a very long time forwarded email last 2005 by a friend..
hope we also got a lesson from this story..very touching!!
TRUE AWESOME STORY
A man from Norfolk, VA called a local radio station to
share this on Sept 11th, 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.
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 goodbye.
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 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 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.
