As we all know Sept. 11,2001 changed our lives forever. Fifteen years later I still can’t help but reflect on that day in my life. I was 10 and knew nothing about the evil that is in our world. I had a loving family and knew I lived in the greatest country in the world. At school that morning, I remember telling my friends that I heard on the radio something about a plane hitting the Twin Towers in Manhattan. When asked where that was or what that meant I said I didn’t have a clue. I knew my mom was upset as I got out of the car for school that day but I didn’t understand it.

The entire day of school was teachers whispering and putting on smiles, but not telling us anything. After school, My family did our typical Tuesday night pizza buffet at Mazzios, but I knew my life had forever changed. I had never been out in public where no one talked, and everyone was silently watching the TVs. I spent most of the next few days just trying to figure out what it all meant. I have seen 14 September since that day, but this year stuck out to me in a new way.

Today, Sept 11, 2016, I found myself going through airport security and boarding a plane around 7:30 a.m., It was an early start to the day, so I was mostly able to block out my fears of flying on this day. As my flight began to take off, I could hear the quiet conversations of people discussing their fears about flying on 9/11. Most of them discussed that it’s a little scary, but you can’t live your life in fear. My flight number American Airlines 621 started to play in my mind. Would it be one that made headlines? By the time we had reached our cruising speed, I was settling in and felt relaxed reading my book, The flight attended was a young guy asking people questions and lighten up the mood.

A few minutes later, my thoughts went to the stranger beside me. He was acting nervous and had been up and down a few times. I instantly thought back to that day on 9/11 and what those passengers on the plane must have felt. I almost started to tear up when I thought about how they must have felt. I had never given much thought to the people on the plane that day. I realized for the first time all the individual people that lost their lives. Those passengers enjoying their flights one minute, the next the kind gentleman beside them changes the world for us all.

As I sat there, I almost started to panic. Asking myself: Who would I call?, How would I respond?, What if someone would have shared the gospel with the hijackers? Could someone have talked them out of it? Were they nervous on the plane? What did they look like? So many thoughts went through my mind instantly.
I thought about God and my Christian faith and how I was fully trusting God when I stepped on that plane today. I was convicted about the many missed opportunities to share my faith. Every day God gives me is another day I can share the gospel. Maybe I should have taken the time to tell the guy next to me about Jesus.
As all these thoughts are going through my head, I start to pray and reflect on my life. Then when I look back to the man beside me, I notice he is reading his Bible Devotional for the day. I couldn’t help but think maybe he was just a little nervous to be flying on 9/11 as well.

As I stepped off the plane in Dallas, I realized how proud I am to be an American where I can freely read my Bible on a plane and worship the God who is in control of this universe. He is sovereign and has complete control over my life and my American Airlines flight 621.
I might not always agree politically with this country but for right now the flag still stands for freedom. I can pray with strangers at the Dallas/Forth Worth International Airport, read my Bible on a plane, and they can’t take that away. I am PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN. GOD BLESS THE USA. NEVER FORGET.