When I am called to duty, God - wherever flames may rage Give me strength to save a life, whatever be its age. Help me embrace a little child - before it is too late Or save an older person from the horror of that fate. Enable me to be alert, and hear the weakest shout, Quickly and efficiently to put the fire out. I want to fill my calling, to give the best in me To guard my friend and neighbor, and protect his property. And if according to Your will - I must answer death's call Bless with your protecting hand, my family one and all.

 

The Creation Of The Firefighter

When the Lord was creating Firefighters, he was into his

sixth day of overtime when an angel appeared and said,

"Your doing a lot of fiddling around on this one."

And the Lord said "Have you read the specification on this person?

Firefighters have to be able to go for hours fighting fires

or tending to a person that the usual every day person would never touch,

while putting in the back of their mind the circumstances.

They have to be able to move at a second's notice and not think twice

of what they are about to do, no matter what danger.

They have to be in top physical condition at all times, running on half-eaten

meals, and they must have six pairs of hands."

The angel shook her head slowly and said,

"Six pairs of hands...no way."

"It's not the hands that are causing me problems, "

said the Lord, "it's the three pairs of eyes a Firefighter has to have."

That's on the standard model? " asked the angel.

The Lord nodded. " One pair that sees through the fire

and where they and their fellow Firefighters should fight the

fire next. Another pair here in the side of the head to see

their fellow Firefighters and keep them safe. And another

pair of eyes in the front so that they can look for the

victims caught in the fire that need their help."

"Lord" said the angel, touching his sleeve,

" Rest and work on this tomorrow."

"I can't, said the Lord, "I already have a model that

can carry a 250 pound man down a flight of stairs

 and to safety from a burning building, and can feed a family

of five on a civil service paycheck."

The angel circled the model of the Firefighter

very slowly, "Can it think?"

"You bet," said the Lord. It can tell you the elements of a hundred

fires; and can recite procedures in their sleep

that are needed to care for a person until they

reach the hospital.  And all the while they have to keep

their wits about themselves. This Firefighter also has phenomenal

personal control. They can deal with a scene full of pain and hurt,

coaxing a child's mother into letting go of the child so that

they can care for the child in need. And still they rarely get the

recognition for a job well done from anybody, other than from

fellow Firefighters."

Finally, the angel bent over and ran her finger across

the cheek of the Firefighter. "There's a leak", she pronounced.

"Lord, it's a tear."

"What's the tear for?" asked the angel.

"It's a tear from bottled-up emotions for fallen comrades.

A tear for commitment to that funny piece of cloth called the

American Flag. It's a tear for all the pain and suffering

they have encountered. And it's a tear for their commitment

to caring for and saving lives of their fellow man!"

"What a wonderful feature Lord, you're a genius"

said the angel.

The Lord looked somber and said "I didn't put it there."

"Author Unknown"