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This
letter was originally published in
the Embraced
By The Light Newsletter,
Spring 2002 issue. I feel it is important
to share it here in remembrance of 9/11,
of the tragic losses inflicted upon lives
and especially lives of families, yet
also in remembrance of the strength of
faith, hope, and belief in God which sees
us through even the worst of tragedies.
Betty J. Eadie
September, 2006
 Dear
Betty,
Our
nation lost many brave souls on September
11, 2001. My husband, Michael Robert Horrocks,
was one of those souls. He was the first
officer on United flight 175; the second
plane to strike the World Trade Center.
Michael and I loved each other very much
and lived every day with this in mind.
Michael and I have two small children.
Christa is nine and Mick (Michael) is
six. We had a terrific marriage. He was
an incredible husband and father. His
love knew no bounds. He called us on September
eleventh from the cockpit prior to takeoff
to wake our children with a song and tell
us he loved us. God gave us that one last
gift and memory.
Since
then I have been struggling with so much.
I have so many questions and so much pain.
Several weeks after that tragic day a
friend left your book Embraced By The
Light in my mailbox. I had received several
books on grief and recovery, but yours
was the only one I could focus on. I found
such comfort and guidance in your experiences;
it was as though you were writing directly
to me.
For
all of America it has been four months
since the terrorist attacks on our country.
Four months since Americans sat mesmerized
in front of their televisions watching
the horrifying results of what was happening
to our country. This was the aftermath
of what we had created with our apathy
and lack of compassion and love for our
world and each other.
For
me, these four months seem an eternity.
It has been four months since I have seen
Michael's smile. Four months since I have
heard his laughter. Four months since
I have felt the warmth of his embrace.
And, four months since I watched him hug,
hold and play with his two beautiful children.
Though we feel him in our lives everyday
and cherish the memories God has blessed
us to have, we look forward to our future
with him in heaven. We feel blessed to
have been a part of the plan God laid
out for us.
Michael's
death was only part of that plan. I do
not believe that what happened on September
11th was God's punishment for us, but
rather that he allowed it to happen in
order to help us find our cherished Godlike
qualities that we keep buried inside of
us. It is part of God's plan to help us
grow.
My
husband is a perfect example of what a
beautiful spirit is and what one can achieve
both on earth and in heaven. He was in
this life so very close to all those qualities
we strive to achieve. He was an involved,
adoring father, a gentle and devoted husband,
a loyal and fun friend, and a loving brother
and son. He gave his love freely and believed
that a man is not judged by how much he
can love, but by how much he is loved
by others. If you give love without any
conditions or stipulations; you will receive
it back in abundance. He gave and he received.
I
want you and the whole world to know that
I have felt and continue to feel the ripple
of Michael's goodness and love. Our friends,
neighbors and family have surrounded us,
shopped for us, cooked for us, prayed
for us, cried with us and openly loved
us. Through all of this I have struggled
to keep our lives very private. I have
refused television appearances and rejected
newspaper interviews. Yet, somehow the
picture of me holding my son at Michael's
service had the power to move a nation.
Our photo appeared in national and worldwide
publications. At first I was upset that
such a private moment was shared. Then
I realized God wanted us to share our
grief whether we wanted to or not. God
was crying with me.
Beautiful
letters began to pour in. Letters expressing
deep sympathy, pain and sorrow. There
were words of prayer, encouragement and
healing. The American people were crying
with us. I have been blessed since I entered
this earth to be surrounded by love, generosity,
and prayers. I only realized this in September
of 2001. Prayers cannot bring Michael
back, but they have eased my pain and
reunited me with my loving father in heaven.
We,
the Horrocks family, have been the recipients
of God's love, fleshed out in all of his
children. We may not be the focus of American
prayers and aid any longer. That is okay.
But as God's people, joined as one, we
can't afford to lose our momentum. We
must remember that each of us struggles,
at some time, with our own personal tragedy.
We as a whole must look for opportunities
that may not be as blatant as terrorist
attacks to reach out and love one another.
We must try to ease our brothers and sisters
struggle as they find their way back to
God. We must continue to love one another
through our actions and prayers. Through
these actions and prayers we can make
a difference. We must make a difference.
Michael
left this world and anyone who knew him
can honestly say he made a difference.
He wanted a simpler, more loving and gentle
world for his children. He and thousands
of other brave souls have begun a tremendous
ripple of love, sacrifice and compassion.
Please, Betty, do not let it end here.
Let us all join together to take this
ripple and create a powerful wave of love.
Let us stand united in God's love.
God Bless You,
Miriam
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