9/11/01….or today.

Today is 9/11. Today is September 11, 2018. Today is a day in history that changed everything: September 11, 2001.

On that day, I was just a few days from my 40th birthday.

On that day, my son…my only child…was at the beginning of his 6th grade in school.

On that day…..everything seemed alright in the world.

But then………………..

Oh, my stars, then……………

In those days, David was always the one to get CD up, get him fed and take him to school. His first year of junior high/middle school. David was kind to work the morning shift. I always worked the night shift.

On that day, I remember very clearly David coming to wake me up. His [almost] exact words were, “Babe, wake up. America is under attack.”

Wait, whaaaat? I immediately awoke. This wasn’t good news.

David left our house ASAP to pick up our son and bring him home to us. The local schools had shut down and were asking parents to pick up their kids and bring them home.

YES!

Not long after, I started watching the tv coverage of anything and everything…my jaw dropped to my chest…my mouth agape, I’m sure. I’ll be honest and transparent with you…I believe I spent the literal 24+ hours, sitting on our couch, glued to any reasonable, logical informational news show that I could possibly find.

Guys, I mean listen, my mind was all over the whole place.

How is it even possible that just a few hours ago, families went to sleep in total peace?

How is it even possible that normal, everyday people were getting ready for some morning flight to somewhere for some thing?

How is it possible that people went to sleep ready to face tomorrow’s normal day at the office?

How is it possible that firefighters, police officers, paramedics had drifted into the night, ready for their morning shifts…and whatever that entailed?

Not. Even. One. of these very special people could have remotely imagined what would come to be at 10am on the morning of NINE-ELEVEN.

In one tiny, single moment, LIFE WOULD NEVER BE THE SAME.

For you. For me. For those individuals. For America.

In one tiny single moment, something can happen……and life may never, ever, be the same again.

That’s why James wrote this: “You do not even know what will happen tomorrow! What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.” 

Can I just tell you how much I hate this verse? Cuz I totally and completely hate this verse!!!

But just because I hate this verse doesn’t make it any less true.

In the past week, we found out that the daughter of a very close friend died. I believe she was about 19 years old. THAT, my friends…….THAT…..is too dang soon.

Too often, especially in the ministry of pastor/pastor’s wife, we hear far too often of a life cut short. And it doesn’t even matter how or why it was cut short…it just was!

I’m looking forward to eternity…ETERNITY…where life is never, ever, ever, ever cut short. For any reason! Life is never ended abruptly or suddenly or unexpectedly.

Because life is forever!

So, what can we learn from 9/11/01?

We can learn that life and time are precious! And what you and I do with our life and our time is worth more than the most precious earthly whatevers…[fill in the blank]!

So today. People……..

TODAY.

Look at the world around you. Look at your home and the family and/or friends that you have been blessed with. Take deep, deep breaths. In fact, focus on every deep breath that you take. Relax your body, mind and emotions. Kiss and love and snuggle on the ones that you love so deeply and couldn’t live without.

And never, ever, ever take one single breath for granted!

NEVER!