before sept 11 was 9/11......

...it was my birthday. Needless to say, it hasn't been the same since 2001. As kind and thoughtful as family and friends are, there always seems to be a shadow over the day. Well meaning people would say things like..."Oh, I'm sorry you have the bad birthday. But, at least no one can forget it." It's hard to feel good about celebrating when most everyone else seems so somber.

I knew I would have to avoid the TV and newspaper this year being that it was the 10th anniversary. But for weeks, it has been everywhere....on the cover of magazines at the grocery store check-out, on billboards, on the radio, even in my mailbox. I grieve over the events of that day, too. It was a terrible, senseless attack and I will never forget it either. But, like most folks look forward to enjoying their birthday, I would like to enjoy mine.

Of course it was mentioned in Sunday School. But our teacher did say this, "As horrendous as it was, just think how bad it could have been." How true! When you think how completely those terrorist took us by surprise...they could have been in planes all over our country. Many more thousands could have been killed. Only the hand of God kept our land from bring completely destroyed.

So, in the years to come, I will continue to remember Sept 11 as my birthday and as a day of great tragedy, but, most importantly, as a day when God chose to demonstrate His great mercy to us.

"God is our refuge and our strength, a very present help in trouble.

Therefore we will not fear though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea."

"Be still and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen.

I will be exalted in the earth."

Psalm 46:1 &10