rich minds, rich rewards

Putting Out the Small Fires

By Valorie Burton
Author and Motivational Speaker

CBNMoney.com – As a child, did your curiosity ever get you in trouble? When my cousin Tommy was nine years old, his curiosity nearly burned the house down. Alone in the basement – and apparently bored, he decided to do something he’d been warned never to do. Playing with matches, he lit a newspaper just to see what would happen. Well, you can guess what happened.

As the fire quickly consumed the paper, Tommy panicked. He did what I suppose any nine year old boy trying not to get in trouble would do. He dropped the paper on the basement floor, ran up the stairs, closed the door, and sat down on the living room sofa to watch television with his mom and brother as though nothing had happened.

Very little time had passed when his brother commented, “Do ya’ll smell something funny?” Tommy crinkled his nose and sniffed in short little bursts as though he were trying to smell something. Then replied, “Nope, I don’t smell anything.”

“Well, I think I smell something burning,” his mother responded, concerned. She began searching the house and her nose soon led her to the basement door. She opened it and discovered the fire burning. Fortunately, it was contained enough that they were able to extinguish it before the fire department arrived.

Tommy insisted he didn’t do it, but the singed tips of his shoestrings told a different story. When he told me the story in hilarious detail, I thought, “there’s got to be a practical life lesson in this one.” This week, it's the lesson I'd like to share with you.

So often in life, we ignore the “fire in the basement.” In a panicked response to a potentially serious problem, you can convince yourself that eventually the problem will go away. But sooner or later, the smell of smoke begins to impact other areas of your life. Perhaps for you it is credit card debt that is piling up, or a bad habit you need to kick. It could be a change you need to make, but you are afraid to admit it. Perhaps you’ve taken on too many projects, and now you need to explain that you will not be able to do all that you promised in the time frame you promised it. Maybe it’s a relationship in which you need to speak up because boundaries are being crossed, and your resentment is building.

What’s the fire in your basement? What do you need to do to extinguish it?

John 8:32 says, “You shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free.” This week, I challenge you to be truthful with yourself about the “fires” and issues that are smoldering in your life, threatening to cause bigger problems if you don’t address them. You have time now to squelch the problem – but only if you face it. The first step is admitting the truth.

God has an answer for every challenge you face. Pray about it, listen to that inner voice for guidance, and do what you need to do to bring peace and resolution to the situation.

Journaling assignment:

Be honest with yourself. Consider your finances, work, health, and relationships. What fire is smoldering in your basement? What could be done to take care of the issue before it grows?

My challenge to you this week:

In at least one situation in your life, take action to resolve an issue that has the potential to grow into a more serious problem.

A sought-after life coach and speaker, Valorie Burton seeks to inspire people to live more fulfilling, less stressful lives. She is the author of Listen to Your Life, What’s Really Holding You Back?, Rich Minds, Rich Rewards, and her latest, Why Not You? 28 Days to Authentic Confidence.