Remembering September 11, 2001

‪In memory of the lives lost on September 11, 2001. That day, with so many human beings of many nationalities lost in the multiple terror attacks on USA soil, we saw uniquely American bravery, fearlessness, and resilience. May God protect the USA and this world.

I don’t know if they teach American history as is in schools any more, but on September 11, 2001, the United States suffered terrorist attacks so bold that it shook the country and sent droves of people running toward God for the next several weeks, praying for solace and comfort in their grief as over three thousand people perished when the World Trade Center in Manhattan collapsed after hijacked airplanes hit them and when the Pentagon was hit in the same day as well. Word was the bad guys were heading for Capitol Hill, but they failed.

I was at home with my baby boy when my husband called me from work and told me to turn on the television. There, live on TV, I saw people fell over a hundred floors to their deaths. It’s something you can’t unsee. The devastation was tremendous.

Many firefighters and first responders died that day as they ran inside the towers to save people, only to have the entire building collapse on top of them. Years later, many of those first responders died of cancer.

Over at the Pentagon, the casualties were fewer than the Twin Towers, but deaths are still deaths. Somewhere nearby, another airplane crashed into a field in Pennsylvania, supposedly failing to hit their intended target, whatever it was. Everyone onboard the plane was killed, including brave men and women who tried to tackle and fight the hijackers.

Back to New York City, it’s hard to forget how Ground Zero looked like after the towers fell. Some of the steel beams that held the building together still remained. Everywhere, there were giant steel crosses like this, as though the entire block was a cemetery. It was also a reminder that God is sovereign no matter what. And that God has mercy upon us all.

Over the years, they never rebuilt another office tower on top of the empty spot, but they turned the area into a memorial. Some day if we go to Manhattan, we’ll have to stop by to take a look and remember.

May God protect and bless the USA from such awful attacks both now and in the future. May God keep the world safe for the sake of our children and their children.

“But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, long suffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth” (Psalm 86:15).

Photo credits: Pixabay