Family
Remembering 9/11
by Prathima Ryali-Hancock
A lot of people are going to be asking themselves today where they were 5 years ago. I remember it vividly. What I think about most when I think of the latter months of 2001 is the tumultuous season in my life that God taught me to cling to him in desperation, and then to look to him for peace.
It started with my father’s heart attack in August while he was in India. That was the first time I’d ever experienced a life-or-death situation with a parent, and I struggled with the long-distance medical procedures being performed. While everyone thinks of Indians as doctors, the care over there is not always the best. Thankfully both of my sisters are doctors and I could rely on their expertise.
9/11 threw us all into seeking answers about why, and in my own life, my father had to wait additional time before coming back to the States. I was really grateful to see him, although he was very weak.
As we struggled in answering the question of “why” during October and November, I entered my own private Hell when my marriage broke into a million little pieces. I still remember that time with pain because I was so numb with shock, grief, and disbelief. I see it through a haze, almost. The only bright side to it all was God’s guidance in leading me through the pit. He was my constant companion and He placed friends in my path when I needed them the most. I went through a crash course in clinging to Christ and learning by His grace the beginning stages of forgiveness. As the country struggled with forgiveness and justice on a larger scale, I took it step by step, moment by moment and learned to trust implicitly what is in Psalm 46:10-11: “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth. The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.”
Do I remember that day? Of course I do. As with so many things, though, I think of that day more in the context of a season in my life. Yes, one day (by itself) can have events that trigger life changes. For me, it’s more about what happens before and after those days that define us and how we fit into God’s tapestry.
Posted by Prathima Ryali-Hancock at September 11, 2006 09:49 PM
PRH: “For me, it’s more about what happens before and after those days that define us and how we fit into God’s tapestry.”
What great insight: The temporary pain/event is far less significant than the eternal value and shaping that occurs because of it. Your growing fan base requests more posts from you.