Note from blogger, Arline Miller: On 9/11/2020, I woke very early, thought about this day being such a combination of sadness, loss, confusion, and pride of a country being attacked and rising again. It brought me to today, this particular day which our country is being attacked from within causing sadness, loss, confusion, and division and I wonder if we can pull together remembering what was present in 2001 and rise again like the great country we are.
Reposting my 9/11 tribute from 2015:
STILL STANDING STILL ON 9/11. Each year on September 11 (9/11) each of us in the United States take a pause and remember. We do not remember to keep hate in our hearts for those who chose to destroy so many lives and forever changed a date. This morning, I sent birthday wishes to a friend, who before 2001 celebrated this date as a fun filled day of celebration. It was forever changed to “you were born on 9/11, Oh….”. I thought about how this day dramatically altered the lives and I thought I would reprint my blog post from 2015. Those who sacrificed their own lives to save others will forever live in our memories with our deepest gratitude.
TODAY THE WORDS are WHEN THE WORLD STOOD STILL. We remember, and we in America, will always remember this particular day on September 11, 2001 when we had tragedy come to our shores by foreign terrorists. Seemingly, the world seemed to stop. If we ask anyone where we were on this day, we can readily tell you where we were and each of us have our “story” of 9/11. So many lives were affected by the almost three thousand lost lives both in New York and at the Pentagon as well as the flight which heroically crashed in a field to avoid more lives. In the midst of this terror, American heroes rose to be what Americans do best as they rose to sacrifice their lives to save others; some gave their lives to save others; and others gave aid while subjecting themselves to smoke and dust. Yes, America cried and we grieved as we still do fourteen years (now in 2020, we remember 19 years ago) and in that grief; we honor those who are not here with us today; some innocently killed while becoming a hero for our way of life; and those who were forever injured either physically and/or emotionally; we hail them as heroes.
American people have been accused of being selfish and greedy and anytime I hear this accusation; my mind goes to not only the days and years of this tragedy where so many have given money, time, and even their own lives to protect our country. Strangers helping Strangers; Families hugging Family members; charitable organizations not even hesitating going into Ground Zero to assist and contribute aid and supplies. For a day the world stood still; Americans were on the move as they have moved when other countries have needed help and Americans have been willing to be there even if they are mocked or rebuked. Why on earth would anyone rebuke strangers willing to help in those times when their lives depended on this unwarranted help? When their worlds have stood still; Americans with sometimes with no thanks to come MOVED to go to those in need.
For my deeper thought….. I say today, while we are remembering the day our world stood still; AMERICA MOVED. We moved in love, help, compassion, and a willingness to do what we need to stay strong. We never forget; we MOVE. We are a nation of not only survivors but thrivers. WE MAY STAND STILL while we have moments of silence today for the victims; but we will applaud the heroes and even ourselves for loving our country, coming together as a country when it counts.
FEATURED BIBLE VERSE:
Romans 15:1-2 ESV
We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up.
(C) copyright 2012- 2020 Arline Lott Miller. The material here copyrighted, use only by permission. Third party material is sourced if known to original location for credit reference.
