Heroes

My impressions and thoughts inspired primarily by the Biblical historical accounts of the demon possessed man's encounter with Jesus Christ in the region of Gadara recorded in the Gospels: Matthew 8:28-34; Mark 5:1-21; Luke 8:26-40. Other scriptures referenced throughout. #Christianity #JesusChrist #GospelofJesusChrist #God #Bible #Demoniac

A quick-thinking bus driver saved a little girl walking alone in New York City.

When most people hear the word heroes, they likely think of superheroes, largely thanks to Hollywood’s endless lineup of Marvel and DC movies. Still, others may even imagine athletes, actors and, for some reason, even politicians whenever hero, heroism or heroic is mentioned. Knowing that anyone would consider individuals who campaign for public office – big or small – to be heroes means that the meaning of that title has been significantly corrupted.

Heroes are people who look out for the welfare of others. They put others ahead of themselves and, at times, risk their safety and lives for someone else, even strangers. People who put a ball through a hoop, vote in Congress or work in the Oval Office are not even remotely heroes.

But Luis Jimenez is a hero, and his quick-thinking actions likely saved a 5-year-old girl from severe injury and possibly death.

According to a video posted on YouTube, Luis, a New York City bus driver, was simply doing his job when he noticed an unusual sight. He saw a young woman walking down the sidewalk in Manhattan by herself. The video states that Louis watched the little girl for a block or so and then told someone on the bus to call 911. He knew something was wrong. 

After the call to 911, Louis stopped the bus, and he and other passengers had the child get on the bus, off the streets and away from possible harm.

“My instinct as a father came on,” Luis said. “If I see a kid in the street in need of help, I would want somebody to have to help one of my children.”

It turned out that Louis’s hunch about the young girl was correct. She had been reported missing from her school. The little lady was apparently on a mission, headed to a pet store to buy a fish to replace hers that had recently died.

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

A heroic dog saved her elderly owner’s life by tracking down help after he fell and injured himself.

Dogs are some of the best beings you will encounter on this planet. They are loyal, dependable and loving. Also, most of the time, if you show one of those cute, furry and four-legged creatures any attention and love, you’ve got a friend for life. How can you not have a soft spot in your heart for canines?

A clip posted on YouTube details a situation in Washington state where, if not for the heroic and loving actions of one dog, her owner would have died. Instead, the dog was able to track down help and led a deputy to its owner, who had fallen and gotten injured.

The video states that Keith Johnson, 84, was letting his dog Gita outside one more morning when things took a turn for the worse. Keith states that when he let the canine out, he “got disoriented and dizzy.” He eventually stumbled to the ground, dislocating and cracking his hip.

Keith remained on the ground, unable to move, for several hours. However, Gita, the 13-year-old dog, always the trustworthy and dependable companion, stayed by Keith’s side the entire time. Eventually, Keith, understanding that he was in a terrible position, told Gita to find help.

Gita knew precisely what to do to get Keith some much-needed help.

The dog ran toward the highway and, while standing on the side of the road, caught the attention of a passing deputy. Eventually, Gita led the responding deputy straight to Keith. Gita’s actions had literally saved Keith’s life.

“I get choked up thinking about it,” Keith said. “She knew what she was doing. I tell her I love her every time I talk to her.”

Humans do not deserve dogs. God knew what He was doing when He put them on Earth.

Genesis 1:21 “And God created great whales, and every living creature that moves, which the waters brought forth abundantly, after their kind, and every winged fowl after his kind: and God saw that it was good.”

A heroic woman managed to safely land a plane after her husband, the pilot, suffered a heart attack during the flight.

Hero, heroism and heroic are words that are used far too often in society. Today, everyone can be a hero, and one does not have to do much to have that title bestowed upon them. Those words are erroneously used to describe more and more people all the time.

Run for office while promising people anything and everything as you use colorful language, and many deem you a hero. Or put a ball through a hoop, throw a football a certain number of yards or memorize and spout lines written by someone else, and you will also be someone worthy of that title. The definition of hero and heroism has become incredibly warped and skewed. Not many, if any, of those people described are heroic.

