I Remember…

 Today, I realized that the students in my classroom were a year old or less when the events of 9/11 took place.
 
   These kids don’t know that this is the reason why we cheered the capture of Osama Bin Laden. They don’t know that this is why it takes so long to check in for your flight at the airport. That the war on terror happened in our own front yard. That thousands of people lost their lives. That all air traffic was halted for days and the skies were eerie and silent.
 
   My wife was 9 months pregnant as we watched the events unfold on our television sets (ours had rabbit ears).  We sat silent and worried about the world our unborn daughter would be entering.  Tears ran down our cheeks and disbelief filled out bodies.  Everyone knew someone who was affected by the falling towers, the aircraft involved, the Pentagon.
 
   Life halted for a moment, and everyone took a self-inventory.  We looked at others differently, and we showed compassion to those who needed it.  We all needed compassion.
 
   We never know when the next “event” will take place.  Why wait for it to arrive before taking a self-inventory, making a change, turning over a whole tree of leaves?  Today, let us remember those who fell by giving forgiveness we have been withholding.  Let us remember by loving on our neighbors.  Let us honor those people who lost their lives on that fateful day by honoring those people in our lives that we cherish today.