Cultivating A Mother's Heart | Amy E. Patton

Find your way in the midst of motherhood

  • Home
  • Blog
    • Parenting
    • Relationships
    • Faith
    • Life
    • Healing
  • Meet Amy
  • Work with Amy
  • Resources
    • Books I Recommend
  • Connect

Tend your soul in the midst of motherhood

Receive a printable dose of encouragement

Why We Need to Remember 9/11 | Five Minute Friday | Heal

September 11, 2016

I’m curled up on my couch giving my body time to heal from bronchitis. Fifteen years ago, my daughter was curled up on our couch giving her body time to heal from strep throat. It’s not often you remember the exact date your daughter had strep throat, but today is 9/11, and like you, I remember everything about that day.

We lived in Indiana. We didn’t know anyone personally affected by the events, and yet the ripple effect left a wake of devastation in our family’s life.

It still makes me uneasy. I cringe this time every year, hoping the feelings remain dormant. I am still walking that road of healing– healing from guilt that I didn’t realize the impact 9/11 had on my daughter.

9/11 shook more than my family.

The shockwave that occurred when those towers crumbled created a seismic shift in our nation. A shift that altered the landscape of how we do life. Fear took hold.

Fear is an awful companion, and yet as I look at our country– the way we govern, protect, educate, and parent– I realize that much of what we do is filtered through the lens of safety.

Safety sounds like a good filter, but not when our sieve is fear. 

Safety sounds like a good filter, but not when our sieve is fear. #fear #fmfparty

Click To Tweet

We need to heal. 

I didn’t realize how desperately we need to heal until I went to Rwanda and saw how an entire nation chose to do the hard work of healing after the Genocide.

Rwanda, like America, chooses to never forget.

Kwibuka20 Rwanda Remembers the genocide.

Kwibuka is the Kinyarwanda word for remember.

It’s how and why we remember 9/11 that makes the difference in our recovery.

If we remember to harbor anger, bitterness, hurt, and fear, we will not heal. If we remember for the purpose of learning, growth, change, reverence, and wisdom, the wounds will heal.

Yes, scars remain, but healing comes.

May we never forget.

Why we need to remember 9/11. We need to heal.

Flickr photo courtesy of Brian Snelson cc


Today’s post is inspired by Kate Montaung’s Five Minute Friday.

Five Minute Friday is community of writers who free write for five minutes each week and then share those unedited words with the world. This week’s writing prompt is heal.

Be sure to visit Kate’s site and read what other people wrote on this topic.

My daughter also wrote a post about healing from the trauma of 9/11. It would mean the world to me if you read her post and encourage her with comments.

Until we meet again…

Amy Patton signature logo

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • Email

Related

Filed Under: Story

« A Slow Day at Camp | Greece and the Refugee Crisis
Mama | Remembering Mrs. Betty Riordan »

Comments

  1. Annie says

    September 13, 2016 at 3:12 PM

    Yes, healing is forgiveness. In recognizing our neighbors rather than looking for enemies. Thanks for this powerful reminder, Amy!

    Reply
    • Amy Patton says

      September 13, 2016 at 9:48 PM

      You’re welcome, Annie! I pray we continue to heal as a country and individuals.

      Reply
  2. Kate Motaung says

    September 11, 2016 at 8:58 PM

    So much truth here! I agree with your thoughts about safety and fear. It’s almost as if safety has become our idol.
    Just as an FYI, the link you shared to your daughter’s post is not working. I did manage to find it manually, read and left a comment. What a blessing to have a daughter who writes as well! Thank you for sharing and for linking up with FMF!

    Reply
    • Amy Patton says

      September 11, 2016 at 9:43 PM

      Kate, Thank you for the encouraging words. I, too, think safety has become an idol. I began dismantling it while my daughter served on the mission field last year. Daily, I practiced the art of accepting that I do not have control and that safety is not God’s greatest desire for our lives– As my pastor always says, God is more concerned with our character than our comfort.
      I noticed the link was wonky, too and fixed it. I appreciate the heads up and love. It’s been a long time since I posted on FMF. I’m grateful you kept the community running and provide a forum for us to share our hearts and practice writing our words.

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Welcome

Amy E Patton is a writer, story teller, Christ follower, freedom walker, and flip flop wearer. For years she simply marched through life. Now Amy walks in freedom. She loves helping others find and live in freedom. Oh, and does she ever have a story to tell!
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Connect Beyond the Blog

On My Bookshelf


On My Heart

Popular Categories

  • Parenting
  • Relationships
  • Faith
  • Life
  • Healing

Looking for something?

Join the Community

hope-writer
  • Parenting
  • Relationships
  • Faith
  • Life
  • Healing

Meet Amy

Amy E Patton is a writer, story teller, Christ follower, freedom walker, and flip flop wearer. For years she simply marched through life. Now Amy walks in freedom. She loves helping others find and live in freedom. Oh, and does she ever have a story to tell! Read More >

Join the community

Latest on Instagram

Looking for Something?

Let’s Stay Connected!

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Copyright © 2018 · Faithful theme by Restored 316

Copyright © 2006–2018 Amy Patton · All Rights Reserved

loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.