~ "If we've ever needed you..."

So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts to wisdom. (Ps 90:12)

Nine years ago today, I got up, sent my children to school and went to work. It was a beautiful Tuesday morning and we didn't have patients until the afternoon. The doctor I worked for was at a conference that morning. I didn't turn the radio on when I got to work as I normally do, I was distracted by the constant ringing of the phone. One after another, patients cancelled their appointments. The building owner burst into the office and asked me "have you heard?" I had no idea what he was talking about. "Someone flew a plane into one of the towers".

I knew those towers all too well. They could withstand a small plane crash. My ex-husband worked in the World Trade Center Towers in NYC changing "ropes" when we were dating and first married. I went back to my work. A little while later, he came back to tell me the other tower had been hit, as well as the Pentagon. With that, my co-worker called and explained the situation. I called the doctor, cancelled the rest of the appointments, closed the office and headed home.

I knew my husband was far enough away from the towers to not be in immediate danger and I knew my brother-in-law generally worked in Jersey. I arrived home and turned on the television just as the South Tower collapsed. My sister-in-law called me to tell me that she'd heard from Chuck's partner and that he was in NYC that day, but they were both fine. I went on about my day, picked up my kids from school and instructed my oldest daughter to NOT let them watch television until after I'd returned home from picking my husband up at the train station.

As he came down the steps of the train, I began to cry. I threw my arms around him and hugged him, told him I loved him and that Chuck was okay as well. We never gave it a second thought until later that evening.

Like law enforcement, when a member of the elevator industry is killed at work, you do not get a phone call. A union official shows up on your door step and you know. That was in essence what happened that Tuesday evening. When I opened the door, I knew. I called to my husband, who also knew.

Over these past 9 years, I have gone through many changes. The one thing that remains unchanged is the love I have for my brother-in-law, his wife, and his children (and now grandchild). Although, technically, they are no longer "family", I still think of them as such. I only attended the "Reading of the Names" at Ground Zero a few times, but I always watched on television. This year, I will not be watching. This year I will be doing something a little different. I will be attending a conference and learning how to better teach children that God loves them and that all he does is for them. It is so important that we spread God's love ESPECIALLY on September 11th ~ far too many people lost faith in God on that day!

God has a new direction for me. He's tasked me with spreading his word and doing his work. As I have often said, God does not take "no" for an answer. This does not mean that I miss Chuck any less or that I have forgotten him. I will NEVER forget that day, the life he led, or the joy he brought into my life. He is forever my hero!

Chuck, I don't doubt, is with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ! His faith in God is what sustained us during the aftermath of 9/11. So, today, when you hit your knees, ask God to continue to watch over Chuck's family - his wife, his daughters, his son, his grandson, his son-in-law, his brother, his sisters, his father, his nieces and nephews, his sisters- and brothers- in law, and yes, even me. Today I remember the life of one man who truly lived his life as Christ would have him live it! He died saving others and his reward is heaven! God blessed me, Chuck, because you were a part of my life - you are still missed!