Why Children Hide During a House Fire
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When you hide, no one can see that you need help
I imagined a frightened child, continuing to hide, even as responders cried out, braving the flames. Tears were rolling down my cheeks. I had to go to the hallway to collect myself. This was not how I had planned to react at my children’s fire safety field trip at our local station. Our friend, who is a fireman and first responder, had invited a small group of us to bring our kids to get the tour and run through the house fire simulator. We were having a great time exploring the equipment and hearing the sounds of the engines and sirens. A few of the guys were off to the side, getting ready to demonstrate their suits for the kids. My heart was not prepared for what my friend shared as he showed the kids the mask and respirator.
Hiding is a natural response in children
A high number of children die in house fires because their first response is to hide from the flames and from their rescuers. In their terrible fear, they seek to be hidden, almost assuring they will never be rescued. The most likely to hide are children who accidentally started the fire themselves. Their fear of the immediate consequences was stronger than their fear of the fire. They could not see the long term suffering, because they were but little children. The fire man encouraged them to never hide in a fire. He told them to stay where they could be safe and still seen, and to cry out as often as they could.
As the fireman finished telling us about the danger of hiding, he heald out his respirator and mask. He talked about why they wear them. Each child tried it on. My friend told them about how the mask brings the fire fighter clean air and the suit keeps them safe from the flames, so that they can enter hot fires to look for people that need to be saved. The whole idea was to have the children become familiar with how first responders look in full gear. The goal of dressing up and touching the equipment is to dispel fear and build trust. The goal of programs like these is; if kids ever have an emergency, they would not hide from the people that are trying to save. When they are familiar with them, they willingly follow their instructions, and come out from the fire, safely.
The one who lacks sense says, “Stolen water is sweet, and bread eaten secretly is tasty.” Proverbs 9:16b-17
Why are you hiding
[Tweet “The truth is that sin often makes us hide, even while smoke is filling up the room”]That is why we are instructed to not hide our failings and secrets in the dark corners of our soul, but to seek wisdom. We create accountability by humbling ourselves and asking for help in areas of trouble from a trusted friend or counselor. More over this is why God asks us to seek His face and know Him. Only gaining trust in the Father and knowing His face can keep us safe when He comes to rescue us.
We have a way out of the flames, even if the fire is of our own creation
God is not unlike my friend, His heart wants every person to be familiar with Him. He wants no person to be lost. One day The Father will call every man to leave his sin. Those that are familiar will follow because they know they can trust Him to lead them to safety. Those who hide are consumed by the very fires they began because they continue to hide instead of crying out to be saved.
Read Proverbs 9:13-18 and answer why secrets are destructive to our lives, and what is the value of accountability?
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