An Honorable Remembrance

Yesterday was the 20 year anniversary of the terrorist attacks on 9/11. I was really young when that horrible, traumatic and deeply sad events of innocent lives destroyed occurred. Third grade to be exact. And over the years while being a student and growing up, we always recalled in memory and with sadness this day, since all my classmates in middle school and high school were alive just like me when that horrendous day took place at the Twin Towers, the Pentagon, and crashing into the plains of Pennsylvania. I didn't even know or understand all the details, and especially being so young I couldn't really wrap my brain around it all. 

I remember vividly watching the TV with my mom after school on that day in 2001 and seeing the two plains crash into the Twin Towers and seeing them collapse with all the dust, cement, rubble crumbling like a big earthquake. I remember seeing a lady pour water over herself as she was drenched in smoke, debris, and cement remains. It was sad to see, trying to understand as a 9 year old. 

I can't even think about all those lives lost just from the crumbling, floor by floor of those towers, those innocent lives lost just from others not able to find their remains amidst the dust, and the crashing, burning, and deteriorating of the iconic sky scrapers. I thought about the passengers on the plane who had no idea what was coming. The excruciating terror on their lives, ending so quickly with not even able to arrive safely at their destination. A phone call perhaps to tell their loved ones goodbye. 

I can't think of it all and make sense of the pain that others have endured these past two decades. The reality of it all has certainly hit home for me more than it has before. It makes my heart sink and ache into sorrow and tears well up in my eyes, thinking of all those lives taken abruptly, ripped from this earth, yet telling a story so strong of their witness in this tragic terrorist attack. 

I had tears in my eyes yesterday as I hugged my sister so tightly after she asked me to be the godparent/godmother of her baby boy due in February. The card she wrote was so touching, and joyful. And to think of this new life, this little baby growing and developing in her womb is so miraculous, beautiful and exciting! 

I think about this new life on the day when nearly 3,000 lost their lives in 9/11. I thought about being with my sister, and hug her close was such a gift as so many others 20 years ago did not have the chance, the privilege, or the gift in doing so as their loved ones passed away. It makes me truly filled with gratitude for life, for the simple things and God's mysterious ways, God's gifts and His enduring presence. How truly blessed I am.