911

September 11th, 2001

For most people around the world 7 years ago, this day started as a routine and boring day until the first plane hit the Twin tower in New York, USA. I remember turning the radio on while I was cleaning when I heard the first broadcast. Like most people, I was dumbfounded and in disbelief. I rushed to turn on the TV to see if there was anything about it in the news. We only had 3 basic channels but on one a message came across the screen saying...we interrupt this program with breaking news that another plane has hit the Twin Towers. I was so consumed with the newscast that I didn't hear Hannah for a couple of minutes. She was 5 months at the time and was crying after waking up from a nap. Some of us can probably remember in detail many things that transpired on this day. It went down in history as a very sad and tragic story of death, loss, violence and war.

I didn't know anyone who perished or anyone who was connected personally to this story but it still moved me with sadness and compassion. For many months afterwards there were testimonies and survivor's gaining the courage to share their stories. I did hear one that was pretty amazing at how God protects his children. There was a christian who worked in the office of where a plane hit directly in one of the towers. He was on his way to work that morning feeling great when all of a sudden, he got very sick. He got so sick that he was compelled to turn around and go back home where he watched in sadness as his coworkers perished or were hurt badly.

This was a wake up call for America and Canada and shook these nations to the very core. Family and friends were holding each other a little tighter and all of a sudden what was taken for granted became precious. Most of us woke up and realized that just because we lived in the west doesn't mean we are protected from terror. This even affected our children who heard about it at school or overheard conversations about it. It drove people to prayer and caused them to get back to the basics of life. All of a sudden families weren't so concerned about material things because in an instant they realized you could loose it all.

Tragedies like this are so hard to comprehend with our human minds and we are left wondering... Why? Why would God allow this to even happen? What people don't realize is that God is bound by his word and he gave humans a free will to choose right from wrong. Some people make the wrong choice and as a result, innocent lives are lost and innocent people suffer. It is sad that this happens. For every action there is a reaction and when the action is terror...nations suffer. God didn't do this...Man did. But the good news is, in any tragedy God is able to bring healing and comfort. He is always able to take what was meant for evil and turn it around for good. He is an on time God ready to minister in time of need if we will allow him to. He would never force himself on us because then he would be taking away our will of free choice.

On this day 7 years ago, the world changed. For the families whose lives were touched by this.....they will never be the same! We will remember!!

*If you haven't taken the time to watch the YouTube video I posted...do so sometime. It's a gentle reminder to be thankful for the life you live.*