911

Today is a day of remembering.....





I remember when we didn't own a TV, and I was on the phone with a homeschool mom who wanted to join our group. She then told me that her husband told her a plane had hit one of the towers. We both thought it was a small plane out of control or something as such. Then she sounded shocked and hung up.



I remember going to my neighbor's house, and asking her if she was watching tv. She said yes. I asked if I could watch with her. She laugh and said she was watching Barney with her little girl. I told her what little I knew, and we both ran to the tv.



I remember both us standing there, knowing that our world was changing. Not knowing how or why, but the fear gripping our hearts. She is a pastor's wife, so it was good to have been able to cry out together to our King.



I remember that we ( my 3 children and myself) were suppose to take a field trip, just the 4 of us to the Statue of Liberty that morning, and the morning just kept getting away from me. We were suppose to be out the door at 7:30 am. But one thing after another kept us home. I am thankful for the delay. We truly were all ready to walk out the door, but then things kept happening. We may have been stuck at the island for an ridiculous amount of time. Not to mention my children would have had a terribly terrifying view of the horror. And who knew where the next target was....



I remember instead, John & I driving to Washington' Rock , which is about 5 minutes from our house on the hill, where we usually go to see the NYC skyline . There were loads of people there, just shocked. The silence was deafening. We all just looked on. In unbelief. Words escaped us all.



I remember the day making us all numb. After all, we are but 45 minutes from NYC, and we all know someone who worked at the WTC. They are our neighbors, our friends, our fellow church memebers. Our family.



I remember when we finally went to the WTC almost a month later. We saw the pictures, the news clipping, the obituary pages in the paper everyday that were extra thick, for the paper rightly so, decided every name was worthy of remembering. We thought we knew what to expect.





We were wrong. The one thing they never mentioned was the smell. The quietness, the heartache in the air. Still, one month later.



We also saw the hope, the hope that came from all the local churches that sent out people to do everything. Everything imaginable. The Lord was there. The Lord's instuments were the beacons of light in a dark and what seemed to be hopeless world.



I rememeber this nation, standing up together, praying together, clinging together. And most importantly working together, with God at our side, without shame or fear. For our God was the only thing that would make sense of this. If only we clung to HIM.



Yes, we knew some of those who died. We also knew of those who survived miraculously. The stories were amazing.



Today marks that day.



http://www.time.com/time/photoessays/shattered/


And we all should remember.

And thank our Lord for HIS mercies. And HIS grace.