parents (adult children) and their decisions. He also supports his kids in everything and backs them (unless, of course, there is something dangerous going on). Mark says that he invites his grandchildren to everything and tries to love them well. Mark emphasizes the value of relational investment.

Mark empowers grandparents to know that they have wisdom and something to offer this next generation. They discuss things that are hard to learn. There is a large encouragement to care for the child’s heart, not behavior. 

Mark shares that they have a residential counseling center. He is grandparenting even children who are not his biological grandkids. Mark teaches that demanding perfection, overwhelming authority, and being judgmental is damaging to a child. They discuss how Jesus is the perfect model for caring for others. He did not focus on the behavior but on the heart that leads to life change.

The men share the challenge of how we desire to project perfection. However, the vulnerability helps others draw closer. This interview is refreshing to parents and grandparents. 

Honestly, it motivates anyone to invest in a young person today. Give it a listen. You will not regret taking the time to learn.

One woman was determined to help a poor canine that had gotten into quite a predicament.

Animals, especially dogs, are loving, caring and loyal beings. Show an animal a little bit of kindness and love and you’ve likely made a friend for life. Those lovable, furry and cuddly creatures add so much joy and happiness, making for a fuller and richer life.

But as it turns out, animals, much like humans, require a little bit of help and grace now and then. People aren’t supposed to shoulder all the burdens and problems that life can throw our way. This also appears true for animals, as one clip posted on YouTube shows.

A stray dog, as he was attempting to eat, got its head stuck in a plastic jug. The clip shows the animal grabbing food from a cat feeder when the plastic container becomes lodged around its noggin. 

Sadly, being a stray dog, the animal was forced to fend for itself, unable to remove its head from the plastic container. The abandoned animal seemed destined to wander the streets with a plastic jug around its head. 

But one woman, Teri Goodnight, learned about the poor pooch and was determined to do everything possible to help the stray dog.

“Once I commit to helping a dog, I’m fully committed,” she said. “I don’t care how long it takes, what it costs me.”

Teri launched a plan to help the stray dog, which involved placing food in a cage that could be controlled remotely. She explains the lengths she went to and the massive amount of time she invested to help the struggling animal.

“I made 25 trips there, and three of those times, I was there for 24 hours straight,” Teri said. 

One night, as Teri stood nearby, the stray dog and his canine buddy walked into the cage as she closed the gate. After locking the frightened pooch in, Teri freed the animal’s head from the container. 

“I had to take some wire cutters and cut slits all the way around the part that was around his neck,” she said.

The animal’s head was finally free after more than a month. The plastic container had been around the poor dog’s head from Oct. 21 to Nov. 24.

Proverbs 12:10 “An upright man has thought for the life of his beast, but the hearts of evildoers are cruel.”

Joyce Meyer shares the one response we should use when the enemy attacks. 

Joyce, a long-time Bible study teacher and author, knows how to bring the Bible to life and apply it in everyday situations. Have you ever had one of those days where nothing seems to go right, and you feel as though everyone is out to get you? 

Or maybe you have one person in your life who seems to upset you on purpose? We grumble, we get angry, and sulk. We run to our best friends and lament about the situation. Then we grumble about it to our spouse and say, “I don’t know what else to do. I guess I’ll just pray.” 

If that sounds like you, then this message is timely, and the Lord has a word for you! Do the exact opposite of what you’ve been doing and go directly to your Heavenly Father in prayer first. We are reminded in Ephesians 6:12 that we do not battle against mere human beings. 

We are battling against the enemy. He will use anything and anyone to bring you down. Can you imagine how our circumstances would change if we prayed first? It would save us from so much heartache. God would open our eyes to the situation and give us the words or actions needed to turn the situation around and glorify Him!

“Your circumstance is not your problem. The people that irritate you are not your problem. There’s something behind that, that is the problem. And when Satan Works through a person, let's just say maybe he works through a person to try to keep you upset all the time; the way to win your battles is to realize have your eyes wide open and realize what the enemy's trying to do and respond the exact from the way he wants you to respond,” she said. 

Wow! What a powerful yet simple statement! Let’s take Joyce’s advice and take a moment to pray.

Father, I need You in every area of my life! Help me to remember to come to You before I do anything else. Help me to talk to You about everything and make prayer a natural part of my life. In every situation, let prayer become my first response. Open my eyes to the real battle and help me respond in a way that gives You glory. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Ephesians 6:18 “And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.”

