My Father
A man
from Norfolk, VA called a local radio station to share this on September
11th, 2003. His Name was Robert Matthews. These were 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 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 as 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 World 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 this family 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.
Amen
