The ABC affiliate in Charlotte did a superb job profiling the work of 9-year-old Jayden Hooker. Hooker is helping to raise money for the family of Charlotte police officer Chris Frunzi who has two boys battling cancer. Hooker is selling painted rocks for $2.00 and a GoFundMe page created on August 12 with pictures of some of the rocks has already raised over $12,000 for the two boys.
Make sure you watch the video interview of Hooker with WSOC-TV reporter Joe Bruno. It’s a true gem. “Even though there is Covid going on, there is a lot of good going on in the world still,” says Hooker.
Hooker has been in the news before offering free hugs and Officer Frunz was in the news in 2016 because of a viral image of him hugging activist Ken Kwadike during violent protests in Charlotte. Kwadike has also helped raise money for Frunz’s family.
I gravitated to this story because it reminded me of an uplifting report from 2007 where I highlighted Caden Stufflebean selling rocks for those that were hungry in Montana. The then 7-year-old Stufflebean told the Missoulian:
I think I might keep on selling rocks, Then I can buy more bags for the hungry to eat other dinners. I think God has a purpose for me to sell rocks.
Kids often have an innate ability to teach us or even shame us into being more loving and generous. After all, Hooker’s good deeds are quite the contrast to this highly politicized era that tends to focus on conflict and victimhood. It is no wonder that Jesus calls us to be more like a child.