A kind and caring firefighter went above and beyond the call of duty and went out of his way to return a woman’s lost purse to her.

The world is a sad, lonely and broken place. Sin has done nothing but cause damage and destruction. People who are hurting and struggling are all around us, looking and searching for any reason to be hopeful about the future. That’s why a small, simple act of kindness can change someone’s outlook and perspective. 

A clip posted to TikTok shows a small but extraordinary act of kindness where an off-duty firefighter drove over an hour to reunite a woman with her purse, according to Sunny Skyz.

In the black and white Ring video, the man approaches the door and asks if the woman can hear him. She responds, disregarding his question and asks if he has her bag.

The man does have her bag and asks if she is Georgia. 

She is overjoyed at the welcomed and unexpected news.

“I could cry my eyes out. How have you got my bag?” she says.

He then responds that he found it at a gas station. 

The two then go back and forth about where she wants him to place the purse outside her house. 

About halfway through the clip, the firefighter explains what caused him to drive over that night to return the lost item.

“Do you know what? I was going to leave it till tomorrow morning,” he says. “But I remember me ex lost her bag on a night out, and she was under stress. And I just thought, ‘You know what, I’ll just go and drop it off now.’”

The woman is moved by the man’s kindness, honesty and empathy. She is heard either crying or trying to fight back tears. 

But before the clip ends, the woman wants to find somewhere to repay the man for his kind act. She offers to give him some money, asking for his banking information. 

Instead, the man has another idea.

“No, just pay it forward,” he says. “Just do something nice for the next person.”

What a tremendous and heartwarming display of the kindness and honesty that still exists in the world.

Ephesians 4:32 “And be kind to one another, full of pity, having forgiveness for one another, even as God in Christ had forgiveness for you.”

This is an incredibly powerful story when Marine Chad Robichaux shares his  I Am Second Testimony.

He begins by describing his experience in the Afghanistan takeover in 2021. He shares that a new mother tried to get her infant to be passed over the gate. “That is the level of desperation,” Chad says. 

There is a flashback to an older I Am Second video with Chad. He tells about the restoration of His faith after PTSD. Chad created The Mighty Oaks Foundation with his wife to minister to military couples. 

Chad shares about the heroes of the faith being unqualified. They were not perfectly put together, but they were willing to be obedient. Now, Chad is sharing an incredible story about a friend named Aziz who worked with him to take on the evil leaders in Afghanistan. 

Chad shares that Aziz saved his life 3 times in particular, but that he also protected him every day. Chad ended up safely back in America with his family, and Aziz was still in his home country, being threatened. When America decided to pull out of Afghanistan, Chad decided that he was going to get his friend out of there.

Chad called some friends and had twelve people ready to go get Aziz, interpreters, and Christians out of harm's way. He shares the miraculous ways that God provided for them. The UAE gave them an aircraft, the pilots, and the airfield. They received 25,000 requests for help within one week. 

On the first day, they got 160 people into the airport. Chad shares about the high level of desperation during the takeover and how a suicide bomber went into the crowd. He says, holding back tears how awful it was to witness the death and injuries from this attack. 

He shares that they were able to get Aziz, his wife, and their 6 children out, but 17,000 were left behind. Chad reveals that they could not leave after what they saw. They stayed and flew 5,000 people out.

Chad shares about the fear that came in as he and a guy named Dennis were going to create pathways in Tajikistan to get the innocent out. God gave him peace. He says that he never felt fear or tired because of the Spirit’s strength. 

Lastly, Chad got a call about Ukraine. He showed up. They helped to get out various individuals and saved their lives. Chad was used in a mighty way by the Lord to bring hope in a hopeless situation. With Christ, all things are possible. 

“Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Matthew 19:26

Audiobook narration of the short story, "A Christmas Legend" by Florence Scannell, performed by J.D. Sutter and also featuring the vocal talents of Bethany Baldwin. Editing and post-production by J.D. Sutter. www.jdsutter.me Music by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) 1. It Came Upon a Midnight Clear 2. Magistar 3. What Child is This 4. Wish Background Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

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Tribute for my Mom who I lost on Thanksgiving Day and my son who I lost on his first birthday! We pray that this brings healing, comfort and joy to those who are hurting this Holiday Season!

