Bible Money Matters

Christian personal finance

Menu
    • About
    • Archives
    • Contact
    • Close
  • Making Money
      • Popular Articles

        • 50 Ways To Make Money: Maximizing, Creating And Increasing Your Income
        • 10 Weird And Unconventional Ways To Make Money
        • Making Money With A Blog (e-Book)
        • 10 Places To Sell Or Trade Your Unused (Or Broken) Electronics
        • Ways To Make Extra Money Series: 20 More Income Generating Ideas From Our Readers
        • Making Side Income Can Help Blunt The Impact Of Becoming A One Income Family
        • Earn Cash Back With Discover it® Credit Card
      • Recent Articles – Making Money

        • Best Sites Like Fiverr To Make Money As A Freelancer
        • 13 Of The Best Independent Contractor Jobs
        • 25 Of The Best Gig Economy Jobs
        • How To Make Money Blogging: Turn A Blog Into A Business
      • Categories

        • Making Money
        • Investing
        • Retirement
        • Jobs & Work LIfe
        • Money
        • Income
    • Close
  • Saving Money
      • Popular Articles

        • 50 Easy Ways To Save Money Every Month
        • 10 Weird And Unconventional Ways To Save Money
        • 10 Practical Ways To Save Money And Increase Your Net Worth
        • How To Save Money On Just About All Of Your Regular Monthly Bills
        • Ways To Watch TV Without Paying An Arm And A Leg For Cable TV
        • Save Money On Your Hospital Bill - Just By Asking
      • Recent Articles – Saving Money

        • How To Save $100k In 7 Practical Steps
        • Stairs App Review: Save And Invest To Earn 4-6% Interest
        • Honey Review: Save Money Automatically When You Shop Online
        • 9 Convincing Reasons Why You Need An Emergency Fund
      • Categories

        • Saving Money
        • Frugality
        • Planning
        • Finance
        • Saving For Retirement
        • Savings Accounts
    • Close
  • Banking
      • Best Rates For 2019

        • Best Credit Cards
        • Best Savings Accounts
        • Best Mortgage Rates
        • Best CD Rates
        • Best Brokerages
        • Free Credit Scores
      • Recent Reviews

        • TradeStation Review: Commission Free Stock And ETF Trades
        • Firstrade Review: Commission Free Trades on Stocks, Crypto, And Options
        • Cadre Real Estate Investing Review: Commercial Real Estate Investing
        • Axos Self Directed Trading Review: Invest, Trade Stocks For Free
      • Categories

        • Bank & Software Reviews
        • Investing
        • Credit
        • Banking
        • Mortgage
        • Insurance
        • Family Budget
    • Close
  • Recommended
  • Video
    • Close

Days Like This Make You Realize What Is Important: It Isn’t Your Possessions

By Peter Anderson 19 Comments - The content of this website often contains affiliate links and I may be compensated if you buy through those links (at no cost to you!). Learn more about how we make money. Last edited December 2, 2017.

Share
Pin
Tweet
Share
0 Shares

fire1

Quick Navigation

  • A Phone Call
  • A Smoky Mess
  • The Fire Was Fierce
  • The Aftermath

A Phone Call

Yesterday I was at work when I got a call from my friend who lives next door.  He said that he had just talked to his wife, and that our neighborhood was in danger of going up in flames.  There was a fast moving grass fire that was quickly consuming much of the adjacent wetlands marshy area.  If the firefighters weren’t able to keep the blaze in check, it could threaten some of the homes in our neighborhood.  He suggested that we go home and get anything that was important to us, just in case.

fire5

A Smoky Mess

When we arrived back in our neighborhood there was smoke everywhere.  The air was thick, and it was a bit hard to breathe.  I had called my wife on my way home, and she arrived there before me, and made sure that the dog was ok.  She then proceeded to pack up everything that was important to us.  What did that consist of?  Our wedding photos and our dog.

fire2

It’s amazing how when you’re in a stressful situation like that, how nothing really seems important anymore except for your loved ones, your family pet and maybe a few sentimental items.  All the rest of your possessions just seem like things that can be replaced, unimportant trappings of this life.

The Fire Was Fierce

The fire spread through the wetlands area at a rapid pace since many of the hot zones were out near the water where the firefighters couldn’t get at it.

The flames moved quickly inland and threatened many of the homes that lined the wetlands  area around the lake.  One home in particular was in extreme danger as the flames, aided by a brisk wind, moved to within yards of the home.

fire3

The firefighters set up a perimeter around the house, wet everything down, and made a stand. Aided by their high powered hoses, some high tech marsh buggies and by their bravery, they beat back the flames before they could consume the home.

The Aftermath

After fighting the flames for over 3 hours, most of the fire had been contained.  Amazingly no homes had been damaged (except by smoke), and no one was hurt. That was a huge blessing, and in my opinion a miracle.

