Remembering 911 Tributes: My prayer on a day I’ll never forget

Where were you on September 11, 2001? It’s a day, I’ll never forget. Remembering 911 tributes are pouring across the networks. Many remember exactly where they were, what they were doing.

I was at work in an office near Chicago. Sitting at my desk, a coworker frantically ran over to me. “We’re under attack,” he said.

The look in Ted’s face said it all. The expression of terror and fear in his eyes, told me something was really wrong. I was confused. I didn’t know what he was talking about. We went into the company cafeteria that morning. The television was on and watched the live broadcast.

I saw the smoke bellowing from the first tower attack. More coworkers joined us. The room quickly filled as we watched the horror unfold. Then the second plane hit.

There was silence, then tears.  

I remember the moment, the fear, the shock, and the loneliness. I looked around at the faces of my friends. They appeared as strangers to me. Suddenly I felt all alone. I thought of my family, my children, my mom, all the people in New York.

Then I left the room as many others did to call our loved ones. I called my mom. She was alone, a widow. I wanted to talk to her.

“Turn on the TV mom.” She didn’t know. We talked briefly. Before I hung up the phone, I told her I loved her.

I felt so empty. The rest of the day is a blur.

When I arrived home later that day, I watched the television. As a family, we watched the towers fall again. We watched the plane hit again. I wept over and over as I heard the voices telling their stories.

I went to my room, got on my knees and cried out to God. I distinctly remember the prayer I prayed.

“Oh God, my God… Why! Father, you know why this happened. I do not. Please dear God, let them find survivors. Please Father, let your glory be revealed. Show them miracles. God please! Show them miracles.”

I pleaded to God that day. I thanked Him my family was safe. And I prayed for miracles.

Ten years have passed.

We are once again watching the images and listening to their stories. It feels like yesterday. Yet so much has changed. My mom has passed, I can’t call her. My children are grown and moved out, we are not watching these stories as a family.

I’m still praying for miracles. I’m still asking why. And I’m thanking Him every day for His presence in my life. My prayer includes those personally affected by 911. For the children, the spouses, and the firefighters, for they lost so much. Remembering 911, it’s a day I’ll never forget.