However, one woman, Yvonne Kinane-Wells, is a hero. She came through in a big way during an unbearably stressful and high-pressure, life-or-death situation. Yvonne landed a plane without incident after her husband, who was the pilot of their private plane, suffered a heart attack mid-flight. The incident happened as Yvonne and her husband were flying from Las Vegas to Monterey, California.

In a clip posted on YouTube, an air traffic control operator talks Yvonne through the landing procedure. Before the emergency, Yvonne had no piloting experience. Instead of Monterey, the air traffic controller directed Yvonne to the Bakersfield Airport.

In the interactions with air traffic control, Yvonne stayed cool, calm and collected despite the intense and scary circumstances. With air traffic control’s instructions, Yvonne somehow manages to land the plane at the airport without even so much of a scratch.

“Well, it’s, it’s to my knowledge, unprecedented,” said one airport official. “I’ve never seen it in my entire career.”

Yvonne is undoubtedly worthy of being called a hero. She did something most people would never dream of doing during an intense, life-or-death situation. One could even call what Yvonne did a miracle.

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.”

A child was able to remain calm and call 911 during her mother’s medical emergency, helping to save her life. 

Remaining calm during highly intense, high-pressure situations is a significantly underrated and invaluable skill. Everyone, at one time or another, will encounter circumstances when making the right decision correctly under pressure will make all the difference. It may come up at work, home, the grocery store or someplace else.

When those high-pressure situations happen, many people lose their cool and buckle when it’s time to come through in a big way. However, others can keep their heads, stay calm and provide assistance, even lifesaving help, when the circumstances call for it. That was precisely what one little girl, 5-year-old Zoey, did during a medical emergency.

A clip posted on YouTube states that Zoey helped save her mother’s life when she fainted as she experienced a seizure-like episode. That had to have been a terrifying experience for the youngster. Most people, let alone children, would have lost their composure, at least for a few moments.

But Zoey was able to remain calm during the situation.

The young lady, after her mother fainted, reached out to 911. The short clip includes a portion of the call to emergency services. Zoey is calm, cool and collected. She tells the operator exactly what happened and who she has already contacted about the situation.

Not only that, but Zoey’s mother states that her daughter provided “100% accurate information.”

So, how could someone so young stay calm during such an intense situation? Zoey credits her breathing for allowing her to help save her mother’s life.

“I took 10 deep breaths,” Zoey said. “I took 10 deep breaths. So, I calmed down. I was panicking, but I calmed down.”

This child is not only a hero but is wise enough to know that remaining calm during such a situation is crucial to being able to help others.

2 Timothy 1:7 “For God did not give us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of self-control.”

When time is of the essence, two heroic officers step up to save a choking baby in this dramatic rescue captured on video. The two officers from the Highstown Police Department are being hailed as heroes. Officer Officers Daniel Abbatemarco and Kenneth Larson responded to a distress call. They arrived on the scene on the side of the road to find a frantic family and a baby in grave danger.

The baby had begun to choke while she was in her car seat. Upon arriving, the officers quickly assessed the situation and immediately recognized the severity of the infant's condition. Without missing a second, Officers Abbatemarco and Larson began performing the infant Heimlich maneuver, a critical technique designed to clear the airway of choking victims. The parents were frantic and begging the officers to save the baby’s life. 

Throughout the tense moments, the officers remained calm and collected, reassuring the distressed family, which was incredible to watch. Once they cleared the baby’s airway, they coaxed the baby girl to cry. 

“Let’s let out a cry, sweetheart,” one of the officers said as the other held the little girl in his arms. Once she was able to breathe, she let out a wail from the terrifying ordeal. Soon after, the paramedics arrived and they praised the officers for knowing exactly what to do. This story would have been tragic if the officers did not know how to do the infant Heimlich maneuver. They only had precious seconds to save the little girl’s life.

The video was posted online and gained thousands of views and hundreds of comments of praise. One viewer put herself in the parent's shoes. She commented, “I can only imagine how the parents feel at the moment. A parent's nightmare. This is why people need CPR classes.” Another person commented, “Not all heroes wear capes;” we couldn't agree more.  Another viewer said she loved seeing the softer side of the police department. She added, “Absolutely in love with this video! I love seeing the softer side of officers and seeing the community come together to support this family️ I'm just tickled pink that your munchkin made it outta the dark. The first cry sent goosebumps from head to toe.”

