Never Forget

The numbers 9 and 11 will always hold a certain sadness for me. For the last nine years on this day, I've mourned the loss of so many innocent people by the hands of terrorists. But amid all of the sadness there is hope and love. There are miracles found in even the dark moments of this tragedy. The poem by Stacey Randall has always made me tear up and it reminds me to look for the beauty in all of the darkness. I thought I'd share it here in case you have not read it:

You say you will never forget where you were when
you heard the news
On September 11, 2001.
Neither will I. 

I was on the 110th floor in a smoke filled room 

with a man who called his wife to say 'Good-Bye.' 

I held his fingers steady as he dialed. 

I gave him the peace to say, Honey, 

I am not going to make it, 

but it is OK...I am ready to go.

'I was with his wife when he called
as she fed breakfast to their children.
I held her up as she tried to understand his words
andas she realized he wasn't coming home that night.

I was in the stairwell of the 23rd floor when a
woman cried out to Me for help.
'I have been knocking on the door
of your heart for 50 years!' I said.
'Of course I will show you the way home - only
believe in Me now.'

I was at the base of the building with the Priest
ministering to the injured and devastated souls.
I took him home to tend to his Flock in Heaven. He
heard my voice and answered.

I was on all four of those planes, in every seat,
with every prayer. I was with the crew as they
were overtaken. I was in the very hearts of the
believers there, comforting and assuring them that their
faith has saved them.

I was in Texas , Virginia , California , Michigan , Afghanistan.
I was standing next to you when you heard the terrible news.
Did you sense Me?

I want you to know that I saw every face. I knew
every name - though not all know Me. Some met Me
for the first time on the 86th floor.
Some sought Me with their last breath.
Some couldn't hear Me calling to them through the
smoke and flames; 'Come to Me... this way... take
my hand.' Some chose, for the final time, to ignore Me.
But, I was there.

I did not place you in the Tower that day.
You may not know why, but I do. However, if you were;
there in that explosive moment in time,
would you have reached for Me?

Sept. 11, 2001, was not the end of the journey for you.
But someday your journey will end.
And I will be there for you as well.

Seek Me now while I maybe found.
Then, at any moment, you know you are 'ready to go.'

I will be in the stairwell of your final moments.

~God~

 

I will never forget. We should never forget.