Top Stories That Inspired Us in June 2026

A football player’s kindness went a long way when he stopped by a little boy’s lemonade stand in South Dakota. It was a warm day in 2023 when the South Dakota State Jackrabbits player saw 9-year-old Kamden on the side of the road with no customers. Ayden Dautermann went on to practice but returned with $20 for the boy and was rewarded with more than just a cup of lemonade.

Football Player’s Kindness Touches Hearts

Kamden was over the moon that a stranger would be that kind.

“He was smiling so big, excited to see someone come stop at his stand and then even more excited once he found out I played for the Jacks,” Ayden recalled.

That was the start of a beautiful friendship with Kamden and his family. That year, the family invited Ayden over for Christmas and gave him a 3D-printed Lego version of himself and a custom flag for his mom. Then, Ayden coached the Fellowship of Christian Athletes flag football team, which Kamden attended. Kamden’s family would often show up at his games and wait for photos and autographs.

They’ll Have a Life-Long Relationship

“It has gotten greater and greater as time went on,” Ayden said. “We just become closer and closer, and he’s one of those kids that I’ll look at as a little brother and take care of the rest of my life.”

Ayden, who is in this year’s NFL draft, came home while preparing for his NFL Pro Day and decided to surprise Kamden at school.

Touched by Tears at School Surprise

When he released the filmed moment on social media, it got over 400,000 views.

“I was very excited. I knew he’d be surprised and excited,” Ayden said. “But once I saw him hug me and cry, it hit me a little harder than I figured it would.”
“I knew I meant a lot to him, but I didn’t know it was that much,” he said. “That was a very special moment that I think he and I will never forget.”

He’s more proud of his impact on the youth and community than he is of his football accomplishments. Kamden and his family feel that firsthand. It’s wonderful when young men like this set an example for their community. They inspire and encourage boys—and that goes a long way!

@jlopez.8o5 @♠️ #dutchbros ♬ original sound - ￴ ￴￴

Written by Michaela Gordoni, originally published on Godtube.com. 

Teens received an unexpected surprise after someone saw them praying before prom. It was supposed to be a simple but monumental night—just five friends grabbing dinner before prom, laughing over appetizers, fixing corsages, and soaking in that once-in-a-lifetime kind of excitement.

Kate, JT, Nolan, Chase, and Madi, teens of High Tide in Chandler, Arizona, gathered around a table at a restaurant in Arizona, dressed up and ready for the night ahead. But before the food even arrived, something quiet and sacred unfolded. They bowed their heads and prayed.

They Were Thanking God in the Moment

They weren’t thinking about anything else except thanking God for the moment, with Nolan leading and the others joining in right in the middle of a busy restaurant. And someone noticed.

A stranger, sitting nearby, watched that small act of faith and kindness—and instead of interrupting, they responded in the most unexpected way. Without saying a word, they paid for the teens’ entire meal. They didn’t bother to compliment the kids or interrupt their meal. Instead, it was just a quiet gift left behind with a handwritten note referencing Matthew 5:16 and a few stamped pennies with crosses tucked inside. By the time the teens realized what had happened, the stranger was gone.

Teens Praying Before Prom

“They learned a stranger had paid for their meal and left a note… it truly caught them off guard in the best way,” JT’s mom, Jill Thompson Skurtovich, said.

And you can just imagine it, can’t you? That moment at the table—the confusion, the smiles, the realization that something bigger had just happened. That someone saw them in the moment of their night of fun, thanking God for their blessings.

“As a mom, it meant so much… it was such an unexpected and meaningful moment for our kids,” Jill shared. “It was a powerful reminder that there is still so much good in the world.”

But here’s the part that lingers—the part that makes your heart catch a little. Those teens didn’t just receive the kindness…They carried it forward. Even though their meal had been paid for, they still left a tip for their waiter. Turning their gratitude into action.

The Kids Responded in the Best Way

“What made me even prouder was how the kids responded,” Jill said. “They were genuinely grateful and wanted to pass along that generosity in their own way.”

And isn’t that how it works? One quiet act of faith. One unseen moment. One stranger choosing kindness.

