It is well with my soul

I wanted to share a couple pictures and a quick thought.

Friday I had the honour to sing that song in an assembly that had gathered to celebrate and mourn a wee precious girl.

By -Horatio Spafford

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!

It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
Even so, it is well with my soul.

It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

When I was a child, even then, I loved this song. At that age I judged song merely on their musical quality. I loved "athletic" songs. But this song had a melody and tune that resonated with my heart even then.

But now... this song and I have history.

I sang this song as I drove back to Calgary, having just received news that my Grandma was in the hospital having had a stroke.

I sang this song when I got the news of Bronwyn's condition, unaware of what the future would hold for us.

I sang this song when Wes lost his job and the fear of financial worries crowded in.

I sang this song for my best friend when she had to bury a preterm infant.

I sang this song with a crowd gathered to support a dear friend who lost a child to a complicated and scary disease. Friday, I sang it again with the same crowd for the same family.

I sing this song when my spirits are low. I sing this song to bolster myself, to give myself courage, to remind myself of the community I live in and the suffering many others have had to endure.

I know I am not alone. I know that many of you feel the same way about this song. I know this song was a special gift from God.

So sing it! Sing it as loud as you can and know that - it is, indeed, well with my soul (and yours too).

This little Youtube link has the song (not the best rendition I have heard, but if you watch and read it tells the very moving story of the author of this song).