I was loading up my fireplace with firewood to keep the fire going when the phrase – “Keep the home-fires burning” popped into my head.
To keep my own “home-fire” in my fireplace burning requires vigilance … and it also requires me to be on my knees quite a bit!
First thing each morning, I get down on my knees to prepare the firebox for the day’s fire. I level out the ashes from yesterday’s fire … and scoop out any “built-up” ashes which might be accumulating.
When it comes to life, we are each part of a family/community. In my own life God has given me hubby as my spouse. God has also given me two precious children … as well as a precious daughter-in-law. For me, this is my “home-fire” which God has given me to steward wisely and responsibly. My task is to keep my own personal “home-fire” burning.
And so, first thing each morning, I tend to my personal “home-fire” by leveling out the “ashes from yesterday’s fire.” Or in other words, I take a look at my life from yesterday and level-set.
* Perhaps there were things which happened which I was not expecting.
* Perhaps there were disappointments I had not anticipated.
* Perhaps things did not go the way I had planned.
* Perhaps there might have been things which hurt my feelings.
* Perhaps little annoyances or frustrations.
Each morning, when it comes to tending my personal “home-fire” I need to level out the “ashes from yesterday” [aka: level-set my soul] … and if “ashes” (perhaps of frustration or disappointment, etc.) are beginning to build up in my soul I need to scoop those out and carry them away!
All of this requires me to be down on my knees.
Practically, when it comes to my firebox, I must be physically down on my knees to level out the ashes and scoop out any build-up. So also, to level-set my mind and scoop out any “built-up ashes” in my soul, I need to likewise be “down on my knees” in humility. We cannot keep the “home-fires” burning without being down on our knees!
Once the ashes have been leveled out and any “build-up” scooped out, I then go out to the woodbox on the back deck and load up my arms for the starter-fire. I bring in three different types of wood to start my fire for the day: tiny little kindling slivers, small long, thin pieces of wood, slightly larger chunks.
Once more I am down on my knees, as I arrange the different sizes of wood for the starter-fire. For me, it is like a puzzle. Each piece of wood in the woodbox is completely unique and different. So, the armful of wood I bring in each morning is completely different. It is like a puzzle to arrange these unique pieces to start the fire for the day.
In the same way, when it comes to our own personal “home-fires” which God has given us to steward … it’s like a puzzle. And just like each piece of wood in the woodbox is completely unique and different, so also the needs, burdens, and struggles of my precious family vary by day.
Each day the things which my hubby and kids need prayer for are different.
It’s like a puzzle.
It requires effort on my part. It requires me get out and put some sweat and muscle and effort into splitting “kindling” with which to spark relationships each day. It requires wisdom to know how to “build on” the relationships which have just been kindled each morning.
Patiently, down on my knees, I arrange the different wood pieces in my physical firebox. So also, each morning I do the same thing (metaphorically speaking) when it comes to my personal “home-fire” … in order to spark relationship with my family. And the spark takes off into a beautiful flame.
It requires me to be down on my knees!
* Down on my knees in humility as I puzzle-ize the “kindling.”
* Down on my knees in prayer over today’s unique and different needs!
To keep our own personal “home-fires” burning we must be down on our knees!
Keeping my physical fire going throughout the day requires vigilance to watch the fire and notice when it needs more logs. So also, keeping our own personal “home-fires” burning likewise requires vigilance to notice when the relationship “needs more logs.”
I can’t start the fire in the morning … then just sit back and expect my “home-fire” to burn brightly and warmly all day long. The fire will go out! And I have nobody to blame but myself.
It might seem obvious, but the logs which fueled yesterday’s fire won’t keep today’s “home-fire” going. Today has its own needs and struggles! My family needs me to care about them today! My family needs me to reach out to them with love today!
My family needs me to be down on my knees in humility today, being faithful today to “keep the home-fire going.”
My family needs me to be down on my knees in prayer for them today … for today’s needs!
A “home-fire” represents a “safe place.” In days of long ago, “keeping the home-fires burning” referred to communities keeping the bonfires or lamps burning brightly to show the way home for others of the community who were away hunting or on travels.
* In the same way, our personal “home-fire” is a “safe place” for those whom we love & care about.
* Our “home-fire” leads the way home!
* Our “home-fire” is a place of warmth, and acceptance!
* Our “home-fire” is a place of unconditional love!
* Our “home-fire” is a place where those we love can be encouraged, strengthened, and ‘recharged’ to go out and face whatever it is they have been called to do in life.
God has given each one of us special people whom we love and care deeply about! You might not have a spouse or children, but perhaps you might instead have a very dear, close friend.
How is your “home-fire” going?