As most Americans, I was greatly impacted by the events that took place on September 11, 2001. I was a college student at the time, innocent to the thoughts that we (americans) had enemies. I felt safe, and secure, and hardly gave terrorism a second thought. Then, while getting ready for class that morning, I turned on the TV. The first tower had just been hit, and I thought it was a horrible accident, and then I saw the second plane hit, and I was instantly afraid.
Since that time, the events of that day kind of faded for me. I met my husband and got married, I’ve moved around the country a few times, we’ve had 2 children, and now, I’m back in UT. Every year on the anniversary, I thought for a few moments about that day, but I made a point not to relive it by watching the anniversary programs that were always on TV. But, for some reason, yesterday, I decided to watch one such program seeing as it had been 10 years, and ground zero was finally being dedicated to those who had lost their lives.
I watched a program that contained portions of the documentary, 9/11 which was a real live account of firefighters that were called to ground zero that day, while two french filmmakers were with them. So, for two hours last night I watched this documentary, and was horrified all over again about what happened. When I went to bed last night, I couldn’t sleep.
I tossed and turned all night, and kept thinking about the movie whenever I woke up. I felt scared, and sad all over again. When my husband and I were going to bed after watching it, we commented about how depressed we felt all over again watching that program.
While I think it is important to remember what happened that day, I worry that we try to remember too much. We dwell on the past, and the horrible things that happened, rather than focusing on the hope, and the spiritual. I woke up this morning thinking that I was extremely grateful for my knowledge of a loving Savior. I was grateful to know that God has control over all things. That while all men have free agency, and can make bad choices that will affect thousands of lives like 9/11 did, I know what happens after this life. I know there is a plan, and I know that there is a loving God behind that plan.
Not everyone has that. So, I felt lucky for that knowledge. So many people are still grieving 10 years later for their lost loved ones. I don’t blame them. I just wish that some of them had the same comfort, and knowledge that the Gospel has brought to my life to ease their pain.
While we never forget what happened that day, I hope we can look forward with peace, hope, and love to the future.
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