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.
Today’s Something Good is all about doing the right thing.
Howard Kirby, recently retired, has had a rough couple years. He got a divorce and had a kidney removed because of a tumor. His son, Ben, and his daughter-in-law Diane, along with a dog and six cats, had to move in with him when Ben lost his job.
In December, Howard wanted furniture for his basement man cave, so he bought a couch and ottoman for $70 from a Habitat for Humanity ReStore in Owosso, Michigan. He’d had the furniture for a few weeks and noticed the ottoman was uncomfortable. Howard and Diane were both shocked when she unzipped the cushion cover trying to figure what the issue was and found $43,170 in cash tucked inside.
That money would have gone a long way in helping Howard and his family – their house badly needs a new roof. An attorney assured him he was under no obligation to return it. However, Howard knew that money wasn’t his; it belonged to the person who donated the furniture. So he contacted the store and found out the person who made the donation was Kim Fauth-Newberry. She donated the set of furniture belonging to her grandfather after he died last year.
The store surprised Kim by having her come in on January 16 so Howard could return every penny he had found to her. Kim told WNEM it’s “crazy” and “completely awesome”.
Howard says, “I always thought what would I do if that ever happened and now I know, and it makes me feel good.” He continued, “Being a born-again Christian, Christ in me is the one that actually gave the money back. Remember the bracelets, WWJD? Well, that’s what Jesus would do.”
In the days that followed, people who heard about the heartwarming story, stepped up to help Howard and reward him for his honesty, in spite of him not wanting attention or expecting a reward.
A GoFundMe was started and has raised nearly $7,000. A local building supply company has donated supplies for a new roof and a contractor has volunteered to install it. According to MichiganLive, work on the new roof, depending on the weather, will begin in about a week. In addition, strangers have contacted Howard to tell him that his action has encouraged them to do good themselves.
As for Howard, he is trying not to get “a big head” about it all and insists that the credit belongs to Christ. “I have had so much peace, so much joy because I did do it, that $43,000 never could buy that much joy or peace or happiness,” Kirby said.
Honesty, integrity, and doing the right thing are definitely Something Good!
Now it’s your turn… Tell me something good!