What a blessed sound that first cry was. We are so thankful for everyday heroes like these officers. We hope this video of their courage brightened your day. 

Joshua 1:9 "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go."

A heroic officer successfully performed a daring, action-movie maneuver during an emergency and saved one man's life.

Law enforcement is one of the most dangerous career fields. The men and women in those professions often see and interact with some of society's worst elements. They continually risk their safety and lives for the well-being of others. When most people run away from a disaster or an emergency, firefighters and police officers head towards it.

While those men and women are certainly heroic and completely deserving of respect and admiration, Hollywood movies commonly embellish their deeds. In many action films, firefighters and police officers have almost superhero abilities, pulling off impossible feats with little ease. Well, one police officer's heroic action does not require any embellishment. What she did was straight out of a movie!

A clip posted on YouTube captured the woman's brave move as she and her partner responded to the scene. The video explains that a driver was experiencing a medical emergency while heading down the road. The truck was swerving back and forth on the road, which could have resulted in deadly crashes.

The responding police vehicle can be seen pulling up next to the truck. While moving down the road, the officer can be heard telling the driver to "roll the back window down all the way!" and to "Stop the vehicle."

Unfortunately, as the officers explained, the driver was in a daze and did not respond to those instructions. The officer was left with only one move in trying to get the vehicle to stop.

With the police car only six inches away from the truck, the female officer begins to climb out of the police vehicle and into the truck. She goes from the police car to the truck while both vehicles continue to move down the road!

Once inside the truck, the police officer manages to stop the vehicle. She quickly put it in park and shut it off.

What an extraordinary and heroic move! She put her own life at risk as she saved the truck driver and other motorists from potential harm.

2 Timothy 1:7 "For God did not give us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of self-control."

An officer rushed to the scene of an emergency and helped to deliver a baby in a CVS parking lot.

The men and women in law enforcement are some of the bravest individuals you will ever meet. They regularly experience the worst elements our society has to offer. When everyone else runs away from an emergency or disaster, police officers and firefighters go in the other direction. They are individuals looking to help whenever something tragic occurs.

Police officers and firefighters often offer comfort and safety during uncertainty and despair. Their efforts may even save a life or, as one clip posted on social media shows, help bring a new life into the world.

As every parent knows, children do not generally adhere to any schedule. When they want or need something, they want it now, regardless of the time or the inconvenience it may cause Mom and Dad.

When on duty, Lieutenant Sedrick Hayes received a radio call for help; he immediately rushed over. Once on the scene, he discovered Cam and Lindsay Hamden. The couple was in a CVS parking lot because Lindsay was pregnant, and they both knew the child was about to arrive and they weren't going to make it to the hospital.

 As the clip mentions, Lindsay was grateful for Officer Hayes' assistance with the birth.

"He was like, 'How are you? Are you Ok?'" Lindsay said. "I'm like, 'I'm in a lot of pain,' and she shoots out and then she starts crying. And hearing him say, like, 'She's breathing, her color looks good.'"

Later in the clip, it's revealed that God had placed Officer Hayes in the right place at the right time. This was the second birth that the officer had helped with while on duty. He had previously helped deliver a baby in 2001.

Isaiah 41:10 "Have no fear, for I am with you; do not be looking about in trouble, for I am your God; I will give you strength, yes, I will be your helper; yes, my true right hand will be your support."

Watch as a bus driver’s quick thinking helps save a child who was spotted running down a busy street. 

A bus driver named Peter saw a little boy running down the middle of a street all alone. This little boy was found in just a diaper and a tank top. He didn’t even have any shoes on. Peter quickly decided to help the little boy. Peter chose to block the intersection and secure his bus. This helped to protect himself, the little boy, and others who may stumble onto the scene.

After making sure the environment was safe, Peter quickly jumped off of his bus and picked up the little boy. Peter found that the little boy couldn’t speak. He then decided to call his union rep as well as 911 to get assistance.

The Police showed up to help, but the cutest thing was that the little boy wanted to get another hug from Peter. Isn’t that just so precious? As we go on to find out in the video, the little boy was about four blocks from home and happened to wander out of his home while his father was asleep and his mother was at work. Thank goodness there was a good man like Peter around to help!

