THIS PAGE IS DEDICATED TO
THE
FELLOWSHIP OF CHRISTIAN
FIREFIGHTERS
THE FIREFIGHTER'S
PRAYER
WHEN I AM CALLED TO DUTY,
WHEREVER FLAMES MAY RAGE,
GIVE ME THE STRENGTH TO SAVE A LIFE
WHATEVER BE ITS AGE.
HELP ME EMBRACE A LITTLE CHILD
BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE,
OR SAVE AND OLDER PERSON FROM
THE HORROR OF THAT FATE.
ENABLE ME TO BE ALERT
AND HEAR THE WEAKEST SHOUT,
AND QUICKLY AND EFFICIENTLY
TO PUT THE FIRE OUT.
I WANT TO FILL MY CALLING AND
TO GIVE THE BEST IN ME,
TO GUARD MY EVERY NEIGHBOR AND
PROTECT HIS PROPERTY.
AND IF ACCORDING TO GOD'S WILL
I MUST ANSWER DEATH'S CALL
BLESS WITH YOUR PROTECTING HAND
MY FAMILY ONE AND ALL.
THE CALL:
DO YOUR EARS PRICK UP WHEN YOU HEAR SIRENS?
CAN YOU TELL WHAT KIND OF FIRE BURNING JUST FROM THE SMELL OF THE SMOKE?
DO YOU ALWAYS WONDER WHAT KIND OF CALL IS GOING ON DOWN THE STREET AND WONDER IF THERE IS A WAY YOU CAN HELP?
DO YOU DRIVE AROUND IN A STRANGE PLACE AND LOOK FOR EMERGENCY EQUIPMENT JUST SO YOU CAN FEEL AT HOME?
THEN YOU LIKE US HAVE RESPONDED TO THE CALL TO BE A PUBLIC SERVANT THROUGH FIREFIGHTING AND / OR EMS.
ON DUTY:
WE WAIT FOR THE NEXT CALL AND WHEN IT COMES WE GO. THAT IS THE STORY OF OUR LIVES WE DO NOT WISH FOR BAD THINGS TO HAPPEN, BUT IF THEY DO WE WANT TO BE THERE. WE WORK TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN OTHER'S LIVES.
WE COME FROM MANY AND VARIED BACKGROUNDS, YET WORK SIDE BY SIDE TO SERVE OUR COUNTRY, COMMUNITIES AND FELLOW CITIZENS. OUR FAMILY LIFE IS INTERRUPTED BY SHIFT WORK, EMERGENCY CALL-OUTS AND THE INEVITABLE DANGER. NEW CHALLENGES FACE US DAILY. SOME DAYS IT'S THE BOREDOM AND TENSION OF WAITING. OTHER DAYS, IT IS DEALING WITH THE DEATH OF A SMALL CHILD.
SOME PEOPLE CALL US HEROES, BUT WE REALIZE THAT RISKING OUR LIVES FOR OTHERS IS WHAT WE DO. IT'S OUR JOB. WE RUN IN WHEN ALL OTHERS ARE RUNNING OUT.
WE TRAIN, WE STUDY, WE PREFORM DRILLS, PRACTICE SCENARIOS AND REVIEW PREVIOUS CALLS TO IMPROVE. WE STRIVE FOR PERFECTION. WE LOVE THIS VOCATION.
OUR MOTHERS STILL WORRY ABOUT US. OUR FAMILIES HAVE ACCEPTED THE POSSIBILITY THAT WE MIGHT NOT COME HOME. WHEN WE DO RETURN, WE ARE NOT THE SAME. OFTEN OUR SLEEP IS INTERRUPTED BY VISIONS OF THE DESTRUCTION AND LOSS WE ENCOUNTER.
WHEN GOD CALLS ME BECAUSE OF HIS GRACE AND NOTHING I'VE DONE ON MY OWN I WILL BE ANSWERING THE CALL.
DESSA PATTON, PARAMEDIC; MISSISSIPPI