And suddenly, it ripples. It reaches beyond one table, one dinner, one night.

“This act of kindness didn’t just bless them for one night—it left an impression on all of us,” Jill said. “It inspired our families to continue paying that kindness forward.”

Because sometimes the most powerful testimonies don’t come from a stage…They happen in the middle of ordinary moments, like a group of teenagers who remind us all what it looks like to shine a little light in a watching world.

“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” Matthew 5:16

h/t: People
Featured Image Credit: ©Getty Images/KatarzynaBialasiewicz

Written by Heather Riggleman, originally published on Godtube.com. 

His grandma never got to go to a prom, so this young man took her to his. We all remember our prom so fondly. It was a moment of being all grown up in a fancy gown or tux.

I still remember my first prom. The curling iron burns on the bathroom counter. The nervous excitement of getting ready with girlfriends. The way the dress felt too fancy hanging in my small-town bedroom.

The awkward photos we still treasure, anyway, because somehow those snapshots captured more than just dresses and tuxedos. They captured becoming. That tender space between childhood and adulthood where everything feels wide open and possible.’

Prom is a Memory-Making Event

Prom feels monumental when you’re young. But this young kid in braces took it one step further. Not only did he mark his grand grown-up entrance into the world in La Crosse, Wisconsin, but he brought his grandmother and made her dreams come true.

Junior high school student Avant Williams fulfilled a promise he made as a toddler by taking his grandmother, Svala Heller, to prom.

“Since I was like a little kid, my grandma’s been telling me she wanted to go to prom,” Avant shared. “It’s her dream.”

The Grandma Got to Go to Prom

Why did she want to go to prom? Well, Svala grew up in Iceland, where proms are not really part of the culture. So for years she watched American movies and television from afar, quietly carrying this little dream in her heart.

“I’ve always wanted to go to a prom,” Svala said. “Watching American TV and all that glamour that goes with it.” She dreamed of a night in glamor and all the things we experience in our own coming-of-age stories. And her sweet, precious grandbaby boy remembered. Fourteen years later when the big night came, he made it happen.

In a world where people forget birthdays because Facebook didn’t remind them, this teenager held onto a promise he made when he was barely out of diapers. That alone says something beautiful about the kind of young man Avant is becoming.

The Teen Took His Grandma to Prom

So, when prom night finally arrived, the two posed for photos together alongside Avant’s friends before heading to the dance. She was dressed in a beautiful black dress, holding a pink array of delicate flowers. And honestly, I can already picture Svala smoothing down her dress, teary-eyed, trying not to cry through her makeup, while her grandson came to pick her up.

She said, “It’s so special. “We have such a special bond.” You can feel that love in every word. And because this story somehow keeps getting sweeter, Avant’s best friend, Ruben Smith, also escorted Svala to the dance.

“No one gets to take their best friend’s grandma to prom,” Ruben joked. “It’s special.”

They Will Talk About This Night Forever

These boys may not fully realize it yet, but decades from now, this is the night they’ll still talk about. The world desperately needs more young people who honor the people who helped raise them. Avant’s words about taking his grandma made me misty-eyed.

Avant said, “It means the world to me. Like I love my grandma. She’s been there for me my whole life. I’m just happy I can make her dream come true.”

And somewhere between the corsages and camera flashes and probably overpriced prom tickets, a grandmother got to experience a dream she’d carried for years. Honestly, that feels far more magical than any Hollywood prom scene.

“Children’s children are a crown to the aged, and parents are the pride of their children.” Proverbs 17:6

h/t: KTBX 3 News

Featured Image Credit: YouTube/WQAD News 8

Written by Heather Riggleman, originally published on Godtube.com. 

A grandpa just completed the world’s largest jigsaw puzzle, 60,000 pieces in all, and you’ll be surprised to have a little advice about life coming from those pieces. Day by day. Piece by piece. That’s how Lou Salas of Colorado Springs, Colorado, built it.

