This past Sunday as I sat at the breakfast table reading the newspaper, my spirit took a nosedive.
I read one bad news story after another, with my shoulders slumping lower and lower with every one. This was clearly not the way to start a Sunday morning. Lesson learned.
I know there are good news stories out there. I just have to be a bit more intentional in looking for them.
But I won’t lie to you. Life isn’t always full of good news. Every single day bad things happen. Yes, even to good people. While we know this it doesn’t make it any easier to accept.
The reality is unless you live in a bubble, there’s no escaping bad news.
Quite possibly, you might even be living a bad news story of your own. If so, my heart goes out to you.
Sadly, I can relate.
I too feel like I’ve been through one bad news story after another recently. It’s true. Read here, here, here and here! See what I mean? 🙂
I’m learning that in the midst of challenging circumstances I can choose what I will focus on.
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Philippians 4:8 NIV
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My Quest for Good News Stories
I believe that it is possible to accept the reality of a situation without getting sucked into a negative narrative.
You see, good news has a way of refreshing our souls.
Proverbs 25:25 says it beautifully:
Like cold water to a weary soul is good news from a distant land.
For me, having just survived two major hurricanes in two weeks, I’ve been actively looking out for the good news stories that came as a result. Because I am convinced that no matter how bad things are, God has a way of reminding us that there’s still good news to be found.
I hope you will be encouraged by these good news stories too.
Good news stories following Hurricane Irma and Hurricane Maria:
Here are a few of the good news stories that encouraged me since Hurricane Irma and Hurricane Maria.
- After Irma, boy from Tortola comes to Parker Academy
- Thirteen-year old holds school with hurricane-affected children in her neighbourhood
- After evacuating hurricanes, woman has ‘Irma baby’ at Colorado hospital
- Suffolk police officers reveal “humbling” experience in British Virgin Islands following Hurricane Irma
- British PC flies stray dog away from Hurricane Irma devastation to UK
- 2018 BVI Spring Regatta and Sailing Festival We WILL Be Racing
And here some famous people weigh in on how they’re helping hurricane victims:
- Richard Branson and Kate Winslet Team Up to Help the Hurricane-battered Caribbean
- Flora-Bama owner teams with Kenny Chesney to help Virgin Islands
Plus a new website was developed to promote good news in the British Virgin Islands following Hurricanes Irma and Maria. It’s specifically geared towards the tourism industry, providing updates for those who want to travel to the islands. See it here:
Be a Part of a Good News Story
You too can be a part of the good news stories. If you feel moved to support the hurricane relief efforts in the Caribbean, I invite you to partner with me on my #KeepCalmCaribbean fundraising campaign.
I’ve designed this special t-shirt to raise funds for the HOPE worldwide charity. All proceeds go directly to HOPEworldwide for disaster relief in the Caribbean. Islands such as Tortola (where I live), Virgin Gorda, Jost Van Dyke, Dominica, St. Thomas, St. John and St. Croix all stand to benefit from this campaign.
For more ways to help read here.
I also invite your continued prayers for my Caribbean, my friends and my family. We have a long way to go on the road to recovery, but I know that God is still in the business of good news.
How about you?
Where do you turn for your good news stories? Do you have a good news story you’d like to share?
Are you facing some bad news right now? If so, I’d love to pray for you and I welcome you to get in touch.
Wishing you blessings,
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It seems the bad outweighs the good. It’s refreshing to hear some good news. Thanks for your perspective on Literacy Musing Mondays.
Marva,
Thank you for reminding us it is all about what we focus on. Keeping my eyes focused on God and the good that comes from him. Continued prayers for you my friend.
Thank you, Marva, for collecting and sharing these! Amen- God always is working for good and we can appreciate the good- even in the bad. So glad you are safe through the storms!
Marva, this post is like a breath of fresh air! It is so good to focus on the good, especially in the news these days. There is still much love and goodness out there and I want to thank you for showing us so much of it today! I plan to come back later and click some of these links to read more. God bless you, Marva, for all you’ve done to help those around you! I think he placed you here for such a time as this.
I have always been a silver lining kind of person. I don’t ignore the reality that bad things happen but at the end of the day we need to learn and move forward. Thank you for the uplifting post.
Thanks for visiting, Kim and for joining in the conversation. I’m glad you were uplifted today!
Blessing to you!
I love reading the newspaper but sometimes when I’m ingesting the newspaper I realize the bad outweighs the good which is why I like human interest stories. I don’t watch the news; I’m not a big moviegoer. I seriously love listening and singing gospel music; I love good wholesome chats with friends; I love my church! I am very careful with my social media time.
I’m in a stage of my life where I am on an adventure with God and I’m enjoying it.
I make a point and make no apologies about guarding my spirit.
Stopping by from #momentsofhope
Nylse, what a wise woman you are. I’m slowly catching on to the idea of guarding my spirit by limiting what I allow into my mind. And I love that you make no apologies about it. Good for you!
love this, marva – and when we experience the bad, we have the platform more so to share the good – darkness contrasts the light so much better. bless you and my good news story for you todya is that our middle daughter had a garage sale on saturday and raised money for the N. Calif. fire victimes – her idea and her work – that’s good news!
Sue, you’re so right about the opportunity I have to share good news — the darkness really does put the light in perspective. And I’m so proud of your daughter; that’s a great way to help those who are hurting! Thanks so much for sharing that great news with us.
Blessings to you, my friend.
I love reading good news stories and I’m looking forward to clicking around on the links you’ve shared. It’s usually through my Facebook friends that I find my good news stories. I’m learning to protect myself and know when I’ve had enough of the bad news. I’ll see certain headlines and recognize that I just can’t “go there”.
Good point, Dawn. Years ago I realised that watching certain movies didn’t sit well with me so I set some boundaries in place to kinda protect my heart. Now it seems I have to do the same with the news too. There’s only so much of the bad stuff I can take, lol. 🙂 I’m slowly learning to be wise.
Wishing you blessings, my friend!