Afraid?

Two things: September 11 and Fear.

They're sort of related; I remember the shock most of all- that day, in 2001, I drove the WRONG WAY down a one-way street in front of the town post office, because I was still so shocked and upset about the airplanes which had hit the twin towers. Luckily, I didn't hit anybody. I didn't even realize I'd driven the wrong way 'til I passed the drop-off mailboxes and they were on the wrong side of my car. :)
So, what are you doing today to remember? Is it something you do privately, or is this more public [flying a flag on your front porch, attending a memorial service] for you? We're visiting my mom- she had surgery yesterday, and is fine, but bored :). And we're going to go visit Myles again.
Along with the terrorist attacks on September 11 comes a question- how do you quiet your child's fears? I have found that sitting quietly with my kids and holding them works better for fears that are abstract, like when they questioned if a plane was going to hit our house. For more concrete fears like getting wet or going down a slide, I do it with them, or hold their hand. And I remembered a scripture in the New Testament: 1 John 4:18 [King James Version] "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love."
I thought about how many times I have prayed because I'm afraid of something, and how often I am tormented by what I think will happen. And how, when I stop talking and *listen* to God, that the fear and torment I am feeling disappears. God replaces it with His love, and His peace. Knowing this has added another step to how I quiet my children's fears: we pray. And you know, it works every time!