I had gotten the kids off to school and was watching one of the morning shows. When the first plane hit, I was a little shocked, but thought is was probably some little plane with a student pilot or something. As they were reporting, I watched in horror as the jetliner cut through the second World Trade Center Tower. I knew instantly, this was no accident and that something was horribly wrong.
Next came the reports about the Pentagon and the plane crashing in Pennsylvania, about 90 miles from my parents' home. I knew that my cousin worked in the World Trade Center. No one was able to reach him by phone. I found out later that it was his kid's first day of school and he stayed home later than usual to see them off and then caught a later ride to Manhattan. Had he left at his usual time, he would have been in the buildings when they were struck.
As I stood inches from my TV, watching in horror, I wrapped my arms around my waist, doubled over, and just screamed, "God, no!!" Somehow, instinctively, I knew nothing would ever be the same. I needed to know that God was in control, on His throne and would deliver us from this evil. I played Nicole C Mullen's song, My Redeemer Lives, about ten times as I wept on my knees right there in my living room. You can click on the link to hear her song and here are the some of the lyrics from that song that ministered to me in those moments:
"Who told the sun where to stand in the morning? Who told the ocean you can only come this far? And who showed the moon where to hide til evening? Whose words alone can catch a falling star?"
"Well I know my redeemer lives. I know my redeemer lives. Let all of creation testify. Let this life within me cry, 'I know my redeemer lives.'"
"The very same God that spins things in orbit runs to the weary, the worn and the weak. And the same gentle hands that hold me when I'm broken - they conquered death to bring me victory."
"I know my redeemer lives. Because He lives, I can face tomorrow."
After the Lord ministered to me through prayer and that song, I got in my car and drove to each of my children's school, picked them up and brought them home. I wasn't in fear that something was going to happen in Oklahoma where we live. I just needed to be near them.
9/11 changed so many things...for the world, this country, families... My brother became a police officer because of 9/11. My husband and brother both went to Louisiana for 18 months to help with restoration after Hurricane Katrina because of 9/11. Do you remember where you were, what you were doing and how you coped with what you saw? How did it change your life? Share with us how 9/11 touched you.
From His Lap,
