Just a Moment to Remember

Ten years ago today, I was driving to the gym in my old green van. We’d just started homeschooling, and I worked part time at that gym so I could have a free membership. My younger two children were buckled in the back seat and the radio was on.

I don’t remember what song was playing, but I do remember a newscaster breaking in, reporting on some emergency somewhere. I had the radio volume down low and turned it up to hear better.

While the rest of the world listened and watched in horror and disbelief over what was happening, I listened in horror and disbelief that some jerk at the radio station thought this War-of-the-Worlds-type broadcast was somehow amusing. The news of a plane crashing into the World Trade Center was just too unbelievable that my mind naturally assumed it wasn’t real. Inside the gym, however, I came face to face with reality splashed across 35 television screens.

I didn’t work out that day. I stayed at the gym, watching with my co-workers for another hour or so until I realized that I needed to be home. I gathered my children, drove home in a mental fog, and like the rest of America, stayed glued to the television for days, waiting for news of something worse headed our way.

A lot has happened since then.

America elected her first non-white president.

Technology and communication advanced exponentially with laptops replacing desktop computers and smartphones placing the world in the palm of your hand.

Being a “Fan” of being a “Fan of that on Facebook” became blasé and now we “like” everything instead.

Twittering and Tweeting are no longer reserved for excited and vocal birds.

My husband and I accepted Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior and were baptized together.

We watched our children also embrace a life built on Jesus and get baptized, too. I cried.

My oldest child became an adult and moved out to figure out life according to him, as adult children are supposed to do.

My daughter graduated high school, got a job, enrolled in college, and broke at least four hearts while trying to figure out the whole dating thing.

My youngest discovered how to make beautiful music wherever he goes and turned into a pre-teen complete with deodorant.

We started growing vegetables and raising chickens and rabbits which seemed to lead to the logical step of joining 4-H.

We turned off the television for good.

We down-sized to one vehicle.

I graduated from college.

Obviously, a whole lot more happened in the last ten years, but the point is everything changes. Children grow and mature. Jobs come and go. Most of life’s changes come gradually so we have time to adjust. The Titanic doesn’t turn on a dime, you know. But every once in a while, something happens that changes everything instantly. And you never know when that will be.

Hug your spouse extra today. Hug your kids, too. Tell them you love them. Pray a little extra for your friends and family today, while you still can. Thank an emergency services worker today. Thank an armed forces service member, too. And finally, praise God for every single breath you still take.