Small Miracles

Just over an hour ago, my dad was watering the lawn and noticed smoke coming from our neighbor's backyard.  He assumed our neighbor was having some kind of bonfire in his backyard, though my dad couldn't see the source of the fire because the neighbor's shed was in the way.  When my dad got close enough to see around the shed, he realized that the vines on the neighbor's back fence were completely ablaze!  He immediately grabbed a bucket and started throwing water from the canal onto the fire.  Fortunately, he was able to put out the fire before it had a chance to spread to anything besides the vines.

I thought about how many small miracles played into this big miracle.  First of all, the fact that my dad was outside at the time was a huge blessing.  We're not sure how the fire was started; it may have been because of the highly flammable cottonwood seeds that have been blowing all over our neighborhood recently.  Whatever the cause, we're just grateful my dad was able to put out the fire before it spread; it was possible that it could have spread to someone's shed or something else valuable.  Second, the fact that our houses are right in front of a canal, an easily accessible water source, was indispensable.  I don't know how my dad would have put the fire out otherwise.  Third, that the fire was caught early enough that it hadn't spread.  It was a tense and scary few minutes, but I am just grateful for the little miracles the Lord sent our way today.