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 California 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 out a tire. I replaced the tire as quickly as I
could,
but we still missed her flight. Both very upset, we drove home.
I recieved a call from my father who was retired FDNY.
He asked what my wife's
flight number was, but 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 just sit by for, I have to do something.' I was
concerened 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. Anger at God, at my father, and at myself. I had gone for nearly
2
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
goodbye.
Then something happened. About 2 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 lead 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 mother and baby could live.
This story should help us to realize two things:
First, that though it has
been two 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.
