September 11

I was being wheeled through one of the x-ray rooms getting pre-op work done for my surgery the following day. I was having my trach examined and enlarged. It was Tuesday, September 11, 2001. I was still quite weak, so I had to be in a wheelchair yet. Doug and I saw the TV'severywhere in the hospital and we couldn't quite believe it. We weren't sure if it was real.

My surgeon was held up in Colorado, and my surgery was postponed. I will always remember where I was that day.

There is so much I could say.

I'm going to simply say 2 things.

1. Thank you. To the first responders. The the people on Flight 93. The the courageous men and women who have had to live with the memories of 9-11-01 every single moment of every single day. To the people helping others recover. To those who never will. To those who helped others down the stairs. To those who never gave up.

2. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry to the families of anyone who lost someone. I'm sorry to anyone who was there and was injured, physically and emotionally. I'm just so terribly sorry. It never should have happened.

Even if you have read this before, please read it. And never forget.

'MEET ME IN THE STAIRWELL'

You say you will never forget where you were when
you heard the news On September 11, 2001.
Neither will I.

I was on the 110th floor in a smoke filled room
with a man who called his wife to say 'Good-Bye.' I
held his fingers steady as he dialed. I gave him the
peace to say, 'Honey, I am not going to make it, but it
is OK..I am ready to go.'

I was with his wife when he called as she fed
breakfast to their children. I held her up as she
tried to understand his words and as she realized
he wasn't coming home that night.

I was in the stairwell of the 23rd floor when a
woman cried out to Me for help. 'I have been
knocking on the door of your heart for 50 years!' I said.
'Of course I will show you the way home - only
believe in Me now.'

I was at the base of the building with the Priest
ministering to the injured and devastated souls.
I took him home to tend to his Flock in Heaven. He
heard my voice and answered.

I was on all four of those planes, in every seat,
with every prayer. I was with the crew as they
were overtaken. I was in the very hearts of the
believers there, comforting and assuring them that their
faith has saved them.

I was in Texas , Virginia , California , Michigan , Afghanistan .
I was standing next to you when you heard the terrible news.
Did you sense Me?

I want you to know that I saw every face. I knew
every name - though not all know Me. Some met Me
for the first time on the 86th floor.

Some sought Me with their last breath.
Some couldn't hear Me calling to them through the
smoke and flames; 'Come to Me... this way... take
my hand.' Some chose, for the final time, to ignore Me.
But, I was there.

I did not place you in the Tower that day. You
may not know why, but I do.. However, if you were
there in that explosive moment in time, would you have
reached for Me?

Sept. 11, 2001, was not the end of the journey
for you . But someday your journey will end. And I
will be there for you as well. Seek Me now while I may
be found. Then, at any moment, you know you are
'ready to go.'

I will be in the stairwell of your final moments.

God