Prayer For 2024 poem for anyone who needs comfort and healing as they struggle with world events this Holiday Season... Angelique & Dan Dee singing their healing Holiday Hit!

Get a tissue! This is an inspirational story about a little girl that touches the hearts of her family when she is diagnosed with a rare disease. We can all use a little hope. Authored and Narrated by Michael W. Brault You can read Gampa in paperback. Go to amazon.com and type Michael W. Brault into the search bar. You can also read it free on maplehollows.com Enjoy!

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson is one of the biggest movie stars on the planet, and he spent some time with nearly two dozen children, helping to make their wish and dream a reality.

Sadly, life is not a fair experience. Some people are given more than their fair share of obstacles and hurdles. Not even the youngest and most vulnerable members of society – children – are safe from the sometimes horrifying realities of life. 

Children suffering unimaginable situations and dealing with life-threatening illnesses are near and dear to Dwayne’s heart. That’s why, in a video posted on YouTube, The Rock spent time meeting with and putting smiles on the faces of some youngsters.

For more than 20 children who visited the Universal Studios theme park in Los Angeles, California, their wish was to meet The Rock. One child called herself “his biggest fan.” 

While the children were on tour of the theme park, Dwayne surprised them, joining them on the tour. He interacted with the children, telling jokes, giving them hugs and just putting smiles on their faces.

As the video points out, Dwayne was only expected to spend an hour with the children but ended up doing much more than 60 minutes. He hung out with them for five hours that day. 

But this is far from the first time that The Rock has teamed up with Make-A-Wish to do some good for a group of deserving kids. As the video mentions, Dwayne has worked with them for more than two decades.

“These are kids and the cards that they are dealt. They didn’t ask for it, but they’re playing these hands as best they can,” he said. “You know, I’m getting emotional. These kids are so strong.”

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson is a big man who has starred in some of the biggest blockbusters of recent memory. It’s clear from his touching displays of love and kindness that this big man has a big heart. 

Philippians 2:4 “Not looking everyone to his private good, but keeping in mind the things of others.”

A group of high school students stepped up in a big way during an emergency and helped lift a car off the ground, freeing a mother and her son who were pinned underneath.

Life, for the most part, is an unpredictable experience. Sure, everyone has a general idea of what to expect during an average day. But those expectations can be thrown out the window without notice. Things can change in an instant. 

Frightening and horrifying emergencies can arise, putting someone’s life in grave danger. That’s a sad fact that a mother and her two young children know all too well after they were hit by a car walking across a school parking lot in Utah, according to a video posted on YouTube.

Fortunately, the little girl freed herself and crawled out from under the car. However, the mother and her son were left pinned under the vehicle. But thanks to the heroism and quick actions of a group of high school students, the mom and her son were soon freed from their scary predicament.

The video shows a group of high school students banding together and crowding around the car. They then picked up the car high enough off the group to where the mother and the little boy were able to get out from underneath the vehicle. 

Following their rescue, the mother and her child were transported to the hospital for treatment. The woman underwent surgery, which her husband said “went well.”  

The woman’s husband is eternally grateful for the students and the school administrators' efforts to save his wife and young son. He knows things could have turned out very differently. 

“Thank you so much,” he said. “Like, they were monumental in my family’s life.”

The stunning clip shows that when people work together and direct their efforts toward a good and worthwhile cause amazing things can happen. It can even save a life. 

Psalm 82:3-4 “Give ear to the cause of the poor and the children without fathers; let those who are troubled and in need have their rights. Be the savior of the poor and those who have nothing: take them out of the hand of the evildoers.”

A loving and caring young man teaches his adorable little sister how to ride a bike, offering her sweet and touching words of encouragement all along the way.

For children, there are two milestones and markers in their young lives: learning to tie their shoes and ride a bike. Those are skills that all children struggle with before mastering them. Some may have a harder time than others picking them up than others, but it can be trying, nonetheless. 

In a video posted on TikTok, a young man sets out to show his little sister how to ride a bike. But before they even get to the bikes, it’s safety first.

At the start of the clip, the little guy lovingly offers to help his sister with her helmet, placing it on her head. He’s then ever so careful and gentle with her to keep from pinching her. Then after he gets her strapped into the helmet, the two children hit the bike trails.

