Once again, our area is besieged with wildfires. In the nearby tinderbox of National Forest lands another wildfire has sparked into a several thousand acre inferno. Nearly 50 homes (and counting) in a densely forested rural subdivision within five miles of our gate literally went up in smoke within a matter of hours. Our home place was in a direct path of the wildfire. I evacuated the livestock while live cinders and ash rained down on our house and pastures. We packed the important things from our house into our rigs; amazed by what we were going to leave behind. By the grace of God, the wind shifted the direction of the fire by the time it was within a mile of our property. Wildland fire crews and eight aircraft were then able to hold the advance of the blaze in this direction.
But before the winds shifted, my phone was overloaded with texts and calls. Friends, family, even people that we hardly knew, were offering their help in hauling cattle and horses; offering our animals a place to stay, offering us a place to stay; offering food, water, and even a water tender firetruck! So many reached out to offer anything that could help at all.
My husband and I are so overwhelmed with the outpouring of support. The love we felt was like a tidal wave! Sometimes it takes a disaster to make one realize how blessed we really are. And just think, God loves us even more. He let His love show in the light of the firestorm.
To all of the families who lost their homes; my heart breaks for them. Yet this beautiful community has stepped up and reached out a hand to help. Our churches have banded together; unified by disaster. Prayers, clothes, food, camp trailers, lodging, pet supplies, livestock feed; it is given gladly to help those affected.
It just goes to show you that although the devil was doing his best to hurt us, God’s grace is the overwhelming victor once again!
Dear Savior, I thank You for Your mercy. I thank You for Your grace. I thank You for all of these dear friends, and dear strangers, who put their own needs aside to help their neighbors in need. Please keep the firefighters safe as they continue to battle the flames. In all things, You are ever present. You are in control. You are the Rock we can rely on, even when the world around us goes up in smoke.