The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.

9-11:Pause and Pray:12-11

by Dessa Rodeffer, Publisher

12 December 2001

As I sit down to write this story on this 11th day of December, 2001: I pause to say a prayer for our America.

May God bless this great country we have come to take for granted. And may He bless all that the red, white, and blue stands for.

May He bless the diversity that we are free to share, and the homes and communities we build, and the families that live within.

May God be with our government leaders as they make the tough choices that will affect all of us. I pray that God be with our military forces, and with our news correspondents covering the war on terrorism in Afghanistan.

I pray for God's great arm of protection as these true Americans work to fight for peace to give our children a safer tomorrow.

I pray for our U.S. Military, American Civilians, and other nations who have joined the cause by supporting us in their speech, in their prayers, their pats on the back, and their cards, letters, and e-mails.

I pray for those who are openly showing support in their flag-waving, in their singing of the national anthem, in their removal of their hats, and their hands on their hearts.

May we all be encouraged this third month after "The Attack On America" as together, united, we focus on stopping the awful terrorism that we witnessed on 9-11 of this year. Hand in hand, we have encircled the world with a support unlike any other time in history. We pray this bond remains strong, and that God will bless our nations.

I pray, especially, that God will heal the hearts of the families of the 6,000 who died September 11th due to this insane attack on our country.

May the Christmas for each of these families be somehow easier due to the mighty support from friends and neighbors that reach from sea to shining sea.

May the outpouring of love that we've seen not only in churches and political events, but also seen at hockey, baseball, football, bull-riding, stock-car racing, and musical events continue in our lives as we attend every meeting and every event of every kind.

May that love, that Jesus mirrored in the gospel, heal our homes and this great land of ours so we can - together- become a mighty strength to end the destructive hate in this world that has hurt so many lives.

May we always remember 9-11 and how it changed our focus from self to others.

And united may we continue to stand ..... and may God BLESS this beloved AMERICA!