Not just the world’s largest commercial jigsaw puzzle, but something deeper, something quieter, something that looks a whole lot like life. Lou spent over 800 hours across four years working on a 60,000-piece puzzle called ‘What a Wonderful World.’ It came in 60 boxes to create a full map of the world, slowly coming together in his hands. But before he ever placed the first piece, he had to figure out where something this big could even live.

Isn’t that how life works sometimes? We think we’re ready to begin, but first—we have to make room. Lou worked on each section one at a time, building 1,000-piece puzzles in a quiet room, storing them carefully on plastic sheets. And beside him, often, was his 8-year-old granddaughter, his “puzzle prodigy”, learning, watching, helping. Because the best things in life? They’re rarely built alone.

60,000 Puzzle Pieces in All

But even then… It wasn't easy. At one point, everything nearly unraveled. One missing piece in the 17th section. Just one. Enough to stop the whole thing. Lou admitted he “didn’t sleep” when he realized it was gone. For a moment, all that time, all that work, felt like it might not come together after all.

And maybe you’ve been there too.

That place where one missing piece feels like it could undo everything. But the piece came. The work continued. And Lou kept going. Because that’s what faithful building looks like—it doesn’t quit when it’s hard.

When it came time to assemble the entire puzzle, it became, in his words, “the biggest puzzle within the puzzle.” His family and friends built an eight-foot-by-29.5-foot table in his garage, and Lou literally suspended himself from the ceiling to bring all 60 sections together. It took nine hours just to connect it all.

It Was Bittersweet When He Finished the Puzzle

Nine hours… after four years. And when it was finally done? He called it “bittersweet.”

Because sometimes the thing you’ve poured your heart into becomes part of you—and finishing it feels like both an ending and a beginning all at once.

But here’s what I love most. After all that time, all that effort, all those pieces carefully placed… Lou doesn’t want to keep it. “You can’t put it into words or a price on it or anything,” he said. “If somebody could do it, that’s good enough for me.”

So he’s giving it away. Because somewhere along the way, Lou didn’t just build a puzzle—he learned something about life. That it’s not about holding onto what you’ve built… It’s about passing it on.

Piece by piece.

“Let us not grow weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”  Galatians 6:9

WATCH: A Grandpa Just Completed the World’s Largest Jigsaw Puzzle, 60,000 Pieces in All

h/t: People

Featured Image Credit: YouTube/CBS Evening News

Written by Heather Riggleman, originally published on Godtube.com.

Siblings Becky Gibson and Ralph Slawter had not seen each other for three decades. Then, one day, they found that they were both in the very same Ohio retirement home. It’s a family miracle that the siblings are reunited.

Siblings Reunited After Three Decades Apart

While Becky stayed in Ohio, Ralph lived all over the U.S. Years back, Becky and her family tried to locate Ralph, a Vietnam War combat medic, but could not get in touch.

They both grew up in Manchester, Ohio, and spoke through letters when he was in the service. Afterward, they lost touch. When they finally met again, it was thanks to their daughters.

“I posted it on Facebook saying we got dad all tucked away in Rose Lane (Nursing Home),” Ralph's daughter, Josie Hagy, said. “My cousin saw it and said, ‘Hey, are you in Massillon, Ohio now? Is he in Massillon, Ohio now?' And I said yes, and she said, ‘Well, mom is there too.'”

An Incredible Surprise

Becky was in shock when she learned they would both be living in the same facility. It had been years and years since they last lived together.

When Ralph saw her, he said, "It felt pretty good. Yeah, it did. Inspiring. And we've been together every day since. I didn't know I'd ever see her again, and here we ended up here together."

A Lesson We Can All Learn From

Ralph recalls Becky as the one who took care of him and changed his diapers.

While a news station interviewed them, they held hands the whole time. It’s clear that even though they’ve missed so many years, they still have great fondness for each other.

They regret missing out on each other's lives for so long. The lesson they learned is not to wait so long to see your relatives. Thank God that they were reunited again!

WATCH: After 30 Years Apart, These Siblings Found Each Other Again in a Retirement Home

h/t: People

Featured Image Credit: YouTube/WKYC Channel 3

Written by Michaela Gordoni, originally published on Godtube.com.