Going through this just made me realize how unimportant our things are.  The last thing on my mind when I thought our house might burn down was all the stuff we have in that house.   What if it burns – who cares?  More important were things like family and  friends and our faith that gave us the hope that even if something did happen, we would be alright.

fire4

After all the fires had died down and our homes were safe we were allowed to go down near where the flames had been the worst.  It was like a barren smoking wasteland down there.  It made us realize just how lucky everyone had been. If it hadn’t been for the 6 volunteer fire departments that rushed to the scene, things could have been disastrous. Those brave men and women saved our homes, and probably some lives as well.   Our thanks and gratitude go out to them.

Here’s a quick video I put together of the fires yesterday.

Remember to make sure that you’re prepared for a fire.  Make sure your smoke detectors are working and have new batteries every year!  Keep a fire extinguisher handy, and have other measures ready – like second floor escape ladders!

Have you ever been through a disastrous event like this one?  Did it make you realize the importance of things in your life beyond just your stuff?

Related Posts

  • Possessions Cannot Define The Man

    "Then [Jesus] said to them, 'Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man's life does not consist in the abundance…

  • Devotional: What's Important

    Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for…

  • Early Retirement: Important Rules To Remember

    Many people I talk to would love to take early retirement. What they typically mean is that they would love to retire early from their…

Share
Pin
Tweet
Share
0 Shares
Last Edited: 2nd December 2017 The content of biblemoneymatters.com is for general information purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Visitors to biblemoneymatters.com should not act upon the content or information without first seeking appropriate professional advice. In accordance with the latest FTC guidelines, we declare that we have a financial relationship with every company mentioned on this site.

This article is about: Commentary, Thank You

About Peter Anderson

Peter Anderson is a Christian, husband to his beautiful wife Maria, and father to his 2 children. He loves reading and writing about personal finance, and also enjoys a good board game every now and again. You can find out more about him on the about page. Don't forget to say hi on Pinterest, Twitter or Facebook!

Comments

    Share Your Thoughts: Cancel reply

  1. No Debt Plan says

    Wow. Glad everything was okay. Saw your updates yesterday on Twitter — didn’t realize it was that close to your house.

    Reply
  2. Servant says

    Thank God it wasn’t any worse. This is a real picture of why we lay up treasure where rust and moth don’t destroy, thieves can’t steal (and fire doesn’t consume).

    Servants last blog post..Did you get your ears lowered?

    Reply
  3. MoneyEnergy says

    I haven’t been through something like a house fire, but I’ve definitely thought about this question and agree with you. I would be getting my pets out of there, and then some key personal items/mementos which I’d have identified beforehand. All the other stuff you wouldn’t even think about.

    Reply
  4. Baker @ ManVsDebt says

    Followed your twitter updates throughout the day yesterday. We were very glad you and family were ok. This year I got to help file free taxes for local police and firemen and it was one definitely one of the favorite parts of my job. The really are heroes in the local communities!

    Baker @ ManVsDebts last blog post..Discovering Your Financial Priorities

    Reply
  5. MLR says

    Your wife grabbing your pet and wedding photos got me thinking what I would grab.

    I think it would be: My dog, My small (light & plastic) filing cabinet with all my important documents, and my digital camera (for photos I haven’t uploaded yet).

    Similar sentiment, it seems.

    Glad everyone in your locale is safe and hopefully as it gets warmer you don’t have any more problems.

    MLRs last blog post..What Method Do You Use for Networking?

    Reply
  6. Tina Fortune says

    Amazing…Glad it wasn’t worse!

    Reply
  7. Angie says

    What a blessing that your home was spared.

    My parent’s home was in the path of one of the big CA fires last year and they grabbed the family photos, the family bible, my mom’s jewelry box (lot’s of heirloom jewelry from 3-4 generations ago) and my dad’s medals from his days in the service. They threw it all in the car and headed down the mountain, not knowing if anything else they had would survive. The firefighters made a stand at the ridge just before their street, but a lot of their friends from church lost their homes. It really says a lot when we think of what we have versus what we need.

    Reply
  8. Kacie says

    YIKES! Glad you’re ok. Hope that’s the end of the fire worries

    Kacies last blog post..5 steps to having a successful yard sale

    Reply
  9. Get Out of Debt Guy says

    Getting rid of 80% of my stuff was one of the most liberating things I have ever done. You don’t own stuff, it owns you.

    Look at growing storage market industry. Now people can pay to store their stuff.

