When national tragedies happen in this country, the first thing many people think to do once they've expressed shock and prayed for the victims and their families is think of their own loved ones, hugging them close if they're around or calling them to say "I love you."
I was in New York City on 9/11. It had been my first ever trip to the Big Apple, and September 11th was supposed to be the day my friend and I flew back home on late afternoon flights to North Carolina and (for her) Florida.
Once we found out what happened, which was about an hour after the first plane struck the North Tower of the World Trade Center, I knew right away that I had to call my mom to let her know I was okay.
Cell phones weren't working after the towers hit, but landlines still were. So I managed to call mom from a pay phone at the Marriott hotel, which had been swarmed by other people there using the row of pay phones the hotel had to call their loved ones.
Mom didn't answer the phone at the office, but a co-worker did. I was immediately put through, so grateful to hear the sound of her voice (as she was mine) and to reassure her that my friend and I were okay, and that we were going to try to resecure a room at the hotel we'd already checked out of that morning (which we were able to do).
I didn't tell her at the time that our original plans would have had us very close to the World Trade Center around the time of the attacks. Thank God, our plans had changed earlier that morning.
That night, before we tried to get some sleep after an extremely emotional day, I called mom, and she said a prayer for the victims of the attacks and the families, for America, and for both of us to make it out safely.
SEE ALSO (VIP): Don't Tell Me Thoughts and Prayers Are Meaningless
The only way we could get out of New York that week was to rent a car, which we did three days later. The drive home was long, but the first thing I did upon pulling up in the driveway was to kiss the ground and then bear hug my family members, all of whom were waiting for us.
As it did for many Americans, 9/11 caused me to rethink my priorities and to do a better job of not taking my family and being around to love and appreciate them for granted. From that point forward, I made it a point to hug mom and dad and my sisters when I left their houses to go home, because you never know when it might be the last time you get to do so.
After the Minnesota mass shooting on Wednesday, where two precious children were murdered and 14 more students were injured, my thoughts immediately turned to the parents of the two who were killed and the unimaginable pain they were going through over the thought of their babies being robbed of the futures they deserved in a senseless, depraved act of violence. How they'd never get to hug them again.
Hug your loved ones. Every day. If you can't, call them, text them, or email them to tell them how much you love and appreciate them.
We don't get forever on this earth. In fact, we're all just passing through, not knowing when the Lord will call us home. So we must make every moment count. That starts with making it a habit of telling your loved ones you love and care for them, and demonstrating it every chance you get.
