This upcoming week marks a nation-altering event which occurred 22 years ago. Usually, a tangible piece of memorabilia is preserved to recall momentous occurances in our lives--even a tragedy. A few days ago, I recalled the only item I kept other than my journal that recorded the events and my thoughts. I even gave newspapers reporting the 9/11 attack away when I relocated to the farm but saved a partial paper towel roll!
This practically used-up paper towel roll represented one of many patriotic- type products inspired by President George W. Bush’s urging Americans to support American businesses as a symbolic action of standing with the country through a difficult time.
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| So many times over the years, I have moved this roll of paper toweling and every time I recall the Attack of 9/11/2001. (The lines of perforation for tearing toweling off is evident.) |
As
Americans, we needed a way to show concern and sympathy in death or tragedy! Ironically,
when we found ourselves unable to change the decimation of 2,977 innocent lives
and the destruction of iconic places to never be the same again, we purchased
everyday products with patriotic graphics. Somehow, we reasoned we were doing
something. It didn’t matter whether we purchased a CD by Alan Jackson or one
by Celine Dion. Americans bought commemorative t-shirts and sweatshirts. We
couldn’t undo the atrocious acts and their devastation, but we could try to identify
with the sorrow and in a small way show we cared.
The Apostle Paul emphasized the importance of unselfishly observing what occurs to those around us. We should share the joy of those who are experiencing good things, but even more importantly, we must empathize with those who are sorrowing. In Romans 12:15, Paul wrote: Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.
Paul in the early portion of his second letter to the Corinthian believers wrote of God initiating comfort. The comfort we receive from God is to be used to comfort others. Chapter 1, verses 3-4 reads like this: 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 trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
In what is believed to be the first book of the Bible chronologically, Job’s life story, though blessed with material blessings and a wonderful family, gets challenged by Satan, the arch enemy of God, who boasted that God sheltered Job and if He removed His sheltering hedge that Job “will surely curse You to Your face!” Soon, calamities began for Job.
In Job 2, three of his friends heard of the adversity that had come upon Job and came to comfort him. Job 2:13 recorded their arrival. So they sat down with him on the ground seven days and seven nights, and no one spoke a word to him, for they saw his grief was very great. But as they began speaking and conversing with Job in chapters 4-37, the three of his friends’ comforting capability sunk low. The renowned commentator of yesteryear in the 17th-18th centuries of the United Kingdom, Matthew Henry, addressed speaking during tragedy and death, “We should think twice before we speak once, especially in such a case as this, think long, and we shall be the better able to speak short and to the purpose.”
As
we recall the tragedy of September 11, 2001, may we continue to bear the sorrow
of the families who lost so much that day. May we mourn the grief it inflicted
upon our nation. How important to share the importance of remaining true to God
who has strengthened our people and nation well over two centuries!
The First Blog I Wrote About 9/11 and a Very Special Class of Third Graders https://bernadeanjgates.blogspot.com/2016/09/911-15-years-ago.html
The Last Military Reunion Dad Attended and 9/11 https://bernadeanjgates.blogspot.com/2021/09/the-second-week-of-september-20-years.html
A World War II Memory of Dad and Its Connection to 9/11 https://bernadeanjgates.blogspot.com/2021/10/ive-been-right-there.html
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