To my baby girl on 9/11/01

A Day of Terror

To my daughter: you are not quite seven months. Oh, sweet girl, such horror has occurred in the United  States today. Two commercial airplanes crashed into the World Trade Center Twin Towers. Moments later they collapsed. Two other planes crashed - one into The Pentagon - the other in Pittsburgh. This is an act of terrorism - by whom we do not know.

Daddy is in Pittsburgh, and I did not know of the crash there until Nana called and told me. I scooped you up and held you tightly trying to hold myself together - so as not to frighten you. I called Daddy's hotel and was relieved to get through. I left Daddy a message and waited with a prayerful heart to hear his voice. He did call, and he is on his way home. Baby, baby - for all I fear, for all I wish to protect you from - this tragedy is beyond a mother's reach. Only God can hold you- protect you.

I think of the lives lost. Precious life so easily disregarded. The children - somebody's mommy - somebody's daddy. The world is at war, baby. The United States has received a mighty blow. Peace and freedom here has been disrupted beyond all of our comprehension. Not since Pearl Harbor, which happened even before I was born, has our country known this kind of tragedy. Oklahoma City bombing was horrific, and the past bombing of the World Trade Center was horrific - but this - this is a devastation our home has never known.

Schools and businesses are closing. The military is on alert. The National Guard has been called to NYC - our next door neighbor is going to have to go. Uncle Tom's base is on high security alert. I am beside myself trying to comprehend all of this even to pen it for you.

You, little one, nap peacefully on the bed beside me. How blessed I am - our family is okay. We are safe. We have each other. Daddy will be home soon. My heart breaks for the little ones whose daddy - whose mommy - won't come home tonight.

The news coverage is unbelievable. It seems as if we are living a nightmare. But it's true, and I wish I could protect you from the ugliness of what is unraveling before us. I wonder about the nuclear arms that sit perched - waiting for an order. Will there ever be a world for you to grow up in - to play freely? Is it going to all end soon? Will the Lord return? Only God knows.

We wait on Him and as Christians we trust Him. I did not sleep well last night. Resorted to praying for family. How many other Christians were called to prayer in the wee hours of the morning? The new threat of the 21st century - terrorism. I wonder what tomorrow will bring.

Little, little girl, I am so sorry that the world can be so ugly. This is not our final home. I can assure you of this promise: Heaven awaits us - and for that I praise our Holy God who cradles us all. I pray the families of those victims can be comforted by God's faithfulness in the midst of evil, and His provision of eternity with Him. I pray if you are reading this when you are older, that you have given your life to Christ and are completely surrendered to Him. Never let go, never forsake. Believe. Believe.

"I (Jesus) have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have tribulation, but take heart. I have overcome the world." John 16:33

Jesus wins.
I love you. Always.