It is cold outside! This week we have seen record low temperatures in many parts of the country. Like many of us, I don’t want to go outside when it is really cold. I prefer the warmth and comfort of inside. However, many people want to be outside every chance they get. Caden Thieman is one such person who loves to play outside, no matter the temperature.
Recently the 14-year-old was outside, playing football by himself. Caden loves football and you can tell that by looking at the front yard of his house. It has a goal post so that Caden can practice kicking the ball. On an extremely cold day, Caden was outside playing football, when Calvin Graham, a Nashville Police Officer was driving by Caden’s home. When he spotted Caden outside, Calvin stopped his patrol car and got out to see what was going on.
It did not take long for a great game of catch to begin between Caden and Calvin. The two played for over 20 minutes in the freezing temperatures. Both of them had a great time despite the cold.
Not long into their game of catch, Caden’s mom noticed what was happening in her front yard. She took a short video of them playing catch and posted it to her social media. It has been shared hundreds of times and has been covered by several major news outlets.
Often, the opportunity to do good is right in front of us. The biggest obstacle to being kind, is our willingness to step out of our comfort to show compassion to others. When this officer saw Caden playing outside in the cold, he could have simply waved and kept on driving in his warm patrol car. Instead, he stepped out of his comfort and blessed Caden’s life as well as so many who have found this simple act to be a wonderful picture of kindness.
Rev. Keith King, Online Campus Pastor
