GinaMcClain.com

There’s a story I’ve heard all my life about how my big brother single-handedly saved me from a fire.

At 3 years old he woke up from his nap to the smell of something strange. He discovered the KFC bucket sitting on the stove was engulfed in flames. Racing back to my room, he pulled me out of my bed and ran out of the house dragging me behind. Our mother was in the front yard talking to the neighbor when she heard he toddler son yelling, “Fire! Fire! The house is on Fire!”

When the fire was out and the chaos cleared the damage was minimal. But it made for a great story in the aftermath. And parents love to tell stories.

Visiting my grandparents last Saturday I realized that after 15 years of marriage Kyle had never heard this tale of my brother’s heroism. So I asked my mom to share. Only this time I heard a detail I don’t recall ever hearing before. Maybe it’s selective hearing… maybe it’s selective memory… I don’t know. It’s a detail I managed to overlook all these years.

I was the one that started the fire.

Isn’t that sobering.

We had a stove top with knobs on the front. Within reach of any toddler. Back in the 70’s they didn’t have Safety 1st knob covers to prevent kids from turning them. There were 4 knobs begging to be turned. And so I did.

Who knew the KFC bucket on the burner could be so flammable.

Bar none, this is my favorite post from August 2008.  I like to pull these out occasionally lest you think I’m a very talented mom.  Allow me to shift your paradigm..

Was having one of my super mom moments last night.  Kids splashing in the bath.  Laughing and playing.  Got one head washed with minimal tears.  Got the second head scrubbed.  While rinsing out the suds, I just didn’t pay much attention to the toddler repeatedly saying, “EEEWWWW!” holding his finger in my face.  Just kept scooping up cups full of water to pour over the thick head of sudsy hair on my daughters head.  Each scoop of water pouring through the hair and all over the face.

That’s when the “EEEWWW” causes me to pause.

I look at Connor’s finger.

I look at the discolored spot next to him on the bottom of the tub.

Trying to discriminate a shape among all the bubbles and toys hovering just above it.

Oh my heavens.  How long has THAT been in there!!!

And how much of that water did I just pour on my daughter’s head?!?

*sigh*

Throughout the weekend I have pockets of conversations with the security teams that serve our church.  These are trained Sheriff’s Deputies that direct traffic in between worship experiences and make themselves available to help throughout the weekend.  To me they’re like family.  I hang out with them every weekend, learn about their family, their jobs, things they like to do when they’re not toting a gun & flak-jacket.

Which is why it amazes me to learn how some of our attenders treat these officers.  The officers will come in after conducting traffic with jokes about the number of people that totally disregarded their direction OR expressed their gratitude with the “one finger wave”.

Seriously, church?

Click here another story Dan Scott shared this past week.  A great reminder of how our attitudes really get in the way of what God is doing.