    Steve

    Get Out of Debt Guys last blog post..My Debt is Affecting My Everyday Life and Relationships. – Enrico

    Reply
  10. Crystal says

    I’m glad that everything turned out ok! Followed u yesterday on twitter.
    Made me think about what I would grab…have to say the only thing would be my kids…everything else is just stuff!!!
    We had a scare a few months ago when my son’s electrical outlet caught fire and by the grace of God only the wall was damaged. It was still arcing when we got home. There was melted plastic everywhere, on his clothes, bed, papers and it blew a hole in his door and yet our 1905 farm house was still standing. Makes you realize what is important.

    Reply
  11. Craig says

    I luckily have never (knock on wood) but I can imagine what it must be like for those involved. It’s nice to hear no one got hurt though. Does make you think twice, and how things are important, but not in the scheme of things.

    Reply
  12. FMF says

    I agree — a miracle. Thankfully, you are ok.

    Reply
  13. Baba says

    As the wife of a volunteer Firefighter, I just want to say Thank you for this post. Because the Volunteer Firefighters get so little support.

    Reply
    • Peter says

      We made sure to go up to the firefighters and thank them for saving our neighborhood. They were very appreciative and gracious. Thanks to all the volunteer firefighters out there!

      Reply
  14. Squawkfox says

    Wow. Amazing photographs. So happy you and your family and neighbors are OK. I was in a big car accident last week. I am very lucky to have walked away from the wreck that is now my car. Stuff has little consequence…people are priceless.

    Squawkfoxs last blog post..14 Things to Do Before and After a Car Accident

    Reply
  15. Jason Lewis says

    This is an excellent read and right on. As a father we four little children at home, I often forget how many things can be easily replaced. I get angry, sometimes real angry, when they mess something up or break something I will have to replace. I suspect after reading this I am reminded how trivial the messes are and how replaceable our stuff really is. Thanks!

    Reply
  16. Rick Vaughn says

    Wow, that’s insane. How does a fire blaze in marshlands?

    Reply
  17. Carla says

    Glad to know everyone was OK! When I left my abusive ex-husband seven years ago (I was 23 at the time), I had to leave almost everything behind. I had my computer, clothes and my car. Nothing else mattered. In a different way, I understand the feeling.

    Carlas last blog post..Havent figured it out yet…

    Reply
  18. threadbndr says

    I’ve been through a couple of close calls with tornados. When you hear that hail and ‘freight train coming’, and you are hunkered down in the basement, it’s really remarkable how your priorities change

    My dog, my ‘panic bag’ and a few momentos. I really need to digitize all the family photos and store them online…..

    Everybody do some disaster planning, please. Better to have and not need, then need and not have.

    Reply
Previous Post: Don’t Forget To Make Your Estimated Tax Payment For Self Employment Income!
Next Post: Personal Finance Bible Verse Of The Day: Be Thankful
Discover Investment Platforms

Popular Posts

  • 21 Easy Ways To Earn Free Amazon Gift Cards
  • 10 Best Free Tax Filing Services And Software Online
  • 21 Apps That Pay You Real Money Fast
  • 17 TV Apps And Live TV Streaming Services To Watch TV Free
  • 30 Legit Online Jobs That Pay Well
  • 37 Easy Ways To Get Free Gift Cards
  • How To Get Free Stock
  • 40 Easy Ways To Get Free Money Fast
  • 21 Places To Read Free Books Online
  • 24 Legit Online Jobs
  • 17 Best Work From Home Jobs: A List Of Legit Online Jobs That Pay Well

Recent Posts

  • How To Save $100k In 7 Practical Steps
  • How to Save Money When Remodeling A Home
  • How To Hire A Contractor For Your Remodeling Project
  • Remembering 9/11 Years Later: Where Were You On That Fateful Day?
  • TradeStation Review: Commission Free Stock And ETF Trades
  • Firstrade Review: Commission Free Trades on Stocks, Crypto, And Options
  • Cadre Real Estate Investing Review: Commercial Real Estate Investing
  • Best Sites Like Fiverr To Make Money As A Freelancer
  • Axos Self Directed Trading Review: Invest, Trade Stocks For Free
  • 30 Quotes About Easter And Resurrection: He Is Risen!

Disclaimer

The information contained in BibleMoneyMatters.com is for general information or entertainment purposes only and does not constitute professional financial advice. Please contact an independent financial professional for advice regarding your specific situation.

In accordance with FTC guidelines, we state that we have a financial relationship with some of the companies mentioned in this website. This may include receiving access to free products and services for product and service reviews and giveaways.

Any references to third party products, rates, or websites are subject to change without notice. We do our best to maintain current information, but due to the rapidly changing environment, some information may have changed since it was published. Please do the appropriate research before participating in any third party offers.

Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates.

We respect your privacy: Privacy Policy.

Thanks for visiting!

Bible Money Matters - Seen On These Sites and more..
Bible Money Matters is a personal finance, entrepreneurship and investing community. Give more, save more and live more.

Copyright © 2023 · Bible Money Matters | Sitemap | Advertise | Privacy Policy