Nobody
knew where they were coming from or who was responsible, but each
week there would be one, two, or three new Bibles sitting on the mop
room’s cardboard box desk. They were still in their cellophane
wrappers and just itching to be opened up and used. This was a
God-send to be sure.
Zeb
had already noticed that only one of the kids had his own Bible. It
appeared the kids were about all from families that didn’t have
Bibles or see the need to have one. But this was a challenge for Zeb
of the highest order.
A
left over roll of paper towels, the kind of brown ones that are used
in wall dispensers, was found and often became the beginnings of wall
banners. The banners contained choice phrases the boys and girls were
being taught and reviewed each week.
About
the first Thursday in April an old blackboard and a new box of chalk
appeared in the mop room. The words written clearly in big letters
almost brought tears to everyone in the group. It simply said, “We
love all you kids and Zeb too!” There must have been a
couple dozen initials all surrounding the statement.
One
of the girls told the group, “Boy was I wrong. I thought the fire
house teams just gave aid to people by saving their lives.” A boy
piped up with, “Well maybe that’s exactly what they’re doing by
providing us the Bibles and the blackboard.”
Something
else that was a bit hard to explain. Each Thursday just after the mop
room started, Tom the ambulance driver and Barney the pump specialist
would quietly begin polishing Tanker truck #2, which is always parked
just outside the mop room door. It was actually possible to polish #2
and still be able to hear all the words spoken in the mop room. The
Thursday words of comfort were sorely needed by Tom since his newborn
baby was spending time in the nearby hospital. Do you suppose Zeb or
any of the boys and girls ever realize how much others depend upon
their words of comfort and promise based on scripture?
Last
Thursday’s meeting was soon interrupted by the loud clanging of the
bell and loud speaker announcing the location and details of the
emergency. Next commands said which trucks were to respond. All this
was so startling and loud that in the following moments Zeb couldn’t
even remember what he had been teaching. He was sure of what his next
actions were to be.
When
the big garage doors all closed and everything got quiet, he told the
mop room group they should all pray for the emergency. They needed to
pray for the safety of the emergency teams and that God would help
them to give aid soon enough to all the people at the emergency.
The
fire was put out with no one injured, but the house and all its
contents were destroyed. At the next Thursday meeting Tom stepped
into the mop room doorway and gave more details of the fire to the
group. Then he asked if the comfort corner group allowed visitors.
Everyone gave a hardy “yes!” Tom held up 1 finger, said he’d be
back in a minute, and disappeared.”
When
Tom returned, he had a girl standing beside him with the saddest look
on her face you could imagine. He had an arm around her. Looking at
the girl he told the group, “This is Trudy. Her house and all her
belongings were all destroyed in the fire last week. Could she sit in
your group for a while?”
Without
another word one of the girls went right over to Trudy and took her
hand with a smile. She told Trudy, “You come sit with me. I like
new friends. You can share my Bible.” Before Tom left the mop room
his eyes glanced at the old banner over everyone’s head that still
proclaimed, “Freedom Fire Department Gives Aid and Comfort.” He
turned and left the group thinking that it takes a whole firehouse to
give aid. But to give comfort it only takes a caring friend that will
share God’s Word.
Now
when the mop room gang met the next Thursday there were three grocery
bags of clothes with Trudy’s name on them. Can you guess what was
on the very top? A brand new Bible with a note saying it is
specifically just for her. That firehouse aid and comfort banner was
certainly living up to its promise. You’ll agree that God is also.
