Do you remember?

Do you remember where you were the moment you heard?  You know, the moment  you heard about the tragedy that struck our nation on September 11, 2001?  I do.  I was sitting in building 200, 4th floor of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida.  A fellow co-worker sent an email showing a clip from a newscast talking about the first plane that crashed.  I remember being on the phone with a providers office and she was talking about it as well.  When I finished that call I sat there, unable to take another call.  I didn't know what to feel.  I was shocked, scared, hurt, and saddened.  

I wasn't the only one unable to take another call.  The floor begin to get louder with the discussions of what were going on.  Everyone wanted to know more. Unfortunately, we had to continue taking calls.  But come lunch time, I went to the local drugstore and bought a radio to put at my desk.  I remember it was raining, I sat in my car eating my lunch and listening to the radio.  You could tell the mode everywhere was a very numb, shocked feeling.  People weren't sure what to say.  It was an eery silence, almost.  More tragic news continued to pour in.  I remember sitting in my car thinking, I just want to go home.  I want to be with my family. Then the thought crossed my mind of the many people that would not be at home with their loved ones that night.  Pure devastation.

I sat there in my car, and prayed.  Prayers for God to give the families, that were uncertain where their loved ones were, strength.  Give our leaders the knowledge to get to the bottom of this.  For the courage to press on.  My heart went, and still goes out to the many people who lost their lives on that day. After work, the drive home silent.  I couldn't listen to the radio anymore.  The rain that continued to fall made the mood even more sad.  Once I got home, it was then that my heart truly broke.  I saw the images that the news stations played over, and over, and over.  Each time I'd see those images all I could think was, how could this happen? Why did this happen, who could do something like this?  Again, I found myself praying. Today, my heart still goes out to each person that lost their life.  To the families that are still struggling with the loss of loved ones.  To the children that are now without a father or mother. To the wives & husbands that are now widowed.  To the brothers & sisters.  May we never forget the day that changed our country.  May we honor the men and women that fight for our freedom.  May we support one another, and pray for our country and its leaders.  

We wake up each and every day so sure of our plans, and our agendas.  9/11/01 was no different for so many.  The innocent victims that boarded planes heading here or there, the innocent people that just went to work as they normally do.  I'm sure they all had an idea of how their day would go, but it did not unfold how any of us expected it to that day.  We can never be sure of what our days will hold.  Sure we can have our agendas, and our goals for the day but we must make sure that we are at peace with God.  If tragedy were to come to your life today, would you know without a shadow of a doubt where you would spend eternity?

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life."  John 3:16

May we never forget!  God bless!!