一个催人泪下的感恩见证.
2003年9月11日,一位来自弗吉尼亚州诺弗克的男子打电话到当地电台,分享这个
故事.他的名字叫罗伯特.马太.他在电话里说:
在9.11事件前的几个星期,我和我太太发现我们快要有我们的第一个孩子.而后我
太太计划去加州探望她的妹妹.在往机场的路上,我们祷告求神一路与她同在,保守
她平安.然而我刚说完"阿们"不久---- 一声巨响伴随车身的猛烈晃动----我们的车
爆胎了.我尽快地换了车胎,但我太太仍然错过了班机.我们只好沮丧地开车回家.
这时我接到父亲-- 一个退休的纽约消防员--的电话,问我太太乘坐的航班号.我们向
他解释误了班机.当父亲告诉我她原本要乘坐的班机已经撞向世贸中心大楼南座,
我震惊得说不出话来.接着我父亲告诉我,他要去帮忙.他说他不能坐视不理.而我担
心他的安全,更重要的,他还没信主.经过一番短暂的争论,我知道他心意已决.最后他
说了一句:"好好照料我的乖孙."就挂了电话.这是我和他最后的通话.
父亲在进行救援时不幸遇难了.我起初因神听了我为妻子安全的祷告而起的喜乐很
快变成了愤怒.对神,对父亲,对我自己的愤怒.在将近两年的时间里,我埋怨神取走我
父亲的生命.我儿子没有机会见他的祖父.而父亲没有信主,我也没有机会跟他道别.
直到后来,发生一件事.
两个月前,我和太太,儿子正在家里,突然有人敲门.我看着我太太,但我知道
她并没有在等什么人.我把门开开,门外是一对夫妇和一个小孩.那位先生看
着我,问我父亲是不是叫杰克.马太.我说是的.他一把握住我的手说:"我没有
机会见到你父亲,但我以见到他的儿子为荣."他向我解释说,他太太曾在世贸
中心工作,劫机事件发生时她被在楼里.那时她有孕在身,被困在瓦砾中.而正是
我父亲找到了她并并把她救了出来.我热泪盈眶:我父亲为别人献出了自己的
性命.那位先生接着说:"还有一件事,必须让你知道."于是他太太告诉我当我父亲
救她的时候,她跟他交谈并领他信了主.听到这个消息,我忍不住啜泣.我如今知
道当我去到天家,父亲将站在耶稣身边欢迎我,而那家人可以亲自向他致谢.
当那对夫妇的孩子出生后,他们给他取名为雅各.马太,为要纪念把生命给了婴孩
的母亲也使婴孩得以存活的人.
这故事教会我们两件事:首先,虽然事件已经过了两年,我们却不该让它仅仅成为
悲惨的回忆.还有,最重要的就是,神一直掌管.我们也许看不到事情背后的原因,
但神永远掌管.
This story was on the radio today and I thought it was too powerful
not to share. A man from Norfolk, VA called a local radio station to
sharethis on Sept 11th, 2003. His Name was Robert Matthews. These
are his words:
A few weeks before Sept 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 of us were very upset, we drove
home. I recieved a call from my father who was a retired FDNY.
He asked what my wife's flight number was. We 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.'This is not something I can just sit idle by, 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
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. Anger at God, at my father, and at myself.
I had gone for nearly 2 years blaming God fortaking 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 2 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 lead
him to Christ. I began sobbing at the news.
Now I know that when I get to heaven, my father will be standing
besideJesus 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 mother and baby could
live.
This story should help us to realize two things: First, that though
it has been two years since the attacks, we should never let it
become a mere tragic memory.
And second, but most important, God is always incontrol. We may
not see the reason behind things, and we may never know this
side of heaven, but God is ALWAYS in control.
[此贴子已经被作者于2003-10-15 18:49:22编辑过]
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