A Day to Remember

Twenty-three years ago, on 9/11/01, terrorist attacks shook the United States to its core. We were awakened to a national sense of vulnerability and loss that we’d never experienced in recent times.

In 2011, the 10th anniversary year of the 9/11 attacks, I met Jennifer Sands at the Montrose Christian Writers Conference in Montrose, Pennsylvania, where she was the keynote speaker. Jennifer’s husband Jim died in the collapse of the World Trade Center on 9/11. Although I lived in upstate New York, I’d never met someone who had experienced such personal loss from the event. Her testimony gave me a new perspective.

Throughout the week, we writers were encouraged to talk and write about personal grief and loss. Together we visited the 9/11 memorial in Montrose, set up by a woman whose son had also died on 9/11. And Jennifer counseled hurting conferees. It was a unique experience for me.

Jennifer’s testimony reminded us that our loving, caring God can take the most traumatic experiences of our lives and change them into something good when we turn to Him in faith and trust. In my library, I have three books Jennifer wrote about her grief and her faith journey after 9/11.

A Tempered Faith: Rediscovering Hope in the Ashes of Loss

A Teachable Faith: Learning from God in Everyday Life

A Treasured Faith: Refining the Heart for the Riches of Christ

In the process of decluttering, my husband and I had shelves built into our hallway, replacing the bookcases that were there. The eye appeal is pleasanter, and we have a bit more space. This also gave me the opportunity to go through my library and rediscover books I had forgotten were there, including these by Jennifer Sands.

Sometimes, we like to pretend we’re okay when we’re not. We don’t like to be vulnerable, to let others know our weaknesses or where we hurt. But our times of vulnerability make us realize our need for the Lord Jesus Christ. He became vulnerable for us and died in our place for our sins. Being honest with ourselves about our sin, pain, and suffering can be a catalyst in the life of another person that will help that person seek Christ and live for Him.

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.” 2 Corinthians 1:3,4