NOTE: This blog was originally written in January 2009.
Yesterday, I watched as a dear friend of mine had to say goodbye to the man she loved. No he didn't leave to serve our country as some of you might think. He DIED trying to serve our community at the young age of 23. You see, he was a fireman and he was killed in the line of duty last week. As I sat in that service, the Lord convicted my heart of many things. The first being how we, the citizens in our local community, take our fire and police for granted. We treat them as everyday normal people like us and that is true out of the uniform. However, when they put on that bunker gear or bulletproof vest, they become someone more than just your next door neighbor. They become the men and women who have taken an oath to protect their community at all cost. When everyone else is running from a fire, they are going into the very depth of it. When everyone else is taking cover from sheets of gunshots, they are walking in the middle of the fray. Most of the time, they make it back, but sometimes they don't. They give their lives to save another. After 9/11, America couldn't stop thanking the fire and police for all of their hard work, but now many seem to not even acknowledge they are there. Along with the troops serving our country, we should also remember and pray for our local "troops" serving our community.
Another thing that was heavy on my heart is how we get so busy in life that we forget to live it. I was watching a slideshow of all the things he did during his short life. The vacations he took with his family, the Sunday afternoon meals after attending church, and the joyful times with family and friends were all reflections of him living his life to the fullest. Throughout the service, his family and friends would say "he lived life like there was no tomorrow, with no regrets, because he never knew if there would be a tomorrow in his line of work." He always strove to tell his loved ones I love you every time he would hang up the phone with them or leave the house because he wanted them to know without any doubt that he loved them. I don't know about you, but I have failed to live life sometimes because I was too busy. I let one-of-a kind moments pass me by because I was too busy looking the other way to see them. After all was said yesterday, I left with a resolution to myself to try from this moment on to live life like he did, with no regrets and to its fullest. Don't ever hesitate to tell someone how much you care about them because it could be the last moment you ever get to tell them.
My heart was saddened when this realization hit me as well. I watch 500+ firefighters from all parts of Texas in their dress blues stand and salute as their fallen "brother" was laid to rest. Most of these "brothers and sisters" didn't know him personally, but they came in love and rememberance of him simply because he was one of their "family". There was no hesitation on any of their parts. Why can't Christians do the same thing? We are "brothers and sisters" in God's family, but when one of our own is hurt or dying we fail to come to them. These men traveled far and wide to attend not one, but two of these funerals in as many days without as much as a complaint. Not only was the fire family represented, but many police and EMT officers were also in attendance as well. It saddened me because although his blood family and his fire family were represented, where was his church family? These people call themselves his "brothers and sisters" too. Don't be that Christian brother or sister who becomes so busy with life or your own desires that you fail to come to the need of your fellow family member in their time of need. Sometimes during these times their Christian family may be the only family they have.
After the service, his body was escorted by hundreds of fire and police vehicles to his body's final resting place. Words can't begin to describe the scene on the way to the cemetery. People were stopping their cars on the side of the road so the occupants could get out and salute as his body passed by. People came out of their homes with reverence to show their respect for his sacrifice. As touching as it was to see this scene, why did it take his death to get this response out of people? The next time you see a fire or police officer, whether its in person or on tv, take a moment to remember what they do and the dangers they face.
Yesterday, I watched as a dear friend of mine had to say goodbye to the man she loved. No he didn't leave to serve our country as some of you might think. He DIED trying to serve our community at the young age of 23. You see, he was a fireman and he was killed in the line of duty last week. As I sat in that service, the Lord convicted my heart of many things. The first being how we, the citizens in our local community, take our fire and police for granted. We treat them as everyday normal people like us and that is true out of the uniform. However, when they put on that bunker gear or bulletproof vest, they become someone more than just your next door neighbor. They become the men and women who have taken an oath to protect their community at all cost. When everyone else is running from a fire, they are going into the very depth of it. When everyone else is taking cover from sheets of gunshots, they are walking in the middle of the fray. Most of the time, they make it back, but sometimes they don't. They give their lives to save another. After 9/11, America couldn't stop thanking the fire and police for all of their hard work, but now many seem to not even acknowledge they are there. Along with the troops serving our country, we should also remember and pray for our local "troops" serving our community.
Another thing that was heavy on my heart is how we get so busy in life that we forget to live it. I was watching a slideshow of all the things he did during his short life. The vacations he took with his family, the Sunday afternoon meals after attending church, and the joyful times with family and friends were all reflections of him living his life to the fullest. Throughout the service, his family and friends would say "he lived life like there was no tomorrow, with no regrets, because he never knew if there would be a tomorrow in his line of work." He always strove to tell his loved ones I love you every time he would hang up the phone with them or leave the house because he wanted them to know without any doubt that he loved them. I don't know about you, but I have failed to live life sometimes because I was too busy. I let one-of-a kind moments pass me by because I was too busy looking the other way to see them. After all was said yesterday, I left with a resolution to myself to try from this moment on to live life like he did, with no regrets and to its fullest. Don't ever hesitate to tell someone how much you care about them because it could be the last moment you ever get to tell them.
My heart was saddened when this realization hit me as well. I watch 500+ firefighters from all parts of Texas in their dress blues stand and salute as their fallen "brother" was laid to rest. Most of these "brothers and sisters" didn't know him personally, but they came in love and rememberance of him simply because he was one of their "family". There was no hesitation on any of their parts. Why can't Christians do the same thing? We are "brothers and sisters" in God's family, but when one of our own is hurt or dying we fail to come to them. These men traveled far and wide to attend not one, but two of these funerals in as many days without as much as a complaint. Not only was the fire family represented, but many police and EMT officers were also in attendance as well. It saddened me because although his blood family and his fire family were represented, where was his church family? These people call themselves his "brothers and sisters" too. Don't be that Christian brother or sister who becomes so busy with life or your own desires that you fail to come to the need of your fellow family member in their time of need. Sometimes during these times their Christian family may be the only family they have.
After the service, his body was escorted by hundreds of fire and police vehicles to his body's final resting place. Words can't begin to describe the scene on the way to the cemetery. People were stopping their cars on the side of the road so the occupants could get out and salute as his body passed by. People came out of their homes with reverence to show their respect for his sacrifice. As touching as it was to see this scene, why did it take his death to get this response out of people? The next time you see a fire or police officer, whether its in person or on tv, take a moment to remember what they do and the dangers they face.
An American flag suspended between two firetruck ladders floats in the wind at entrance of the cemetery
Members of the honor guard stand in attention as the casket is moved to a waiting fire truck to be transported for burial
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