God is in Control – even of 9/11

A man from Norfolk, VA called a local radio station to share this
on Sept 11th, 2003. His Name was Robert Matthews.  These are his words:

"A few weeks before Sept. 11th, my
wife and I found out we were going to have our first child. She planned a trip
out to CA to visit her sister.  On our way to the airport, we prayed that
God would grant my wife a safe trip and be with her. 

Shortly after I said ‘amen,’ we both
heard a loud pop and the car shook violently. We had blown a tire. I replaced
the tire as quickly as I could, but we still missed her flight. Both very upset,
we drove home.

I received a call from my father who
was retired NYFD.  He asked what my wife’s flight number was, but I
explained that we missed the flight. My father informed me that her flight was
the one that crashed into the southern tower. I was too shocked to speak.

My father also had more news for me;
he was going to help.  ‘This is not something I can’t just sit by for I
have to do something.’  I was concerned for his safety, of course, but more
because he had never given his life to Christ. After a brief debate, I knew his
mind was made up. Before he got off of the phone, he said, ‘take good care of my
grandchild.’ Those were the last words I ever heard my father say; he died while
helping in the rescue effort.

My joy that my prayer of safety for
my wife had been answered quickly became anger. I was angry at God, at my
father, and at myself. I had gone for nearly two years blaming God for taking my
father away.  My son would never know his grandfather, my father had never
accepted Christ, and I never got to say good-bye.

Then something happened. About two
months ago, I was sitting at home with my wife and my son, when there was a
knock on the door. I looked at my wife, but I could tell she wasn’t expecting
anyone. I opened the door to a couple with a small child. The man looked at me
and asked if my father’s name was Jake Matthews. I told him it was. He quickly
grabbed my hand and said, ‘I never got the chance to meet your father, but it is
an honor to meet his son.’ He explained to me that his wife had worked in the
World
Trade Center and had been caught inside after
the attack. She was pregnant and had been caught under debris. He then explained
that my father had been the one to find his wife and free her.

My eyes welled up with tears as I
thought of my father giving his life for people like this. He then said, ‘there
is something else you need to know.’ His wife then told me that as my father
worked to free her, she talked to him and led him to Christ. I began sobbing at
the news. Now I know that when I get to heaven, my father will be standing
beside Jesus to welcome me, and that this family would be able to thank him
themselves. When their baby boy was born, they named him Jacob Matthew in honor
of the man who gave his life so that mother and baby could live."

This story should help us to realize
two things: First that though it has been four years since the attacks, we
should never let it become a mere tragic memory. And second but most important –
God is always in control. We may not see the reason behind things, and we may
never know this side of heaven, but God is ALWAYS in control.

Please take time to share this
amazing story with those you love.  You may never know the impact it may
have on someone. God doesn’t call the qualified, He qualifies the called.

 

Give thanks to the Lord for He is
good. His love endures forever. Psalm 136:1

 

The best kind of friend is the kind
you can sit on a porch and swing with, never say a word, and then walk away
feeling like it was the best conversation you’ve ever
had.