Respirit--inspiration to refresh your spirit and give you courage

In Phoenix, Arizona, a 26-year-old mother stared down at her 6 year old son,
who was dying of terminal leukemia. Although her heart was filled with
sadness, she also had a strong feeling of determination. Like any parent,
she wanted her son to grow up and fulfill all his dreams. Now that was no
longer possible.

The leukemia would see to that. But she still wanted her son's dreams to
come true. She took her son's hand and asked, "Billy, did you ever think
about what you wanted to be once you grew up? Did you ever dream and wish
what you would do with your life?"

Mommy, "I always wanted to be a fireman when I grew up." Mom smiled back and
said, "Let's see if we can make your wish come true."

Later that day she went to her local fire department in Phoenix, Arizona,
where she met Fireman Bob, who had a heart as big as Phoenix. She explained
her son's final wish and asked if it might be possible to give her 6-
year-old son a ride around the block on a fire engine.

Fireman Bob said, "Look, we can do better than that. If you'll have your son
ready at seven o'clock Wednesday morning, we'll make him An honorary fireman
for the whole day. He can come down to the fire station, eat with us, go out
on all the fire calls, the whole nine yards! And if you'll give us his
sizes, we'll get a real fire uniform for him, with a real fire hat-not a toy
one-with the emblem of the Phoenix Fire Department. They're all manufactured
right here in Phoenix, so we can get them fast."

Three days later Fireman Bob picked up Billy, dressed him in his fire
uniform and escorted him from his hospital bed to the waiting hook and
ladder truck. Billy got to sit on the back of the truck and help steer it
back to the fire station. He was in heaven. There were three fire calls in
Phoenix that day and Billy got to go out on all three calls. He rode in the
different fire engines, the paramedic's van, and even the fire chief's car.

He was also videotaped for the local news program. Having his dream come
true, with all the love and attention that was lavished upon him, so deeply
touched Billy that he lived three months longer than any doctor thought
possible.

One night all of his vital signs began to drop dramatically and the head
nurse, who believed in the hospice concept that no one should die alone,
began to call the family members to the hospital. Then she remembered the
day Billy had spent as a fireman, so she called the Fire Chief and asked if
it would be possible to send a fireman in uniform to the hospital to be with
Billy as he made his transition.


The chief replied, "We can do better than that. We'll be there in 5 minutes.
Will you please do me a favor? When you hear the sirens screaming and see
the lights flashing, will you announce over the PA system that there is not
a fire? It's just the fire department coming to see one of its finest
members one more time. And will you open the window to his room?"

About 5 minutes later a hook and ladder truck arrived at the hospital and
extended its ladder up to Billy's third floor open window. Sixteen
firefighters climbed up the ladder into Billy's room. With his mother's
permission, they hugged him and held him and told him how much they loved
him. With his dying breath, Billy looked up at the fire chief and said,
"Chief, am I really a fireman now?" "Billy, you are, and the Head Chief,
Jesus, is holding your hand," the chief said.

With those words, Billy smiled and said, "I know, He's been holding my hand
all day, and the angels have been singing." He closed his eyes one last
time.

My instructions were to send this to at least four people that I wanted God
to bless and I picked you. Please pass this to at least four people you want
to be blessed. This story is powerful -- please do not break this pattern;
uplifting stories are one of the best gifts we receive. There is no cost but
a lot of rewards, let's continue to uplift one another.

Stop telling God how big your storm is.
Instead tell your storm how big your
GOD is.

Friends are quiet Angels who lift us to our feet when our wings have trouble
remembering how to fly.