This week’s good news stories are brought to you from Alyson Rockhold, read her bio at the bottom of the page for how to find more of her work, to download a free devotional, and to connect online. The opening image is so apt for our times, isn’t it?! And the story about the scholarship funds…as a mother of a daughter who is in her final semester of a chemical engineering undergraduate program, I heartily cheered!
This comic has encouraged me through some of the rougher moments of the last year. May it make you smile and remind you that no matter what you’re dealing with right now, “This too shall pass.”
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There are so many positive and beautiful things in this world, but my eyes seem naturally drawn to what’s negative and ugly. That’s why I’m so grateful for this weekly reminder to look for the good. It truly is all about perspective! Or, as Dale Carnegie says,
“Two men looked out from prison bars,
One saw the mud, the other saw stars.”
This week’s search for stars led me to…
Memories of Love Returned
How old Ugandan negatives are bringing families back to life
This moving story begins with a car breaking down in a rural Ugandan town. The driver, an American photographer, wanders into a nearby photo studio and is captivated by the powerful photographs and the passionate photographer inside. He notices several hundred negatives deteriorating in the corner. These two stars restore the photos to share with the community. What ensues is pure magic!
The Courage to take Action
Student raises over $70K for scholarship for women after professor's viral comments
“Someone should do something about that!” is often my response to bad things. But the star of this story decided to actually be that “someone” and do that “something.” Ally Orr heard a college professor say that women shouldn’t go into engineering, medical school or law school. She wanted to be a voice of encouragement and welcome to women in these male-dominated fields, so she started a scholarship for them! I love her fire and passion to help others, even when it meant speaking against someone in power.
Covid: Aussie-UK couple marry in Buckinghamshire after 20 months apart
Covid-fatigue is hitting me hard lately so I was excited to see a positive ending to a Covid tale. The star of this story said something very powerful in the last sentence of the article. By God’s grace, may we all be able to join her in saying this about our Covid struggles: "It has made us stronger."
Alyson Rockhold was a medical missionary in Zambia, Tanzania, and Haiti. She unexpectedly returned to the U.S. in 2020 and started a writing ministry during that time of transition. Click here to download her free 7-day devotional about Psalm 46:10 “Be still and know that I am God.” She also invites you to sign up for her encouraging monthly newsletter at www.alysonrockhold.com.
Love the comic, linked stories, and your reflections on and reactions to them, Alyson and Rachel. Thanks for sharing! This story is one that I especially loved from the news this past week, both because of the pure silliness in it and also due to how much time and effort the owners have put into perpetuating the associated Facebook posts, recognizing how many people who've engaged with them are hungry for some good news in the midst of so much trouble in the world (as you also mentioned in your post, Alyson): https://www.npr.org/2022/01/14/1072812001/cat-vitamix-blender-box-standoff