When something like this happens you realize that your volunteer fireman are your neighbors or friends you went to school with and some of them are just kids. Our son, Jesse, is a volunteer fireman and he also works for the Georgia State Patrol. We are very proud of Jesse and all of his young buds, Taylor, Justin, Brandon and Kyle. There are plenty more I can name: Neal, Clay, Tim, Charlie, Mike, Rudolph, Ronnie, Paul, Donald, Jeff, Mike Y., Frank, Alan, Billy and so on … I hope I haven’t missed anyone.
We really take these guys for granted. Most of these men have families of their own to look after, but yet they risk their lives voluntarily to help save ours. Watching these guys working against these fires, I realize a lot of what it costs them. It costs them their family time at home; it costs them their own gas in their own vehicles. It costs them by getting sick and dehydrated and having to stay out there hour after hour to make sure that the fire is out and everyone is OK.
It says in the Bible that we should love our neighbor as we love ourselves and to do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
I believe this selfless act of being a volunteer fireman, or a police officer or being in the military falls into this category.
So we say thank and foremost ‘thank you,’ Jesus for your protection over us and ‘thank you,’ Jesus for your protection over all these men and women who work in these areas. May God richly prosper them and their families in every area of their life.
We do not take you guys for granted. So when you see one of these guys give them a pat on the back and say thanks or better yet buy them a steak dinner so they can keep their strength up you never know when you might need them.
A special thanks goes to our neighbor “Red,” for taking the hose and helping us fight the fire off our house until help arrive. That is what being a good neighbor is all about.
We love you guys and thanks again.
Sincerely,
Mitch and Lisia Elder
Otha and LaVerne Hanley
