~ Remembering 9/11 ~

What were you doing on 9/11/01? I watched the news in horror that morning. I debated keeping my kids home from school, then decided that neither I nor my children would fall victim to the fear these cowards tried to instill in us. We're stronger than that - we're American's for goodness sake! So I woke the children (who were 10 and 8 at the time), showed them the news, explained to them what happened, and knelt with them to pray for all the people in the towers. Later I took them to school and I went to work, proud of us for not giving in to fear. That night after seeing the images and listening to the news all day, I had so much emotion inside that I grabbed a piece of paper and wrote this:

I Am America...
I cannot be conquered
I am more than buildings;
I am more than a monument.
I am an attitude; I am freedom.
I harbor and protect
all who come -
even those who would do me harm.
My strength lies not in my geography
but rather in my heart.
My heart beats in every color
red, yellow, brown, white, black,
and even in those who seek a god
other than the one who created me.
I Am America...
I am not limited to my shores
for my heart beats all over the world
in those who dream of equality
and those who die for freedom.
My spirit only grows stronger under attack.
Those who don't understand - never will.
I Am America...
One nation under God, indivisible
with liberty and justice for all.

God bless all those souls who perished on 9/11

~ Jody ~