The video shows the older brother a few feet in front of her as the little girl struggles to keep up with him. However, instead of correcting her, the little boy offers his sister words of encouragement.

“You’re a lot better than last time,” he tells her. He then states, “I can keep you safe.”

The little boy then mimes how to ride a bike, telling her to “grab the handlebars and do this” as he runs down the trail. She tries but doesn’t have the same success as her older brother.

After the two finish their bike lesson, the boy checks in on his sister. He asks her if she “had some big emotions.”

Then, the minute-long video concludes with the little boy riding down the trail by himself as he sings John Denver’s classic tune, “Take Me Home, Country Roads.”

With a brother as sweet and patient as him, the little girl will learn how to ride a bike in no time. 

Ephesians 4:32 “And be you kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake has forgiven you.”

A man was surprised and overjoyed after being reunited with his father after more than a decade apart.

Human beings are all unique. Everyone has their own set of likes, dislikes, thoughts and feelings. As such, relationships are tricky and are often difficult to navigate and maneuver. What may work when communicating and interacting with one person may not work with someone else. Also, sadly, relationships can become strained. People can become estranged from one another, refusing to talk or even see each other.

However, a clip posted on TikTok captures the moment a son and a father were brought back together after they had not seen one another for 15 years. 

The text in the video indicates that the moment of reunification between father and son did not just occur out of the blue. Instead, it required “months of planning.”

About 30 seconds into the video, someone calls for the man to walk into the living room. Moments later he appears and asks what is causing all the commotion. But then he takes his hand to his mouth, unable to believe his eyes. The tears begin flowing down the son’s face.

An older gentleman appears on camera, entering from the left side of the frame. The father and son meet in the middle of the room. They share a warm, loving and long-awaited embrace. 

The son, as he hugs his father, goes down to his knees because he is so overwhelmed with emotion. 

The father even gives his son a sweet kiss on the forehead. 

The two share a few words, but it’s hard to make out what is said because a couple of dogs, also enjoying the special moment, let out several loud yelps. 

It’s unclear why the two went so long without seeing one another. But it’s still an incredibly sweet and emotional clip. 

Psalm 103:13 “As a father has pity on his children, so the Lord has pity on his worshipers.”

Joy!

A youngster went out of his way to express his thoughts and feelings about a delivery driver who helped corral the family’s dog.

As anyone knows, children do not have a filter. Unlike adults, whatever children are thinking or feeling at that moment is likely what they are going to say. For parents, a child’s inability to stop themselves from saying whatever they are thinking can make for some awkward, hilarious and even sweet interactions.

A video posted on social media shows how one toddler’s lack of filter created a touching and moving moment between him and a friendly, caring UPS driver. Frank, the UPS driver in the video, was out dropping packages off when he lent a helping hand to a family that needed it.

The family was running after their furry, four-legged friend who had gotten outside. Frank helped the family secure the dog and take it back to their house. The family, of course, appreciated Frank’s assistance in helping them catch their beloved canine.

But one little guy, 2-year-old Owen, went one sweet step further in expressing how he felt about Frank. In the video, Owen can be seen standing in the driveway as Frank heads back to his truck. Owen then expresses his gratitude.

“Thank you,” Owen tells Frank.

“You’re welcome,” Frank responds to the toddler.

But Owen was not done yet.

“I love you!” Owen states.

“Aww! I love you, too!” says Frank. “We need lots of love in the world, absolutely!”

Owen and his mother then approach Frank at his truck. Owen and Frank share a warm embrace.

Frank, the clip mentions, also told Owen that he is one of Santa’s helpers and would put in a good word for the young man. 

What a beautiful and moving moment between two strangers, but it all started with a single, unexpected act of kindness. 

Ephesians 4:32 “And be kind to one another, full of pity, having forgiveness for one another, even as God in Christ has forgiveness for you.”

One team in the National Football League helped to make a sick child’s dream and wish come true.

The world is a cold, cruel and unforgiving place. It’s a place where some of society’s most innocent and vulnerable members are often forced to deal with and confront terrible and heartbreaking situations. Life isn’t a fair experience, not even for young children.

Brixton Wood is a young man, and at just six years old, he was diagnosed with cancer. The youngster soon began cancer treatments, undergoing several rounds of chemotherapy, according to the video posted on YouTube. 

