Change Your Attitude – Act Like a Firefighter

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We're used to thinking of firefighters running into burning buildings when others are running out. But I was touched by their humble act of service...
We’re used to thinking of firefighters running into burning buildings when others are running out. We’re familiar with stories of their bravery and daring rescues.

It is less common for us to hear about their everyday humble acts of service.

The other night Rev and I came downstairs to start making dinner and noticed a strong odor in our laundry room. We thought it smelled like gas, and not something we could ignore.

So, I called the non-emergency number for our local fire department.

In less than ten minutes, flashing lights and blaring sirens announced their arrival.

We opened the door to a team of firefighters dressed out in full uniform, with testing equipment in hand. I’ll have to admit I was a little anxious when the last one came in wielding an axe.

They immediately agreed there was a smell. One they described as somewhere between gasoline and pickle juice. Yep, that’s right . . . pickle juice.

The testing equipment said it wasn’t a gas leak, which began a search for the source. Lots of questions: did we bring in any cleaning products? get any gasoline? spill anything? etc.

At this point we thought the team would move on to help someone else or return to the station to watch the basketball game.

But they were not satisfied. They could smell something and wanted to be certain we were safe.

Now for the part of a firefighter’s life we never hear about . . .

I don’t know if my house has ever been more thoroughly sniffed. Upstairs. Downstairs. Basement. In the washer and dryer. And yes even the dirty jeans in the laundry room. (Very thankful our dirty underwear was still in the hamper in the bathroom. Whew!)

Finally, after blowing a high-powered fan through the house to air it out, the youngest guy on the team was assigned the task of mopping the laundry room floor. (I’m thinking of inviting them back next week.)

Smelling dirty laundry and mopping floors. I had no idea that was part of a firefighter’s job description.

They never did find the source of the smell, and left telling us if it continued or got worse to please call them again.

Thank you! Thank you! 

We thanked them profusely, and all they continued to say is, “It’s our job, and we love it!”

Today’s Activity:

Serve someone.

Go above and beyond what’s expected.

You choose; whatever or wherever the Lord leads.

Then please come back and tell us about it. I love when we encourage one another.

 But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must be the slave of everyone else. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many. Mark 10:43-45

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