So tonight I had a powerful yet brief conversation with a Man I will call Fireman K. Who formally worked in Thurston County but is now a firefighter in Manson County. Here is just a brief cap of the conversation.
An Average Man in his late 40 or early 50 I am guessing came into the aisle I was working in this evening. I asked him if there was anything I could help him with. He asked if I had any recommendation for wrapping paper for a 10 year old boy. Through conversation regarding the boy who the present was for Fireman K told me he had drawn a name from a giving tree. I commented on how Mandy and I do it each year ourselves trying to find a girl and a boy to buy for. He said he just got a boy but decided to dive the boy one of his best Christmases buy not just buying one of the items the boy had asked for but all of them.
We continued conversing while he looked at wrapping paper and I worked. I was reminded of some lean Christmases as a kid where people where generous to us with food and gifts. I let fireman K know that he was doing a great thing and I know when some one did it for us it was impacting on my life. This is also one of the reasons we have done the angel tree for most of our married years because we have been blessed enough to do so. I started to talk about how we want Jillian to be raised knowing how to give to others and that we have started working towards paring down some of her stuff and talking to her about giving some to less fortunate than us.
I also told Fireman K that one of the parents of a classmate was a Fireman and that we had talked to him about donating some of Jilly's stuffed animals to the Fire department. This is how I found out that Fireman K was a Fireman. He said it was a great idea and that the stuffed animals are a very important tool in helping children. I found out that one of his responsibilities while he was a fireman in Thurston county was educating children from about three to seven years of age.
The way he talked you could tell this was something he loved and was passionate about. Sadly it sounds as if this is not one of his duties in Manson County. But he was hopeful that he could do it again someday. After our conversation was done and I was left to my own thoughts. My mind went to how giving this man was.
Not only did he give and serve the people of Thurston County in the past and Manson County now each day by putting his life on the line. By being there to help and save people. By having a heart to educate children in hopes of helping their fears of the fire suits, to training how to be safe and respond in emergencies. This man wanted to give a ten year old boy a Christmas he would always remember.
Being able to meet and talk to this average looking man showed me how not average he was. I am filled with thanks and gratitude that there are men and women like Fireman K in our city, counties, states, and nation.
So Fireman K if I never see you again or speak to you I am going to say thank you anyways.
Thank you for all you give.
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