2021 Daily Devotion - Day 393

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It was July 17,1996, and we were headed to the airport to catch a flight to NYC, on to Paris, then catching a connecting flight to Athens. Our flight left early, had a good tail wind, and we arrived at Kennedy ahead of time. Rather than wait several hours for our scheduled flight, TWA 800, we went to the information desk and asked if there were any earlier flights to Paris. We were told there was, and if we hurried, we could make it. We did, and subsequently made our connecting flight to Athens.

We arrived at our hotel to find messages to call home immediately. We panicked and had some trouble getting the international call through, but eventually Jim answered our home phone where he and Jennifer were house sitting. When he heard my voice, he let out a sob as he asked if we were okay. Of course we were, was my response. Was everyone okay there? It took him a minute to compose himself as he assured me everyone was fine. Then he told me TWA 800, our scheduled flight, had exploded in New York Harbor minutes after take-off, and there were no survivors. Now it was my turn to sob as I explained our changing flights at JFK. We finally said our emotional good-byes, and Ken and I went to our room to pray for the families who would be devastated by such loss. It was at this time we learned to thank God for the things in our lives that didn’t happen.

Pray with me:
Thank You, Father, for protecting us from accidents that might have happened, were we a few minutes earlier… or later. We give You glory for helping us to make decisions leading us on the right path. For all the pain from which we have been spared, we thank You. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Psalm 28:7
"The Lord is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him."

Nancy Reynen
Small Group Leader
Mount of Olives Church
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