Fire Across the Pond

My son Adam was awakened at two o’clock by the howling wind. He suddenly remembered the portable basketball goal in the driveway and went outside to put it down. Once back inside he looked out the window to check the backyard.

Across the pond he saw something that looked like a fire.

This startled him, and he woke his wife up. “Wake up! Look! What is that?” A minute later the two realized something was burning. Adam got into his car and quickly drove toward the houses on the other side of the pond. He parked and ran to the house on fire, which had started from the back porch of the house. He pounded on the front door, and when it opened, a woman, two children, and an older son were scrambling to get out of the house.

What are the odds that of all the houses by the pond, the house on fire belonged to their friends? In the meantime Adam’s wife, Danielle, had called 911 to report the fire. The smoke alarms did not go off until they were outside the house.

In that short period of time, they were able to drive two of their cars away from the house. Adam ran to the next-door neighbor’s house and pounded on their front door. It seemed like the longest five minutes before someone came to the door.

He ran to the other neighbor’s house to wake them up too.

After the family was safely outside, as the flames were engulfing the whole house, Adam held hands with the family and prayed, “Lord, let Your will be done. Please minimize whatever damage is done to this house, but in the name of Jesus, don’t let the houses on the left or right catch fire.” The house was engulfed in flames so fast.

A propane light at the back porch had exploded, causing the fire. But thank God the fire did not spread to the other houses, and everyone was safe.

God has a way of placing us in the right place at the right time to be a help to others. Let our daily prayer be, “Lord, please give me the opportunity to help others and direct my every step. And please give me Your protection always. To You, Lord, be the glory!”*

Reva Lachica Moore

* Adapted from “The Fire Across the Pond,” Adopt a Minister International on Facebook, Oct. 20, 2022, https://www.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1059743427987549&id=121366765158558&_rdr. Used with permission.