What fell on September 11...

After weeks of arduous work, I looked forward to our mini get-a-away. Hubby, some friends and I decided to stay a weekend at Disney’s Boardwalk hotel. Our dinner reservations were made, massages booked, suntan lotion packed and lots of laughter planned.

The first afternoon, we all settled on lounge chairs by the swimming pool, listening to children giggle. And from time to time, the mechanical elephant’s roar sounded as its trunk spat a stream of water cascading back into the pool.

A light breeze brushed my skin. "This is the life," I said.

Then the sun went behind clouds, the breeze turned to wind. Then I felt something strike my arm.

"Something fell on me." I said to hubby.

"It’s a leaf. We’re under a big tree."

A tree?…Hmm.

As the wind shook its branches, one by one, leafs landed on me.

I tried to ignore them. But with each tickle from the leaf on my skin, I lifted it and between my fingers, I noticed their texture and shape—some were firm and perfectly shaped, others were smaller. Others, drier and some cracked and withered.

Though I couldn’t see the tree, the fluttering leafs landing on me reminded me of its presence.

I decided to enjoy the strange experience. What a perfect mirror of my life—so many things have fallen upon me—adversity, trials, pain, then joy, peace, contentment and calmness. Each with its own texture and shape to impact my world.

But with each episode, there was no doubt God was above allowing each to fall upon me.

Six years ago, Sept. 11 was the day when our country saw tragedy fall upon us. But we also saw God’s blessings—His hand uniting folks from all walks of life. Compassion for one another erased barriers of race, color and religion. All came together to comfort those who suffered. God also sent men and women who displayed courage and unselfish love. His hand also ushered a renewed appreciation for what we’d taken for granted before.

All that fell upon us that day echoed God was indeed above, alive and in control. With each whisper in the wind, blessings fluttered upon us turning tragedy to triumph. Though we couldn’t see Him, how could have we ignored His presence?

"For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal" (II Corinthians 4:17-18).

Though you may not see Him, I pray you also find His blessings land on you reminding He is indeed present.

Janet