Upon the boy’s return, Peter shares that the mom of the little boy was beyond grateful for Peter’s quick thinking and the help he provided for her son. Peter even goes on to say that the mom and he are good friends on Facebook, now. Even situations like these can develop friendships.

I wonder how many people passed this little boy on the street and didn’t do anything. Sometimes, it can be hard to take action when we’re caught up in the busyness of life and our own circumstances. We can thank God for good people in the world, such as Peter and that he took quick action to help a young child in need. 

Hebrews 13:16  "And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased."

Music legend Jon Bon Jovi's kindness and heartfelt words helped to talk a woman down off a bridge.

The world can be a cruel and lonely place. Everyday living, with all the stresses, worries, burdens and concerns, can be challenging and nearly impossible to maneuver. Many situations and circumstances can push us to our breaking point. It can get so bad that giving up and throwing in the towel seems preferable to continuing.

However, God remains with us when we endure life's many dark valleys and storms. His Word makes this abundantly clear: He will never leave nor forsake us. Even when it may not appear so, He is still in control and on the throne.

Also, when we feel unworthy of love or less than, we need to remember that we matter and are loved by the Creator of the universe. God has a plan and a purpose for every life. Everyone matters in His eyes.

A video posted on YouTube shows a woman standing on a bridge in Nashville, Tennessee. She was about to hurl herself off the bridge, ending her life. But as the clip shows, Bon Jovi, who happened to be shooting a music video on the bridge, walked over to her, offered her comfort and eventually helped talk her off the bridge.

As the clip mentions, the woman climbed off the bridge to safety about a minute later. The clip captures Jon giving the woman a warm and loving embrace.

Following the life-saving deed, the Nashville Police Department praised the rocker with a post on social media.

"It takes all of us to keep each other safe," the message read.

We never know what battle or fight someone may be silently going through. But we also never know how a kind, loving act or Word may dramatically impact and influence someone's entire life.

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."

A kind, heroic man stepped up and helped a mother save her child after her Tesla locked by itself, trapping the baby inside the vehicle.

Parents would do anything and everything in their power for their children. Ask any parent if that is the case, and you're sure to get near unanimous agreement. Children are precious, and no parent wants to see their child hurt or harmed, especially if they can do something about it.

So, whenever something does happen, and there is little or nothing a parent can do to protect their child, it can be panic-inducing. Being unable to prevent harm to your child and remaining helpless in such a situation has to be one of the worst feelings in the world. It would be every parent's worst nightmare.

A clip posted on YouTube shows that this disastrous, nightmarish scenario became real for one mother in California. The woman was charging her Tesla when the expensive electric vehicle out of nowhere locked on its own, trapping her 13-month-old son in the hot car.

Video shows the woman, Kassandra Pineda, frantically beating on the vehicle's windows. She, without a doubt, feared for the worst in those moments.

"I thought I was going to take my baby out of there lifeless," she said.

That's when one man, a stranger, came to her aide. He used a fishing weight to pound on the window, eventually busting it open. Because of the stranger's heroic actions, the child, scared and covered in sweat, was saved from the horrifying situation.

Kassandra is, of course, grateful for that kind man's heroic actions.

"I just want to thank him from the bottom of my heart," she said. "If it wasn't for him, I don't know what would have happened with my son."

That man, whoever he may be, is most certainly a hero.

Psalm 37:39 "But the salvation of the righteous is of the Lord; he is their strength in the time of trouble."

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A kind man rescues a scared, injured kitten darting across a busy interstate. In the bustling morning traffic of the Wantagh State Parkway, where the hum of engines and the blur of cars create a relentless rhythm, a little black kitten with a touch of orange and white on her face faced a dangerous situation. Her name was Wanda, and her story of survival began with a heart-stopping rescue.

John Debacker from Long Island Cat Kitten Solutions received an urgent call about a feline spotted along the center divider of a freeway. His heart likely raced as he envisioned the danger the tiny kitten was in, navigating the busy highway amidst speeding vehicles. John knew that every second counted.

When arriving on the scene, John’s eyes scanned the chaotic traffic, but Wanda was nowhere to be seen. Determined not to give up, he looped around the freeway, maneuvering through the congestion with urgency and caution. The risk was immense; the highway was a maze of speeding cars, and every moment without the kitten was a moment closer to disaster.