A miracle baby born twice is about to celebrate his first birthday. Little Cassian Joubert’s life is truly a wonder. He had a rare chance of survival before his final birth, and his parents are so glad he’s here.

A Scary Pregnancy Turns Into Two Miracle Births

Weeks into Cassian’s mom’s pregnancy with him, Keishera and her husband, Greg, learned that he had a rare anomaly called Congenital High Airway Obstruction Syndrome (CHAOS), which affects his lungs and blocks his airways. Most children with the diagnosis pass away before birth.

“When he was first diagnosed, we did what every parent would do — cry and pray,” Keishera said. “The scientific literature on CHAOS was bleak. ‘Devastatingly fatal,' they said, but there were a few survivors. It offered a glimmer of hope, but still we mentally prepared ourselves for the worst.”  

Keishera’s doctor attempted an in-utero surgery to pierce the blockage with a laser scope, but the attempt failed. However, he didn’t give up on Cassian. He proposed a new procedure where Cassian would be partially delivered by C-section at 25 weeks. While his head and neck were kept outside his mom’s abdomen, the rest of his body stayed inside, connected to her placenta.

When One Attempt Fails, Another Succeeds

The doctor was able to place a catheter inside his neck, which allowed the transfer of fluid out of his lungs, where it stayed until his final birth.

Keishera said, “The surgeons took a picture of Cassian, and it was beautifully profound to see the baby I was carrying. My son was partially born into the world and felt air on his face! They returned him to the womb, and I remained in the hospital for the remainder of my pregnancy.”

Six weeks later, Keishera’s water broke, and Cassian was delivered via C-section and had a tracheostomy procedure while still attached to the placenta. From there, he stayed in the NICU for his first four months of life before heading home.

Baby Born Twice Celebrates Two Birthdays

The parents will celebrate his “first birthday” when he had the successful surgery and, of course, his second birthday–when he completely came out of the womb–when that comes around.

Cassian still uses a ventilator and feeding tube and will require two more surgeries. Despite that, he is a happy baby, and his life is a miracle. His parents are very grateful to his doctor and staff, who have helped him thrive.

It is incredible that Cassian’s life was saved before his final birth. Hopefully, other babies who are diagnosed with CHAOS can also be saved through the same innovative surgery.

WATCH: Baby Who Was Born Twice After Miracle Surgery is About to Celebrate His First Birthday

h/t: People

Featured Image Credit: YouTube/Good Morning America

Written by Michaela Gordoni, originally published on Godtube.com.

A pilot’s final flight was canceled, then a rival airline gave him the goodbye he deserved. Sometimes the world feels so divided that we forget there are still genuinely good people out there. People are willing to set aside competition and differences simply to honor another human being. And honestly? This story about Spirit Airlines pilot Jon Jackson retiring feels like the reminder we all needed.

Captain Jon Jackson was supposed to make one final flight into Baltimore on May 2 before retiring after years in the skies. But instead, Spirit Airlines abruptly ceased operations that same day after 33 years in business. Just like that, the final flight of his career was canceled along with his flight home. What a brutal and abrupt ending. 

His Airline Shutdown Before His Last Flight

After decades of carrying passengers safely through turbulence, storms, delays, and long days, there would be no final landing or farewell over the intercom. But then something unexpected happened.

Jon boarded a Southwest Airlines flight from Fort Lauderdale to Baltimore, where his son Chris, also a Southwest pilot, shared his father’s story with the crew. Southwest decided they weren’t going to let a fellow pilot quietly fade into retirement without honoring him properly.

His Canceled Flight Ended Up With a New Retirement Flight Plan

When the plane landed, Baltimore Airport Fire & Rescue greeted Jon with a traditional water cannon salute as the aircraft taxied beneath giant streams of water. It’s one of aviation’s highest honors, and honestly, it felt like the perfect sendoff for a man whose final flight plans had suddenly crashed. It was so incredible to watch it all unfold!

Then things became even more emotional. As Jon walked through the airport, staff and passengers applauded while someone announced over the loudspeaker: “Ladies and gentlemen, Mr. Jon Jackson!”