Anyone entering the young man’s hospital room would immediately notice one thing about it. His room was decked out in Cincinnati Bengals gear. Pennants and jerseys were hung from the walls. On his bed and the chair in his room were Bengals' blankets and pillows. To say he is a fan of the NFL team would be an understatement.

After leaving the hospital, the young man got his wish answered. He traveled to Cincinnati, where he spent time with the team’s star wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase, and the rest of the team. 

The video shows Brixton checking out the Bengals' facility, including the team’s locker room, where Brixton had his very own locker. 

After checking out the team’s locker room, Brixton visited the team at practice and even led them in a cheer. 

But that wasn’t all. The young man ran up and down on the Bengals’ field with his favorite player and even scored a touchdown, showing off his best celebratory dance moves.

The world is full of hurting and struggling people. Some people are dealing with issues and situations that we could never imagine. But a little bit of kindness and love could change their entire outlook. It could give them hope or, at the very least, a chance to forget their circumstances. 

Romans 15:13 “Now may the God of hope make you full of joy and peace through faith, so that all hope may be yours in the power of the Holy Spirit.”

A group of high school students in New York City every week spend time visiting, chatting and playing board games with seniors in assisted living facilities.

The world can often be a sad, lonely and heartbreaking place. Some individuals may be dealing with feelings of extreme loneliness, believing they have no one to talk to or turn to when life gets rough. It’s for that reason simple, unexpected acts of kindness like holding the door for someone or something similar can make all the difference.

A clip posted on YouTube shows how 60 concerned and caring students in New York City are working to make the world a little less lonely. The students visit nursing facilities where they talk to the residents and even play games like Scrabble and Chess with them. 

But when it comes to games, it’s not about winning or losing but about the connections and the bonds made during those visits. 

“Sometimes we don’t play any board games at all, we just have conversations,” 17-year-old Max Hochman said. “So, it’s really about the connection. We’re so pleased to be learning from the residents at these homes.”

But, amazingly, this was not a program that was started by a school administrator or even by someone who works at one of the facilities the students visit weekly. Instead, it was thought up by one of the students involved in the program.

The program started as an idea from Max Hochman during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I started thinking about it during the COVID-19 pandemic when I heard about how my grandfather was kind of feeling lonely,” Max said. “I decided to just pick up the phone one day and call him and ask him to play Chess online with me.”

Max saw how this simple act made a huge difference.

“I saw how that, like, really improved his mood,” the youngster said. “I thought, like, ‘How could I bring this to my community, NYC?’”

Deuteronomy 31:6 “Be strong and take heart and have no fear of them: for it is the Lord your God who is going with you; he will not take away his help from you.”

Academy Award-winning actress Reese Witherspoon went to social media and shared some words of wisdom that her grandmother gave her. 

An education, no matter how many degrees one acquires, will always remain unfinished. There will always be more to learn and more wisdom to obtain. For that reason, listening to the words and teachings of trusted individuals, like grandparents, is always a good idea.

Grandparents have more life experience and will naturally have picked up more wisdom along the way. So, whenever they are giving out that information free of charge, best soak it up and put it to work. 

In a clip posted on Instagram, Reese shared some words of wisdom that her grandmother shared with her about life. Reese says the idea her grandmother imparted to her has since become “a principle” that she “lives her life by.”

She states that her grandmother told her, “People are either radiators or they’re drains.” Radiators, according to Reese and her grandmother, are the people to spend time around and avoid those who would be deemed “drains.”

Reese further explains what her grandmother meant. 

“You need to spend time around the radiators – the people who radiate goodness, and light and positivity,” she said. 

The drains, as Reese mentions, are those individuals who are the exact opposite of the radiators. Drains only serve to “drag you down.”

Near the end of the short clip, Reese asks her followers a question. 

“Also, don’t you want to be someone in people’s lives that radiates goodness and positivity and creativity and optimism and humor and not a drain?” Reese asks. 

But before she signs off, she tells everyone to “be someone’s radiator today.”

Our attitudes, words and actions can and do have a monumental impact on those around us, whether we realize it or not. Reese’s grandmother sounds like one wise lady!

Ephesians 4:29 “Let no evil talk come out of your mouth, but only what is good for giving necessary teaching, and for grace to those who give ear.”