Realizing the situation's gravity, John wisely called the New York State Police. Understanding the urgency, the officers quickly responded, halting traffic to ensure John’s safety and to allow him to work without the constant threat of oncoming vehicles.

With traffic momentarily stopped, John returned to the center divider. His heart skipped a beat as he spotted Wanda, huddled and frightened. Seeing the small kitten was both a relief and a call to action. With fast hands, a large net, and a calming voice, John almost captured her before she ran away, scared. But as he approached the second time, he captured this wild but tiny kitten from her precarious spot.

The rescue was far from over. John carefully cradled Wanda and made his way back to the side of the road, ensuring her safety and avoiding any further close calls.

The New York State Police, having ensured that traffic was safely resumed, offered their congratulations and support. Wanda’s rescue proved the incredible effort and coordination between John and the police, who swiftly protected the tiny life at risk.

Back at the shelter, Wanda was given a warm bed, nutritious food, and the care she needed to recover from her harrowing experience, where she now awaits a loving, forever home. 

John Debacker’s heroic efforts, coupled with the timely intervention of the New York State Police, had turned a close call into a story of bravery and compassion. Wanda’s narrow escape from the Wantagh State Parkway was a reminder of the fragility of life and the immense impact of those who dedicate their efforts to rescuing those in need.

Luke 12:6-7 "Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows." 

A kind man rescues a stuck and frightened baby swan in a heartwarming move despite being attacked by its parent!

Simon, a dedicated wildlife aid, was summoned to an urgent rescue when a distress call came in about a baby swan caught in a chain-link fence. The situation was critical: the baby swan was entangled and struggling, and time was of the essence. Simon, known for his expertise and compassion in wildlife rescue, quickly made his way to the scene, prepared to face the challenge head-on.

Upon arriving, Simon encountered an unexpected obstacle. The baby swan’s father, a protective and determined swan dad, saw Simon as a threat to his young one. With fierce intensity, the father swan launched repeated attacks, trying to drive Simon away from the fence. His aggressive behavior was proof of the strong parental instincts that swans exhibit, especially when it comes to safeguarding their offspring.

Despite the swan dad’s best efforts to deter him, Simon remained calm and focused. He understood the urgency of the situation and knew that saving the baby swan required both skill and patience. With gentle precision, Simon worked to carefully untangle the baby swan from the chain-link fence. Each movement was deliberate, ensuring that the young bird was freed without further harm, and he gently fought off the swan’s protective advances.

The rescue operation was a delicate balance of respecting the swan dad’s protective nature while prioritizing the baby swan’s safety. Simon’s dedication shone through as he navigated the challenging circumstances, demonstrating the importance of empathy and persistence in wildlife rescue. The baby swan, now free from its entanglement, was reunited with its vigilant father.

Simon talked to the father swan, “You feeling a bit calmer? Good. Before he talked to the onlookers as they watched the entire family swim away, “So they’ve all got together again. Everybody’s happy, and I’ve got a bruised arm.” He added, “It’s so lovely to do something like that,” as he watched the reunited family swim away. 

In moments like these, we are reminded of the profound care and commitment of individuals like Simon. It’s a blessing to have people who dedicate their time and energy to helping the world’s animals ensuring their safety and well-being. We give thanks to God for such compassionate souls who help us cherish and protect the creatures that share our world, bringing hope and healing where it is needed most.

Matthew 6:26 "Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?"

A group of heroic police officers raced against time to rescue a 17-year-old driver trapped in a burning car.

Unfortunately, tragedies are an everyday occurrence in this fallen and lost world. Bad things happen all the time, often resulting in severe, devastating injuries and sadly, even loss of life. Television news broadcasts and thousands of websites are covered with such incidents, proving that statement to be completely true. 

However, a special group of people immediately rush to the scene when horrific accidents or similar incidents happen. Those men and women rush to the scene, answering duty’s call while looking for any possible way to save a life. Sadly, that is not often the case. However, there are instances in which law enforcement and firefighters perform rescues, pulling individuals to safety and saving their lives.

