What were you doing when you heard the news?
Were you eating breakfast?
Driving to work?
Whatever you were doing that memory is most likely one you will never forget.
Our family was in a hotel in California, just north of Sacramento, we were heading to Oregon that day and the kids were so excited that they would get to see the ocean. Brian went to the lobby to check out the continental breakfast and came back disappointed, but said that some guy was talking about a plain and the towers in NYC. We thought he was confused and didn't even bother to turn on the TV. The rule was quiet time first then tv. So because the breakfast look grim, Brian went in search of Dunkin Donuts. While he was gone I turned the tv on and was shocked and sickened at what I saw. By that time both Towers had been hit and the Pentagon as well. Here I was alone in hotel room with my three kids (ages 11, 9 and 7). I wanted to cry and panic but realized all eyes were on me. They didn't know what to do with the images they saw, images I could no longer protect them from. Thankfully Brian came back and we processed the events of the morning as a family. Brian's Dunkin Donuts sat mostly untouched, who could eat at a time like this?
What an eery day as we drove north into Oregon. We didn't know what to think, we wondered if we would even be able to get gas, and if so how much would we be paying. Driving past airports that had no air traffic was strange, to see all those airplanes lined up on the ground. How was life going to change? Who would do such a thing? There were many more questions than answers in that time.
As the days went on, amazing things came out of this tragedy. People were getting on their knees and crying out to God. People were flocking to churches for prayer. Candle light vigils happened from coast to coast. People remember the dead, injured and missing and turned to God for answers.
10 years later, as we commemorate this day we must remember to get on our knees once more. Our country still needs God...we need him more than ever. 9/11 is a part of this nation, it has impacted each and every one of us. My family was on a prayer journey at the time and it impacted our prayers even more. We took our trip very seriously and we prayed with fervor for this nation. When tragedy struck we turned to God, deep down this country knows who to lean on and He is a powerful God just waiting for us to turn to Him once more!
If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
2 Chronicles 7:14
Run for your life!
How about you? Where were you? What is your 9/11 story?
