Made To Last Forever

A man from
Norfolk, VA called a local radio station to share this onSeptember 11th, 2003. His Name was Robert Matthews. These are his words.
“A few weeks before September 11th, my wife and I found out we were going to
have our first child. She planned a trip! out to
California to
visit her sister. On our way to the airport, we prayed that God would grant
my wife a safe trip and be with her.Shortly after I said amen, we both heard a loud pop and the car shook
violently. We had blown out a tire. I replaced the tire as quickly as I
could, but we still missed her flight. Both very upset, we drove home.

I received a call from my father who was retired from the NYFD. He asked
what my wife’s flight number was, but I explained that we missed the flight.
My father informed me that her flight was the one that crashed into the
southern tower. I was too shocked to speak. My father also had more
news for me. He was going to help. He said, “This is not something I can’t
just sit by for. I have to do something.”

I was concerned for his safety, of course, but more because he had never
given his life to Christ. After a brief debate, I knew his mind was
made up. Before he got off of the phone, he said, “Take good care of my
grandchild.” Those were the last words I ever heard my father say. He
died while helping in the rescue effort.

My joy that my prayer of safety for my wife had been answered quickly became
anger. I was angry at God, at my father, and at myself. I had
gone for nearly two years blaming God for taking my father away. My son
would never know his grandfather, my father had never accepted
Christ, and I never got to say goodbye.
Then something happened. About two months ago, I was sitting at home with my
wife and my son, when there was a knock on the door. I looked
at my wife, but I could tell she wasn’t expecting anyone. I opened the door
to a couple with a small child. The man looked at me and asked if my
father’s name was Jake Matthews. I told him it was. He quickly grabbed my
hand and said, “I never got the chance to meet your father, but it
is an honor to meet his son.”He explained to me that his wife had worked in the Worl Trade Center and
had been caught inside after the attack. She was pregnant and had
been caught under debris. He then explained that my father had been the one
to find his wife and free her.

My eyes welled up with tears as I thought of my father giving his life for
people like this. He then said, “There is something else you need to know.”

His wife then told me that as my father worked to free her, she talked to
him and led him to Christ.

I began sobbing at the news. Now I know that when I get to Heaven, my father
will be standing beside Jesus to welcome me, and that thisfamily would be able to thank him themselves.When their baby boy was born, they named him Jacob Matthew in honor of the
man who gave his life so that mother and baby could live.

This story should help us to realize two things. First that God is always in
control. We may not see the reason behind things, and we may
never know this side of Heaven, but God is always in control. And second is
that though it has been several years since the attacks, we should
never let it become a mere tragic memory.

Please take time to share this amazing story with those you love. You may
never know the impact it may have on someone. God doesn’t call the
qualified,
He qualifies the called.

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