Today I feel grateful for the “good news”. We all grow tired of bad news.  The Corona virus, civil unrest, mass shootings, drugs, human trafficking, wild fires, floods and tornadoes are front and center at all times in the headlines and the “Breaking News” updates. It is exhausting and depletes the soul.

But then things happen and remind us of the good that is in our world.  These are the “good news” events that keep us looking forward to something positive.  The Olympics has had some of those moments.  Just this week we saw two pole vaulters, Tamberi from Italy and Barshim from Qatar who have been friends since they were teenagers competing in this event decide to share a gold metal rather than having a vault-off because of their love and respect for each other.  We also saw Poland granting a humanitarian visa to a Belarusian sprinter who refused to return to her homeland where she faced arrest for criticizing their government. Both were examples of good news to me and they did make the headlines, reaffirming the belief in good in the world.

The Old Testament prophesized the coming of Jesus and the New Testament proclaims the good news of those fulfillments in many places.  We hear the good news of Jesus’ birth in all of the gospels as well as Isaiah 9:6. For unto us a child is born, to us a son is given and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.  The women at Jesus’ tomb heard the good news of Jesus’s resurrection in Matthew 28:5-6 The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid for I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified.  He is not here: He has risen, just as He said. Come and see the place where he lay.”  Jesus himself shares the best good news of all in John 11:25-26- Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life.  The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die.”

God loves us unconditionally.  That is the greatest news we can ever hear.  It is the greatest gift in our lives.  God’s unconditional love bolsters us when we are overwhelmed as he has promised us.  Share this good news with everyone you can and help to lift them up as well!

Patty