I was wearing a red dress and heels as I finished up getting ready to go to a job interview at Webb Bridge Middle School in Alpharetta, Georgia.  Josh was home also on that September 11th morning in 2001.  We were both 24 years old and had been married a little over seven months.

My sister called to tell me to turn on the television because a plane had just flown into one of the Twin Towers in NYC. We flipped on the tv to see the second plane fly into the other tower. It was awful. Confusing. Sickening. Disturbing. Scary.

So this morning when I awoke to the date 9/11, my heart was so heavy. We have been praying earnestly for so many loved ones all along Florida and into Georgia in the path of Hurricane Irma– “the hurricane of the century” is what they’re calling it.

I wonder if my heart can take remembering such devastation like 9/11 as I simultaneously view photos and hear stories of storm devastation like I’ve not seen.

Big sigh.

But we must remember. We can’t forget. Remembering together is a very good thing.  We show our perseverance and determination. We remember all the brave heroes that helped so many. Firefighters, police, good citizens, brave people on every flight, and so many brave men and women on the front lines the past 16 years.

As we remember the sadness and loss of that day and continue learning more about the loss of this day, I am reminded of G.Campbell Morgan’s commentary on Psalm 142, a chapter subtitled ‘Prayer for Help in Trouble.’

“It is a great thing in darkest hour to set over against the darkness all the facts about God.  To do so is to triumph even in sorrow.”  

Psalm 142:3, 5 “When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, You knew my path….You are my refuge, My portion in the land of the living…”

So today my family will remember 9/11.  And at the same time, we will remember the faithfulness of our God.

And today we will remember and pray for so many affected by fires and earthquakes and hurricanes and floods. And at the same time, we will remember the lovingkindness of the Lord, His ever-present help in times of trouble.