doubledcattle
Feb 26th 2009, 04:18 PM
A man from Norfolk , VA called a local radio station to share this on Sept
11th, 2003,
TWO YEARS AFTER THE TRAGEDIES OF 9/11/2001. 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 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 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.
The 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 a mother and baby could live.
This story should help us to realize: 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. You may never know the impactit 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
11th, 2003,
TWO YEARS AFTER THE TRAGEDIES OF 9/11/2001. 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 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 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.
The 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 a mother and baby could live.
This story should help us to realize: 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. You may never know the impactit 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