A clip posted on YouTube captured one of those instances following a crash that engulfed a vehicle in flames. The camera catches the moments after a 17-year-old crashed into a tree. Soon after the crash, the car ignites, trapping the teen driver inside the vehicle.

The first officer on the scene, Austin Williams, recalls hearing the driver screaming for help as he tried to pry open the door to free the driver. He also broke a window, but the flames proved too much for the officer. He had no choice but to stand back and wait for help.

A second officer quickly arrived on the scene. He had a fire extinguisher and immediately began spraying the burning vehicle. However, it was insufficient to get the 17-year-old out of the car.

Then, more officers made it to the scene, and with the help of rope attached to their patrol car and the door of the burning vehicle, the 17-year-old was pulled from the car.

The teenager, who was stuck in the burning car for more than five minutes, survived but has undergone surgeries after sustaining burns to about 20% of his body.

Praise God for the heroic efforts of those officers and their refusal to give up.

A courageous 8-year-old girl wielded a bat as she helped to thwart a robbery attempt.

Sin corrupts and destroys everything that it touches and encounters. As a result, evil and hate most certainly exist in this world. We simply cannot and will not be able to escape being around sin as long as we remain in this world. Unfortunately, we see examples of evil and hate daily on television news broadcasts or websites.  

Crime, as everyone knows, is a by-product of sin. People, usually through force, will destroy or attempt to take something from others. Crime, despite the efforts of police officers or lawmakers, will never be eradicated. Sadly, it’s something that will always be with us.

However, one brave little girl was not going to let herself or her father become a crime victim. The surveillance video posted on YouTube shows how the little girl stepped up in a big way to stop a man with nothing but nefarious intentions.

The clip shows a would-be robber and the owner of a liquor store on the floor in a violent brawl. The clip’s description states that the criminal walked up to the register carrying a BB gun. After a few moments into their interaction, the suspect came behind the register and approached the store owner, which led to the two of them on the floor.

But the store’s owner got some help from his 8-year-old daughter. The little girl can be seen on camera carrying a baseball bat, walking up to the suspect on the ground and then taking a few healthy swings at him.

The clip mentions that after the child hit the suspect with the bat, the suspect fled the scene.

In an interview, the child’s father mentioned that he was proud of his brave daughter and mystified at how she could carry such a heavy bat.

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.”

A 15-year-old is a hero after she rescued two children and a dog from a fire.

Hero is a word that gets tossed around too much in society today. Seemingly, anyone and everyone is a hero or does something heroic, and the price of earning such a title is relatively low. Actors and actresses who read lines written for them, athletes and loud, boisterous politicians who promise to do one thing and then do the exact opposite are often referred to as heroes.

Can we all agree that not everyone is a hero? Heroes sacrifice and put other people first. Politicians, athletes and actors rarely, if ever, meet that threshold, often falling way short of the mark.

However, one young woman, 15-year-old Savannah Strother, is the very definition of a hero. She put herself in danger when she helped rescue others from a dangerous and potentially deadly situation. Her quick actions saved the lives of two young children and a canine.

In the clip posted on YouTube, Savannah, who was babysitting at the time of her heroic rescue, holds one child as she opens the front door. Flames can be seen just outside the home. It’s a frightening scene, for sure.

After quickly assessing the situation, Savannah orders the other child, who walks up behind her and the dog, to get out of the house. She continually yells at the child in the house, “Come on, come on!”

She eventually grabs the child by the hand, pulling him forward as all three and the dog go outside to safety.

The clip also mentions that the children Savannah saved were 1 and 3 years old.

In an interview, the young woman said everything at that moment was a “blur” and that she could only remember “feeling the heat on my back.”

One fire official called Savannah’s brave act “amazing.”

“It’s really amazing what she was able to do, especially for a 15-year-old, to not panic and to be able to get the kids out safely before the fire spread to that house,” he said. “It’s really unbelievable.”

Joshua 1:9: “Have I not given you your orders? Take heart and be strong; have no fear and do not be troubled; for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

A courageous police officer went out into a pond to heroically rescue a missing child.

Realizing that your child is gone and missing, with no idea where they could have gone, has to be one of the worst feelings in the world. So many thoughts and horrible scenarios would immediately start rushing to that mother or father’s mind. That would be every parent’s nightmare.