The viral Facebook video, which has now reached more than 14 million views, shows Jon visibly overwhelmed by the surprise celebration.

He Couldn’t Thank Them Enough

“This is overwhelming, I can’t thank you all enough,” Jon said. “As Spirit goes down, this is a sad day and you guys made it incredible, so thank you so much.”

Southwest later shared: “It was a powerful reminder of the aviation community’s ability to show respect, compassion, and solidarity when it matters most. Above all, this moment was about honoring a fellow aviator.”

And honestly? That’s exactly why people can’t stop watching this story. Because even rivals chose kindness over competition. In a world full of turbulence, they helped someone land softly.

“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up.”  1 Thessalonians 5:11

WATCH: Pilot’s Final Flight Was Canceled, Then a Rival Airline Gave Him the Goodbye He Deserved

h/t: People

Featured Image Credit: YouTube/Fox News Clips

Written by Heather Riggleman, originally published on Godtube.com.

A 91-year-old is one proud poppy after getting the world record for the oldest grandfather in the world. Charles Smith became a dad at 55, and his son, Ashley, didn’t become a father until last year. Ashley and his wife, Hanna, submitted an application to Guinness World Records, and now it’s official: Charles is the oldest first-time grandfather ever.

Australian Man Becomes Oldest Grandfather on Record

The Australian native spent much of his work life promoting motorsports such as the Grand Prix. His new baby granddaughter, Isla, will call him “Poppy.”

“There are lots of grandpas and grandads around,” he said. “I feel Poppy suits me.”

She melted his heart from the first time he held her. 

“All I can say is I picked her up and didn’t want to give her back. Except for the nappy changes,” Charles said. 

Charles doesn’t care that he broke a record; he’s just happy to have his son and his family around.

Loved His Granddaughter at First Sight

He said, “Well, I love her, and she looks at me with my Poppy hat on and laughs. I look at my son Ashley, my daughter-in-law Hanna, and my granddaughter Isla and know this is it — family.”

Ashley says his father is very independent, despite his old age.

“He lives a great retirement, traveling around Australia in his camper van and heading out on the boat around Moreton Bay. Age hasn’t slowed him down at all, I think he’s more active than ever. He has a positive attitude and a strong circle of friends, which says so much about him. And knowing him, the amount of tea he drinks probably has something to do with it,” he joked.

Ready for His ‘Poppy’ Duties

Equally, Hanna loves having him as her father-in-law. Neither is worried about not being around for Isla. He’s completely ready for his Poppy duties.

It is wonderful that Isla will have her sprightly grandpa around to love on her as she grows up. Becoming a dad at 55 surely prepared him for becoming a grandfather late in life! Isla is in good hands.

h/t: Guinness World Records

Featured Image Credit: iStock/Getty Images Plus/Chinnapong

Written by Michaela Gordoni, originally published on Godtube.com. 

A woman gives birth to a baby on an airplane with the help of passengers. Some little girls enter this world quietly. Softly. Wrapped in warm blankets under glowing hospital lights while the family waits with flowers, cameras, and tears of joy.

And then there are baby girls who decided they are going to make an entrance somewhere above 30,000 feet over the Pacific Northwest, and because God knew of this perfect little girl’s arrival, He had two angels in the flesh on board. A woman named Ashley was aboard a Delta flight traveling from Atlanta to Portland when labor suddenly began mid-flight. She helped deliver this sweet baby girl about 30 minutes before the plane made an emergency landing at Portland International Airport around 10 p.m.

Two Oregon EMTs, Tina Fritz and Caarin Powell, happened to be on board returning home from vacation when a flight attendant made the call asking for medical personnel to ring their service bells.

A Woman Gives Birth On a Plane

“Then the steward came up to us, and he goes, ‘Hey, we have a lady up front who thinks she’s going into labor. Contractions are about three minutes apart. Can you guys check her out?’” Tina remarked.

She hurried up the aisle to assess this usual situation and immediately realized there was no time to wait.

“I asked for an OB kit, which they did not have. I asked for blankets, which they did not have,” Tina explained. “So I was like, okay, we need to get blankets from passengers. I need some shoestrings.”

