For my generation, the “Day that will live in infamy” is September 11, 2001.
Everything. Stopped.
It was as if the entire world just stood still, and all eyes turned toward New York. It still feels like a slow-motion movie when I remember the scenes from that day. The confusion. The smoke. The destruction. The pain.
The heroes.
Many families were ripped apart on that day, and I don’t want to take anything away from the pain they suffered. However, I do want to take notice of something that now, 18 years later, is overwhelmingly obvious. We all need heroes to take notice of – especially our kids.
If you look at social media today, there seems to be two things bubbling to top of the stories…
- Remembering 9/11
- NFL players who need to be forgotten
I really like football. I’m not a diehard fan by any means, but I do enjoy watching a good game on the grid-iron. However, today’s headlines are more about players not honoring contracts and whining about not being paid as much as other players (Ezekiel Elliot), pitching a fit because they can’t wear their favorite watch during games (Odell Beckham Jr), or being accused of sexual assault (too many to list). And where do we even begin with Antonio Brown? He even tweeted recently, “The child who is not embraced by the village will burn it down to feel its warmth.” Let that sink in for a second.
My point is this: We need more role models that will run into a burning building to save a stranger than ones that will jump on a plane to Cabo instead of honoring their word.
What does the Bible say about examples of each? Read these verses in light of today’s headlines:
“Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.” John 15:13
“A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favor rather than silver and gold.” Proverbs 22:1
Parents, you are your kids hero (at least until they become teenagers), so what kind of hero are you? And what kind of hero are you grooming them to be? Are you encouraging them to respect others, to take responsibility for their actions and treat others the way they’d want to be treated? Or do you inadvertently lead them to believe it’s ok to “burn [the village] down to feel its warmth”?
You can start today – on 9/11 – by telling them the stories of firefighters, police officers, and the ordinary folks on Flight 93 who were real heroes.
Land the Plane 