Much to be thankful for

Is your heart touched when you see “Thanks to our Heroes” signs displayed around town?

As Fallbrook grieves with their fellow townsmen who lost homes in the recent fire, one can’t help but look around and be amazed at the homes that didn’t burn. Melted fences and charred trees surround houses untouched by fire; intact homes on burned hilltops give testimony to the skill and determination of the firefighters.

On that fateful Monday afternoon, as the flames marched toward Fallbrook, citizens surveyed their belongings, trying to decide which possessions were worthy of being rescued. This time, not just a few of us were affected; all of Fallbrook was under attack. It is moments like these that cause us to ponder what is really important and assess that for which we are thankful.

I am thankful:

• That the victims in Fallbrook are not just statistics but friends and neighbors whom we can tangibly help.

• That we don’t live in a cement city built by human hands but in a beautiful, vulnerable garden, of which much is the handiwork of God.

• For cell phones that enabled us to keep in contact with our families and friends so that no one needed to worry unnecessarily.

• For those citizens who collected large stray animals, keeping them safe at Rider’s Field.

• For what was not burned – Live Oak Park and so many other beautiful places.

• For all of the firefighters and the ordinary citizens who worked alongside them.

• For all the prayers that were sent up on our behalf.

I am thankful to live in Fallbrook, a community that is not just pretty on the outside but pretty on the inside. And I am thankful that God can take any disaster and cause good things to grow from it; I look forward to what He is going to “grow” in Fallbrook. May God bless us as we clean up our community and support those who have lost so much.

Mary Ann Craven