Will it matter?
Did anyone else watch the all-day internet re-run of September 11, 2001 by FoxNews and CNN yesterday? I admit I watched almost the entire day. I planned to only watch the first few hours, but then I couldn't stop. It was history that I "missed" five years ago and I didn't want to chance missing it again.
There are so many thoughts still swirling in my head from it - unprocessed and raw. Maybe it will take me a few weeks to really digest it all.
The one thing which stood out to me is how much we have forgotten. From the some of the highest officials in Washington to the little people like me, we have pretty much gone on with our lives forgetting how horrific and awful these attacks were. We argue over petty political matters, we seek our own fulfillment, we go about our lives as if they will last forever on this earth, we forget about God, and death and dying.
My jaw dropped when I saw in realtime "live" the second plane crash into the tower. I knew it was going to happen and yet, just seeing it left me awestruck. All those people who had no idea, no idea, that their life was ending that very second, without warning. Were they ready to die? What had their last words to their family been? Would they die with regrets?
It's so easy to get caught up in the "cares of this world" - just surviving takes work and effort. Everyday there are so many things to do. Yet, are we living with Eternity in view? I often try to put myself ten to twenty-five years from now and examine what I am currently doing. Will this matter in ten to twenty-five years? Will I be glad that I spent this time working on this, or watching this, or going here or there?
Today, I was going about my morning house cleaning and Kathrynne walked up to me with a ball and asked me ever so sweetly, "Ball?" (Meaning: "Will you play ball with me?"). I confess, that I usually would probably just throw the ball once and go back to washing dishes. I considered it and then thought, "What is more important - dishes or playing with my daughter?" So, I dried my hands and went and had a delightful time of playing with my precious daughter.
Don't miss these opportunities. I never want to be too busy doing "good" things that I overlook the BEST things - like smiling and saying "I love you" to my husband, cuddling my daughter in my arms and reading to her, or spending time in prayer and reading of God's Word.
There are so many thoughts still swirling in my head from it - unprocessed and raw. Maybe it will take me a few weeks to really digest it all.
The one thing which stood out to me is how much we have forgotten. From the some of the highest officials in Washington to the little people like me, we have pretty much gone on with our lives forgetting how horrific and awful these attacks were. We argue over petty political matters, we seek our own fulfillment, we go about our lives as if they will last forever on this earth, we forget about God, and death and dying.
My jaw dropped when I saw in realtime "live" the second plane crash into the tower. I knew it was going to happen and yet, just seeing it left me awestruck. All those people who had no idea, no idea, that their life was ending that very second, without warning. Were they ready to die? What had their last words to their family been? Would they die with regrets?
It's so easy to get caught up in the "cares of this world" - just surviving takes work and effort. Everyday there are so many things to do. Yet, are we living with Eternity in view? I often try to put myself ten to twenty-five years from now and examine what I am currently doing. Will this matter in ten to twenty-five years? Will I be glad that I spent this time working on this, or watching this, or going here or there?
Today, I was going about my morning house cleaning and Kathrynne walked up to me with a ball and asked me ever so sweetly, "Ball?" (Meaning: "Will you play ball with me?"). I confess, that I usually would probably just throw the ball once and go back to washing dishes. I considered it and then thought, "What is more important - dishes or playing with my daughter?" So, I dried my hands and went and had a delightful time of playing with my precious daughter.
Don't miss these opportunities. I never want to be too busy doing "good" things that I overlook the BEST things - like smiling and saying "I love you" to my husband, cuddling my daughter in my arms and reading to her, or spending time in prayer and reading of God's Word.
posted by Crystal Paine at 11:43 AM
8 Comments:
I have often thought and felt the same thing since one of my best friends was widowed in December after four months of marriage. While walking with her through her heartache and grief, I gained a new perspective of life and began to ask myself what would matter if one of those I love the most was taken Home sooner than I anticipate? Would I have regrets over the words spoken or not spoken, the time wasted, the activities I chose over the people? So many sobering thoughts...
Oh, I wish I had known that a rerun was being shown on the internet! I would have been glued to it all day (although we had company arriving for dinner so maybe it's good that I didn't know it was on!).
Thank you, Crystal, for a very sobering reminder.
AMEN!
I held my husband a little tighter last night after all the hoopla and media circus was over. I watched it once on tv, and listened to a phone call from a good friend's brother via speakerphone as he was running from the buildings as they fell while watching it happen.
To me, more than anything, 9/11 is a reminder to always be a good messenger for Christ on this earth. I never want people to ask "What were Andrea's last words to her husband, her family? Did she tell them she loved them, or did they fight?" I never want there to be a question as to what my last words were, and what was on my mind as I go to Glory.
Now, if we can just remember our President and his administration; we may not have to like them or what they always say and do, but we DO need to support them, lift them up in prayer, and trust that they are doing what is in our best interests...
Yesterday was definitely a reminder that those coupons could wait a day to be filed, and that my studying isn't always as important as I make it out to be....
Yes, a very good reminder. I felt this way after 9~11 and then things hit even closer to home when I almost lost my own life 3 years later in 2004. Things like this do change the way we see things in this life!
It has been a long time since I have visited your blog. :) I finally get to comment now that I have my own blogger account (grin).
Have a precious day with your precious daughter!
Many blessings,
Tina
at: www.homeschoolblogger.com/headinghomeward
You are so right. We need our priorities in order. We don't know if another moment will come to share time with those we love. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
When 9/11 happened, it was like a shock to the system. We live not very far from the Shanksville, PA site where Flight 93 went down with those who gave their lives so that others could live!
For weeks I was very sad, and somewhat fearful. Yes, I knew God was in control, but I guess it was just fear of the unknown. So, this year, I limited my viewing of the footage. We did not have the T.V. on around the children on Monday.
Thanks for the great comments. Sorry you didn't know, Deb. I only knew because my husband is always very up on the news and he told me. I doubt I would have known otherwise. He wanted me to post about it on my blog and I forgot.
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