by Jan Toomer

The following was written many years ago, and never shared…the pain was still too fresh for all of us. Today, I share it with you.

America was built on pride, honor, compassion, hope and strength.

On 9/11/01, American’s of all ages watched in horror as the Twin Towers, and the people within and around, were destroyed by terrorists.

On that day, as one military child whispered “That could’ve been my Daddy”, I saw the lights dim in thousands of people.

The terrorists said that they did this so that Americans could live in terror as they do.

Yesterday’s children, today’s adults carried the hopelessness and fear of 9/11/01 forward with them.

These new adults have carried that open wound; picking at it, letting it fester, and not allowing anyone to help with it healing.

They cower in fear; afraid to succeed; afraid of relationships; afraid to trust; afraid to feel anything but hopelessness; any pain felt, a thousand-fold.

Anytime happiness or success nears, self-sabotage assures it does not come to fruition.

They say no one knows how they feel – their pain, sorrow, anger, hate. They are wrong – we do know…which is why we keep trying to help. We cannot take it from them; we cannot force them to want out of that…we can offer, hope and pray that they will take the step, with help, to freeing themselves from this hopelessness; to see the future; to cope well with life’s ups and downs; to experience all of life.

As an American and as an adult parent – I would hate to think the terrorists succeeded.

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