The news these days is often depressing at worst and frustrating at best. It’s easy to get caught up in the spin cycle and let it get us down.
Never fear… The News Blender has you covered. Once a week, we feature Something Good and, in return, all you have to do is tell us something good that has happened to you this week, something you are thankful for, a joke, a cute animal story, an inspiring tale of heroics, a Random Act of Kindness… SOMETHING good.
This week we feature a story about the Chick-fil-A in Avon, Indiana and a WWII vet named Ernie.
When Ernie was 18, he landed in Japan during WWII. Ernie is now 92, still mows his yard – “he push-mows!” – and drives himself to Chick-fil-A nearly everyday. He started coming in to the restaurant about a year ago and the employees fell in love with his warmth and kindness, according to Fox 59. The employees feel it is a good day if they get to take Ernie’s food to him and they take turns sitting and chatting with him.
Owner Chris Tincher says Ernie is an “All-American grandpa” who just “makes you feel good”. Executive Director Melissa Lubbert says that she doesn’t know what they would do without Ernie and that he is a bright spot in their day.
On Veterans Day, Ernie was honored by the employees at his favorite restaurant. In a video posted to Facebook, Chris Tincher shared employee James Cooke’s idea to honor Ernie by giving him free food for life. They told Ernie that the Avon Chick-fil-A was his home and, since he was family, he couldn’t pay for his meals.
Ernie tried to refuse, saying he didn’t deserve it, but his friends insisted.
Tincher explained to Fox 59 that Ernie means more to the restaurant than his money does. He said, “He really does make people feel special. He’s almost more important to our staff than we are to him.”
Ernie still gets his usual – a kids chicken nugget meal and a root beer – even though he could order anything on the menu.
Ernie blesses his friends at his favorite Chick-fil-A and they bless him in return. It’s funny how when we bless others, the blessing rebound back to us multiplied.
Kindness, friendship, and honoring a vet’s service is definitely Something Good for us to celebrate today.
Now it’s your turn… Tell me Something Good!