It would be unimaginable to be in a situation where your child is missing. Of course, every parent would do everything possible to locate their missing child. However, the average person is limited in what they can do in that situation, so alerting the authorities is always a good idea and is likely the first move of most parents.

In a clip posted on YouTube, a police officer responded to a call for a missing child in Florida. The video begins with officers frantically searching to find the little boy who had wandered away from home. The body camera footage shows an officer sprinting to the scene.

The short clip mentions that officers were starting to fear the worst. However, as one officer moves toward a body of water, he hears what sounds like a child screaming. Of course, the officer moves toward the sound and sees the youngster hanging out on a log in the pond.

Immediately, the officer leaps into the water and swims out to grab and rescue the child. At that moment of rescue, the officer said he thought of his children.

“I have a 5-year-old boy,” the hero deputy said. “He’s the same age, same size as him. So, when I picked him up out of the water, and he’s holding onto me tightly, you know, it felt like I was holding onto one of my kids.”

Thank God for that officer’s heroic efforts!

Proverbs 31:8 “Let your mouth be open for those who have no voice, in the cause of those who are ready for death.”

Check out this news story about some quick-thinking heroes who saved a 74-year-old man’s life at the gym after he collapsed.

An elderly gentleman passed out in the lobby at his gym in Colorado and was not breathing. He was unconscious and had no pulse. Thanks to some of the employees at the gym, they were able to administer CPR to the man, and they also connected him to a defibrillator all while rigorously performing chest compressions before a deputy sheriff arrived on the scene.

“How long has he been down for?” says the deputy to the group when he arrived at the gym.

“15 cycles of CPR,” the gym employees reply. “Let me take over,” the deputy says.

The dire situation turns around after the deputy sheriff steps in to continue doing another round of compressions. The man’s pulse returned!

“He’s breathing. We got him breathing,” says the deputy.

One of the gym staffers who helped during the medical situation was Tim Velasquez, and this man reflects on what was going through his mind during the scary event.

“I wanted to make sure I’m doing the best I can to save somebody else's life, and to make sure they’re able to go home to their kids or to their grandkids,” Tim shares. “So that’s what was on my mind.”

Many people commented online about the heroic acts of the gym staffers that day.

“That’s the type of facility I’d feel safe working out at,” writes one person on YouTube after watching the news story. “Responsive, well trained, concerned staff. Shoutout to them and that gym, glad you were able to save him.”

God really had these gym employees in the right area at the right time to save this man’s life. Bless these heroes and their quick-thinking skills that really made a difference that day.

An off-duty firefighter's quick actions and thinking saved a man's life at a high school graduation.

Graduations are special ceremonies that recognize and celebrate students' hard work and countless hours of study. They are often joyous and happy occasions as family and friends come together to honor the educational achievements of someone close to them. Regardless of the degree obtained, graduating from an academic institution of any kind is an important milestone and should be recognized as such.

Graduation ceremonies are about individuals dressed in cap and gowns striding across the stage to receive their diplomas. All the attention and focus should be and usually is on the graduating students. However, a scary, life-threatening incident momentarily took the focus off the graduates at one high school graduation. Luckily, an off-duty firefighter was in attendance, and he knew exactly what to do during the emergency.

In the clip posted on social media, a man in his 70s unexpectedly collapsed, causing a large thud as he fell to the ground at a high school graduation in Tennessee. The man had gone into cardiac arrest. Undoubtedly, it was a scary scene for all in attendance.

But one man, Jayce Pickle, was not frozen in fear. The video captures Jayce running toward the man moments after he fell to the floor. Jayce is an off-duty firefighter and immediately began performing CPR. Moments later, an AED arrived, and soon after that, Jayce was able to detect a faint pulse. Then, Jayce and several others helped carry the 70-year-old to an awaiting ambulance. The elderly man was then transported to a hospital.

Despite his efforts, Jayce remains modest about his actions that day, believing he does not fit the definition of a "hero."

"I've been a part of a lot of hero-like things," Jayce said. "Hero is a nice title, and, you know, I don't think I deserve it."

Many people would beg to differ.

Proverbs 11:17 "The man who has mercy will be rewarded, but the cruel man is the cause of trouble to himself."