Gratitude Sunday 9/11

The whole week leading up to this ten year anniversary has been filled with news reports and online articles and images everywhere you look. This day is on every one's mind. Looking back, we are sad and proud and angry, all at the same time. It is a day that all of us will remember.



At Church this morning, we had bells tolling, one every 10 seconds. The bell will ring 2996 times. The Bishop was visiting, and he spoke about 9/11 and its impact on us as a nation. He also pointed out that all of Scripture readings for the day were concerning forgiveness, and it was true. Joseph forgiving his brothers for their awful actions against him. God removing our sins from us, as far as the east is from the west. Jesus telling us to forgive not 7 times 7, but 70 times 7. So, along with our hearts and our minds full of words of forgiveness, we had baptisms and confirmations. Three babies and a mom and her 2 sons were welcomed into the family of faith. Three young teenagers confirmed their faith while 5 adults re-affirmed their faith. My heart was so full! It seemed so appropriate to me to spend this day welcoming people into God's family and remembering His love. The evil actions of evil, misguided men can not separate us from God's love, and we will not stop loving Him.

I just love seeing those babies in their long white Christening gowns, so I thought I would show how precious my own babies were on their Christening days.

Miss Mae and I at her Christening. Mr. Sahm's mother had Miss Mae's gown made, and it was the prettiest thing I had ever seen, made even more beautiful by the love that we all shared on that day.
Look at my precious Little Dude! His dad and godfather both said that he was NOT going to wear one of those long girly gowns, so we had this sweet little smocked outfit made. It's so masculine, right?

I am so grateful today for all that our remembrance of this day brings, even the sadness, because with it comes a call to forgiveness and the courage to continue.