Strangers Became Helpers

And this is the part that feels so deeply human and beautiful to me. Strangers immediately became helpers. Passengers handed over blankets and a flight attendant pulled out his own shoestring so the EMTs could improvise medical care. Somewhere between the turbulence and the panic and the prayers whispering through that cabin, complete strangers came together to help welcome a brand-new life into the world.

No one cared about carry-on bags or delayed schedules anymore.

There was a baby coming.

Three Good Pushes and the Baby Was Out

“She’s like, ‘I gotta push, I gotta push,’” Tina recalled. “And within three really good pushes, the baby was out and doing perfect. Mom was a rock star.”

And every mother reading this probably whispered amen because childbirth has a way of turning women into warriors in the span of minutes. Tina said they wrapped the baby girl up just as the plane began touching down and then came the moment that probably left hardly a dry eye on the plane.

“The whole plane cheered for mom,” Tina said. “It was great.”

The Entire Plane Clapped For the Baby

Can you imagine it? An entire plane full of strangers erupting into applause somewhere on the runway in Portland, while a brand-new mama held her tiny miracle in her arms for the very first time and a baby girl entered the world surrounded by chaos and kindness and people showing up for one another.

And honestly, that feels like a pretty beautiful way to begin.

“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.” Psalm 139:13

WATCH: Woman Gives Birth to Baby On Airplane With the Help of Passengers

h/t: KOIN News

Featured Image Credit: YouTube/KOIN 6

Written by Heather Riggleman, originally published on Godtube.com.

A man took the stage at graduation, then he announced he was paying off student loans. I’m in my 40s and still carrying student loan debt like an overstuffed backpack I never asked to wear. And if I can help it, my kids will never know the kind of fear that comes with opening a bill and wondering how many more years of your life belong to interest rates and payments instead of dreams. The gratitude and blessings you’ll feel will leave you in awe.

That’s why this story hit me because of how big a heart this one man has. And I hope there are many more stories like this that make headlines. At the graduation ceremony for the North Carolina State University Wilson College of Textiles, students thought they were simply walking across a stage to receive a diploma. A hard-working man by the name of Anil Kochhar stepped up to the microphone and changed lives with a few simple words and a deep pocket.

“My wife, Marilyn and I are providing a graduation gift to cover all the final year education loans incurred by the Wilson College graduates during the 2025-26 academic year,” Anil said.

Can you even imagine that moment? The gasps, the tears, the wide eyes, and the realization that a debt has been paid for, and how adulthood didn’t have to begin underwater.

The Man Paying Off the Student Loans Became a Game Changer

One student called it “absolutely a game changer.” Another said, “It was a big relief for me that a good lump sum of my tuition is covered.” One graduate admitted, “I thought I was graduating… but now I get some money now out of it.”

And honestly? I probably would’ve ugly cried right there in the folding chair while clutching my coffee and mascara-stained tissues. Because debt is heavy. It follows people into marriages, motherhood, late-night panic attacks, career choices, and dreams deferred. It steals peace in quiet ways people rarely talk about. And this weight resembles a little of what our Savior did for us on the cross, and it brings me to tears to see it in a tangible way.

Anil explained the gift was connected to his father’s legacy at NC State after earning both undergraduate and master’s degrees there. “We know it’s very difficult for students with these great debts,” he said. “We wanted to do something for these graduating people.”

The Man Saw the Burden the Students Faced

And maybe that’s what wrecks me most. Someone saw the burden… and decided to lift it.

In a world that often says, “Figure it out yourself,” this couple quietly said, “You don’t have to carry this alone.”

That kind of kindness doesn’t just pay loans. It restores hope and leaves a mark on our hearts to carry it forward. Maybe somehow, you and I, both reading this, can find a way to pay it forward too!

“Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”  Galatians 6:2

WATCH: A Man Took the Stage at Graduation, Then Announced He Was Paying Off Student Loans

h/t: ABC 11 News

Featured Image Credit: YouTube/ABC11

Written by Heather Riggleman, originally published on Godtube.com.