Never Forget

My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. John 15:12-14 (NIV)

I was having a bad day. I got to work and realized that the farrier was coming to trim my horse’s feet. I forgot to leave the gate open and payment for his services, so I drove all the way back home. Then, I went to one of our historical sites and visited with two harried staff members. I tried to settle them down. Yes, things are a little stressful right now, but it’s fall and work is always stressful in the fall. Just wait a little while, it will get better. I ran to Sams on my lunch hour to buy Cheesecake Factory Cheesecake for oldest son’s triumphant return from college before leaving for his job in Hawaii. All the family is coming so there must be enough cheesecake to go around. When I got to the checkout, the cashier questioned my use of my husband’s membership card. Well, no, that is not me. I do not have a beard or mustache (though I am working on it as I age). But, I have never had a problem using his card before. She tells me that this once she will accept it but next time I better have my own card. I feel like a toddler who asks for a cookie before dinner and slink penitently out of the store. The afternoon brought a very boring supervisor’s meeting that was a “webinar”, a seminar held somewhere else in the country. The speaker’s voice was transmitted via Internet. We could not see her, only her notes from which she read almost verbatim. I had a hard time staying awake. Afterwards, I took some staff to see where their temporary offices will be starting next week. It’s not ideal, but it is just transitional until renovations are done in the courthouse. Yes, it will be hard to move twice. Yes, they will have to share offices. Yes, the building is rundown. No, I cannot do anything about it. It’s a hard sell. I conferenced with my boss to get my marching orders for tomorrow. It will be another busy day and include a funeral for a long time volunteer. Drive home a very cranky woman until….I hear a woman on the radio crying about her friends who died in New York seven years ago. Until…I turn on the news and listen as they call the names and ring a bell for each. Until…I watch an interview with a fireman who searched through still burning rubble for survivors. I knew what day it was, but I didn’t really remember. I said I would never forget. Yet, I have. My attitude shows how much I have forgotten. Beyond my frantic day, people deal with such loss that they will never recover. So many dead who will never again eat a piece of cheesecake, hug a son, counsel a co worker, get dressed and go to their job. Seven years ago was just an average day. I must not forget how blessed I am.