We pause today to remember the tragedy of 9/11 and to honor those who gave the ultimate sacrifice of their life that day. I also think about those who have given their time, service, life or loved one in this war that we are still fighting. I pray for their families. That somehow they could find comfort in today. That something today would bring them joy and a smile, even as they continue to grieve. I pray for our troops that are currently overseas – especially my own husband, and I wish I could give him a huge hug and keep him close to me today.
He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. Psalm 147:3
You are my refuge and my shield; I have put my hope in your word. Psalm 119:114
I also thank God for the lives that were spared on that day. The husband that took the day off work a day before he was supposed to. I wish I could find them all now, but I read story after story about people who stayed home with a sick child, got stuck in traffic, or had other delays that kept them from being inside those towers on September 11, 2001. Yes, the number of lives lost was devastating, but it could have been so much worse if it had happened even 1 hour later. As humans, we will never understand why certain ones were spared and others weren’t but we can trust in God’s master plan and in His love for us.
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD.
“As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:8-9
I remember the day clearly. Hubby and I didn’t have any children yet, but I was at home because the company I worked for had gone bankrupt so I was out of a job. I remember having the TV on and watching the morning news while I worked on the computer. I saw the coverage of the plane hitting the North tower and was in shock! Several thoughts ran through my head – “How does that happen?”, “Did they lose control of the plane?”, “Are the buildings full?”.
I was still trying to make sense of it all, when I saw it.
LIVE.
The cameras were showing live coverage of the North tower so they caught the 2nd plane in action as it crashed into the South tower.
Then I knew.
It was no accident.
I was on the phone with Hubby immediately, and he came home from work. I remember we sat for hours watching the coverage together. We called our family to make sure they knew what was going on. I also remember we finally took a break to drive a couple blocks to our favorite Chinese restaurant to get take-out. We weren’t in the mood to cook that day. Even as we stood in the lobby of the restaurant, they had a TV playing the news. We chatted a bit with the manager of the restaurant as we were all in shock about what was going on. What would happen next? It was so hard to accept that this was really happening.
I also remember saying many times to my Hubby, “I’m so proud of you for serving our country, but I’m glad you are not still in the Army”. Little did I know God would have other plans in mind for us and would call us to just that. God also prepared our hearts for it though, and I could not be any more proud of my husband or happy to be his Army wife.
I remember the patriotism that rose up in the days following. The American flags that were seen everywhere. The perspective that it brought to our daily lives. The grumbling and complaining seemed to die down for a while as people realized how small most of our problems really are in comparison.
10 years later, it’s a day I’ll never forget.