Fire has always scared me. Probably something to do with my dad being a firefighter. It's just so out of control and can destroy so much in so little time. We found this out first hand this winter when one morning after starting a new fire in the fireplace, we dumped the ashes from the night before in our normal spot in the woods. Not long after, we heard the dreaded panicked voices of one of the boys saying "FIRE! There's FIRE!" The intense (what felt like forever) time, probably just seconds, where we were running in trying to figure out what was on fire was one of the most panicked of my life. When I finally get to the boy, he points outside. The Hubs and I both realize right away what has happened... the ashes were not completely out. The kicker, it was the most windy day we've had in a long time and our property is surrounded by pine trees, with a ton of pine straw below. If you know anything about dried pine needles, they burn quickly. By the time we got out to see, it was already spreading quickly. Of course, it was so cold out the outside water pipes were frozen, but luckily (we believe as a provision of the Lord), the closest detached pump in our yard to the fire was not frozen. Immediately we all began a trail of "fill the bucket, hand it down the line, throw it on the fire." FINALLY we got it out and we realized we were all barefoot in our pajamas, in 30 degree weather. Isn't it crazy what adrenaline can do?
Later that day I noticed how the sun was shining on the burned spot, especially on the ashes. My mind things in song lyrics, so I immediately began thinking about "Graves into Gardens" and how the Lord gives beauty from ashes. This season of life has shown us that life is really hard sometimes, and we need to cling to the Lord minute by minute, because He's the only one who can keep it all together, even when it feels like it's falling apart to us mere mortals.
If you'd like to take a few minutes to listen to the whole song...