We Remember September 11th
Posted by Antoinette R. Banks | Posted in | Posted on Sunday, September 11, 2011
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I remember exactly where I was on September 11, 2001. I sat on the edge of my seat as the rest of my fellow students clustered around a television in the middle of my 9th grade English class. Horror gripped my body as I saw ominous smoke bellow from buildings and police officers frantic over the airways. I remember asking my teacher, “is this a movie or is this real?” With tears in her eyes, my teacher—Mrs. Bridges said, “Antoinette…this is very real.”
September 11th will always be remembered as surreal day of pain and disbelief for the American people. How could a series of four coordinated suicide attacks fall upon a country that seemed so impenetrable? On that dark morning, 19 terrorists from the Islamist militant group al-Qaeda hijacked four passenger jets and intentionally crashed two into the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York City, a third into the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, and a fourth jet—Flight 93—crashed into a field near Shanksville, Pennsylania before it could reach its intended target in Washington, DC.
It would be wise for us to pause and reflect on the courageous men and women on that day. Let us reflect on El Shaddai’s grace and mercy on how He opened the gates of heaven and welcomed loved ones. Let us reflect on Jehovah Shammah
—a God who is there, comforting wife’s who had lost their husbands and children who had lost their mothers . Jehovah Rapha—healing God who is yet and still bringing back the minds of city officials in FDNY AND NYPD suffering from posttraumatic stress. Jehovah Jireh—a provider to families who have still been unable to identify remains of a family member.
Many brothers and sisters are mourning on this day and searching for a need to smile. Tomorrow is truly not promised and as we are considering the feelings of our fellow man, it would be wise for us to also consider ourselves. If we should perish today would we be satisfied with the lives we have lead, would our family be pleased at the example we have left for future generations to emulate? And most importantly…would we hear our merciful father whisper onto us, “Well done.”
May we continue to have love and understanding in our heart. Treat every verb that comes from your mouth onto someone’s ears as golden. Change starts within. Shalom.
