Firemen are the best!

AWESOME...This is a true story... Stop telling God how big your storm is. Instead tell your storm how big your GOD is.

In Phoenix, Arizona, a 26-year-old mother stared down at her 6 year old son, who was dying of terminal leukemia. Although her heart was filled with sadness, she also had a strong feeling of determination. Like any parent, she wanted her son to grow up and fulfill all his dreams. Now that was no longer possible.

The leukemia would see to that. But she still wanted her son's dreams to come true. She took her son's hand and asked, "Billy, did you ever think about what you wanted to be once you grew up? Did you ever dream and wish what you would do with your life?"

Mommy, "I always wanted to be a fireman when I grew up." Mom smiled back and said, "Let's see if we can make your wish come true."

Later that day she went to her local fire department in Phoenix, Arizona, where she met Fireman Bob, who had a heart as big as Phoenix. She explained her son's final wish and asked if it might be possible to give her 6- year-old son a ride around the block on a fire engine.

Fireman Bob said, "Look, we can do better than that. If you'll have your son ready at seven o'clock Wednesday morning, we'll make him An honorary fireman for the whole day. He can come down to the fire station, eat with us, go out on all the fire calls, the whole nine yards! And if you'll give us his sizes, we'll get a real fire uniform for him, with a real fire hat-not a toy one-with the emblem of the Phoenix Fire Department. They're all manufactured right here in Phoenix, so we can get them fast."

Three days later Fireman Bob picked up Billy, dressed him in his fire uniform and escorted him from his hospital bed to the waiting hook and ladder truck. Billy got to sit on the back of the truck and help steer it back to the fire station. He was in heaven. There were three fire calls in Phoenix that day and Billy got to go out on all three calls. He rode in the different fire engines, the paramedic's van, and even the fire chief's car.

He was also videotaped for the local news program. Having his dream come true, with all the love and attention that was lavished upon him, so deeply touched Billy that he lived three months longer than any doctor thought possible.

One night all of his vital signs began to drop dramatically and the head nurse, who believed in the hospice concept that no one should die alone, began to call the family members to the hospital. Then she remembered the day Billy had spent as a fireman, so she called the Fire Chief and asked if it would be possible to send a fireman in uniform to the hospital to be with Billy as he made his transition.

The chief replied, "We can do better than that. We'll be there in 5 minutes. Will you please do me a favor? When you hear the sirens screaming and see the lights flashing, will you announce over the PA system that there is not a fire? It's just the fire department coming to see one of its finest members one more time. And will you open the window to his room?" About 5 minutes later a hook and ladder truck arrived at the hospital and extended its ladder up to Billy's third floor open window. Sixteen firefighters climbed up the ladder into Billy's room.

With his mother's permission, they hugged him and held him and told him how much they loved him. With his dying breath, Billy looked up at the fire chief and said, "Chief, am I really a fireman now?" "Billy, you are, and the Head Chief, Jesus, is holding your hand," the chief said.

With those words, Billy smiled and said, "I know, He's been holding my hand all day, and the angels have been singing." He closed his eyes one last time.

This story always gets to me. I have a soft spot in my heart for kids and for firemen. If you have been reading any of my blog, you know why I have a soft spot for kids. They are our future and I feel God has given me a gift to deal with them.

As for firemen, I used to be a volunteer fireman. I have a lot of friends from those days as a firemen. You become close, like brothers, you put your life in their hands everyday. Speaking of which my brother Tim, is a fireman and a youth pastor. He kind of feels the say way I do about firemen and youth. I am here to tell you I have no doubt that this story is true. Firemen, when they set there sights on something will go above and beyond of what is asked of them. If anyone knows a fireman, shake their hand and Tell them thanks. Hard work and little pay, these guys are awesome.

Back to the story, I love the title. "Don't tell God how big your storm is. Tell the storm, how big your God is." Just think about that statement for a while. Tell the storm how big your God is. Wow, that is just so simple. But if you are like me, the devil lies to you and he tries to make you think that your storms are so big, that there isn't any way out. God says He will never leave you or forsake you. He also says He will not make your storms so big that you cannot handle them.

Tim, Jeff, Ben, if you read this, I love you guys. Tell all the guys around the fire house to be safe and thanks for the work they do.

God bless,

Firemen are the best!