9.09.2011

Remember

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It’s the forgotten day, September 10th.  I don’t remember where I was, what I did. Who does?  I’m sure I smiled; I probably hugged my baby brother; I likely puckered my forehead over math problems.  But that was September 10th—blissfully faded into a blank, innocent and perfect and forgotten because of its normalcy. 

Ten years ago this Sunday, on September 11th, 2001, I wrote, “Today what rightfully belonged in comic books or scary stories jumped out into the real world.  My world.”  And I still remember Mama flipping radio station after radio station, the static filling my ears while husky voices hesitated, “We aren’t sure about anything yet…”

The fourth plane crashed three minutes after we found out about the first one, yet I had been awake, eating my cereal, when the first planes had crashed. 

It was unreal to this eleven year old.  I had no idea what the World Trade Center was, much less the Pentagon.  The length of a continent was between me and the disaster, but the fear, anguish, and pain was just as real. 

No one has to remind me to remember September 11th.  I will never forget those who gave their lives that others might live, I will tell my children and my children’s children of the businessmen on Flight 93 who were given the choice of heroism and cowardice and chose heroism, and I will not forget the names of the 2,977 who died that day, with whom any of us could easily have been numbered. 

I will never forget.  I cry whenever I hear an eyewitness account of that day; I cry when I watch a movie about that day; I cry when the names of those 2,977 people scroll across a screen.  But if I remember only to cry, then my remembrance is pointless.  

So this year, on the tenth anniversary, I say from my heart that I remember that day, and I want that remembrance to motivate me to cherish as more precious than anything in this world the September 10ths that I am given.  I never know when the next day may be a September 11th, but I will not live my life in fear of the next day, nor in the boredom of another normal routine.    

Instead, I will love the meaning behind the mundane. 
I will delight in the joy of a smile. 
I will mark the memories of an ordinary day.
I will revel in the love of God.

I will never forget filing into our tiny country church on the West coast on that quiet, late summer evening nearly ten years ago.  It could have been just an ordinary prayer meeting, but it was not.  And during that time God gave me these verses to assure me that even though I could not know what would happen the next day or the day after that, I could know one thing:

“Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.  For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:37-39


I have had nearly 3,650 ordinary days since September 11th, 2001, and I pray that they are not forgotten as September 10th was.  And be there 3,650 more ordinary days in my life, I will take each one as a gift, a precious sign of the love of God.  Because I remember. 

7 comments:

  1. Lauren, thanks so, so much for giving more of a reason to remember.
    I remember 9/11. I remember hearing the radio. I remember seeing the replays on gramma's TV. But my world wasn't shaken... I was nine, but I still didn't grasp the magnitude of what was happening. I'm thankful to be able to read or watch people talk about their eyewitness accounts of the day, so that now I can realize what it was like.

    thank you!

    -Penn

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  2. Touching post. My heart aches for all in America who do not have the hope of Christ, who cannot say with confidence they can conqueror the storms of life. I don't know how anyone can face life without Christ on their side, He is my more than my Savior, He is my Friend. I pray that as we remember that tragic day 10 years ago, we will all come closer to God as He longs to be closer to us!

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  3. This is SO beautiful Lauren!
    May God bless and keep you, Mikaela and the rest of your family this day and always.
    Aimee

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  4. Amen. I echo the thankfulness for giving another reason to remember. I have been thinking lately about how complacent I can become until something terrible happens. And then it jolts me into remembering just how thankful I should be.

    I haven't commented here before, but I am very thankful for all your edifying posts.

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  5. Wonderful post, my dear Lauren. <3 I was a mere six-year-old when this tragedgy occurred, but I remember watching the TV and my parent's shocked, speechless expressions as clear as though it were yesterday. I simply cannot believe it's been ten years...and did you know that Mayor Bloomberg of NYC is ommitting prayer from the annual ceremonies? I wrote him a letter a few days ago urging him to keep prayer in the program. I hope (and pray) that he does...

    I, too, will be writing a post today on 9/11 and my memories of it.

    ~Lucia
    www.one-beloved.blogspot.com

    P.S. (We know two families that you do, I discovered! The Jordans and the Browns. :)

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  6. Lauren, thank you for a beautiful post and the reminder to remember and cherish each day as a gift from the Lord.
    I was your age - 21 - on Sept. 11 and I first heard about the attack when I was the first one at work at the newspaper (a co-worker called me and told me to turn on the TV). I remember being almost in shock for most of the rest of the day and wondering what the future would hold. I can hardly believe 10 years have passed.
    BTW, Romans 8:35-39 is my favorite passage of scripture! What incredible truths to cling to!

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  7. Hello Ladies,

    This is Dani. :) I just was looking through your blog a little and I am looking forward to reading some of your articles.

    I wanted to let Mikaela know that I must not have her correct email. I gave her mine, so I was wondering if she could write me an email so I could get the correct contact info - my 2 emails both came back to me as wrong addresses. That would be wonderful! It was such a joy meeting like-minded believers, and I am looking forward to getting to know you better. Thank you for your lovely Christ-like spirits. You are a blessing already!

    Warmly,
    ~Dani

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