Her flight had been delayed, for - to us - an unknown reason.
Fifteen minutes later I arrived home and flipped on the news. Matt Lauer was interviewing an author, when he interrupted the conversation to announce that a plane had crashed into a World Trade Center building.
That was the beginning.
Minutes later, I watched in disbelief as a plane flew into a second building.
Then we knew. Someone was intentionally killing Americians.
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| news.nationalgeographic.com |
It was incomprehensible, just didn't seem real. I tried to reach my daughter, away at college in Pennsylvania. My son called from Maryland. Is this really happening? we kept saying.
When the towers fell, I became nauseous. This is what evil looks like, I thought.
By the time a fourth plane dove into the ground in Shanksville, I decided it was time to wake up my husband, who was working nights at the time. I hated to do it. He had served the Air Force for twenty years. He would be heart-sick.
I got him up, and together, we stared at the TV for the rest of the day. How could such a thing happen? We kept shaking our heads, unable to imagine the level of hatred that devises such a plan.
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| news.nationalgeographic.com |
Through all the horror and grief, Americans united to support one another and stand resolute that this tragedy would not break us.
Today, I am praying for those who died on that day. I'm praying for their families. I'm remembering the days immediately following 9/11/2001, when the best of us emerged. We turned to God and each other for comfort and healing.
And yet, years later...we are again bickering about politics, economics and social issues. It seems we have forgotten how easily we can be humbled when the worldly things in which we place our trust are destroyed.
The aerobics instructor returned safely to Florida to tell her story of how, after the first two planes struck, passengers in the airport were told to run from the terminal. With hundreds of others, she ran for her life to an empty field and waited for instruction.
There are many lessons from 9/11.
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| blog.heritage.org |
A frightening one is that evil exists.
The good news is that, in the end...God wins.
18 comments:
Nice, Mare. I love that photos of the fireman on the stairs going up and all the people are going down.
I remember that day as if it was yesterday. I'm also an Air Force wife. Thanks for writing this.
Yes, God wins.
A beautiful post about a day we'll never forget. Even if we want to.
I know that this had to be difficult to write, but you managed to pay a loving tribute to the many heroes of that tragic day. Julie
Your last line gave me goosebumps. Absolutely - God wins. I was in living in your neck of the woods in 2001. It seems like the entire downtown was dismissed at the same time. I cried off an on going home - just in disbelief. From downtown to the Orange Park area it took almost two hours to get there. Most of that was just getting out of downtown.
God wins. Always. Terrific post! :)
I'm so glad you reminded us that God wins. I just finished reading about the ambassador in Libya who was killed just because someone posted an anti-Mohammed video on youtube. We are in a crazy dark world, but so glad to know in the end God will triumph.
Wonderful post! So good to hear your thoughts and be encouraged by this. Yes, God already has the victory, and that can be our comfort!
I was at home getting the girls ready for school and giving my eldest her birthday presents her birthday is the 10th September but our 10th is your 9th. The girls had turned the telly on for some morning tv before school and all that was on every channel was the attack on the twin towels. I remember one of my girls asking if people were in the buildings and when I said yes they wanted to know if everyone got out and when I said no they hadn't she was so upset she didn't want to go to school but of course mean old mum made her go........
Seems we all have our memories about this...
As I watch the news to learn more Americans died on the eleventh anniversary of 9/11, I can only restate what you stated so well...
Evil exists.
What a wonderful and powerful post. Yes, that day was horrific and will never be forgotten-- but the aftermath of a country reunited was wonderful. And yes, people have forgotten too quickly. But you are right, in the end God will win.
yes--thank God!
"in the end...God wins."
Yes. Yes, he does. I'm keeping that in mind as we keep hearing of more reports of embassies attacked and people killed because a religious group is offended. It's senseless. But God will win out, no matter what.
~Lynn
You are right, Mare. We must remember when facing so much evil in this world, we mustn't despair. God will win in the end.
And like every American, I remember exactly where I was that day. At work. We stopped all activity and watched the events unfold, sickened to see such carnage.
I pray that we never lose sight of that lesson, but I am so afraid our current society and political climate indicate we have.
I was home with the tv off when my daughter Gretchen God bless her soul called to tell me to tell me to switch it on.
We spent hours,days weeks as news filtered in about family members who worked downtown about friends and acquaintances who were cops and firemen. Sadly not all the news was good. But you are so right this evil will not prevail because God wins that battle hands down.
Oh I love your last line! I'm in New York so the memory of that day is seared into my brain and heart. Beautiful post.
Blessings, Joanne
Beautiful post, Mare.
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