September 11th - 9 years later......

I have been thinking a bit about September 11th this last week. I can't believe it's been nine years already. I can't believe how much people have forgotten over the last 9 years. I remember exactly where I was, what I was doing, and how I was feeling that morning. I remember my alarm going off and the radio DJ talking about some loser that had flown his small plane into one of the towers. I absently thought, seriously - how could you miss something that big. But, out of curiosity I turned on the news. The news anchors were a bit more informed than my morning radio DJ. Not a small plane at all, not some random man committing suicide or lost in the midst of Manhattan at all - but a commercial jet, carrying hundreds of people. And - just then, the second plane it - right there - on my tv screen - in real life. And - I continued to watch, the smoke pouring out of the buildings, people horrified and traumatized. I got my kids ready for school, all the while thinking - is it safe for me to send them? By that time there was the pentagon and news of another missing plane, and it was confirmed as a suspected terrorist attack.

My hubby called - he was in Atlanta - on a business trip. They shut everything down. The whole country was brought to their knees - figuratively AND literally.

And - that is what I have been thinking about this week. A lot. As I read my scriptures daily, I see time and time again that Heavenly Father sends trials to try the faith of His people and turn their hearts to Him. It happens over and over again in the Book of Mormon and in the Bible. Forces of nature, earthquakes, floods, tornadoes, tsunamis, hurricanes, fires, famines, droughts. I hear people say sometimes that if there was a God, He would not allow these kinds of things to happen. But, I firmly believe that God lets these things happen to bring us to Him.

And - just like in the scriptures, for a time people are more united, more faithful, more caring of one another, more committed to God - but it seems like they ALWAYS forget, and then go on with their lives, and become more self-absorbed. So, He allows more things to happen, and people remember again.

I saw that A LOT after 9-11. Cars and houses that flew American flags, people committed to helping each other, emotionally and financially. People turned to God - in prayer and in faith. People were united, together, no matter what their faith, as Americans, and committed to one another to keep each other safe and help each other through the crisis. The same thing happened with Hurricane Katrina, and with the earthquakes in Haiti and Chile. The government was united - not all this partisan crap we are dealing with right now. We were all for each other - that was the good that came from an awful, terrible tragedy.

So - today I remember all those who lost their lives that day, and those who have lost them since as a result of what happened that morning. And - I remember and continue to hope and pray for the United States of America - may her people remember, and may God bless us all......