A mokment with God: Even when troubles rage, it is well

By Anne Anjao-Eboi

Last Sunday, social media was awash with messages from people who were honouring their mothers on Mother’s Day.

When I saw that one of my friends had uploaded a lovely picture accompanied by a message, I thought, “Ah, another good old message for someone’s mother…” But alas, it was not to be. These were the words:

“Today, Mother’s Day seems to be the most heart-breaking and sad day of my life. My mum went to be with her maker. I mourn you with many tears. It is so hard to believe that you are no more.

“You have been the angel that God placed in this world to watch over me, just the way you are holding me in this photo. Thank you for all the love and care. As you walk on that beautiful road that leads to heaven, may the angels of the Lord receive you. I will miss you, mom.”

To my friend, to the mother of the recently deceased conjoined twins, and to many who are mourning, all I can say is: It is well.

Let me share with you the story of Horatio G Spafford, who, in the 1860s, led a beautiful life with his wife, Anna, and their five children. Horatio had a successful law practice in Chicago, and was a Presbyterian Church elder and dedicated Christian.

Horatio and Anna had everything going their way. However, in 1870, their faith was tested by tragedy. Their four-year-old son, Horatio Jr, died of scarlet fever. The Spaffords were devastated, but more tragedy would follow in October of 1871, when the Great Chicago Fire destroyed their property.

In 1873, Anna Spafford’s health was failing and, hoping to benefit Anna’s health and put the tragic loss of their son and the fire behind them, the Spaffords planned a trip to Europe. They would sail on the French steamer Ville du Havre with their four daughters.

However, on the day they were to sail, Spafford had a business emergency and could not leave. Not wanting to disappoint his family, he sent them on ahead and planned to follow on another ship in a few days.

On November 22, 1873, the Ville du Havre was struck by a British iron sailing ship, the Lockhearn. It sank within 12 minutes in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. Only 81 of the 307 passengers and crew survived.

 When the news reached Horatio, he left Chicago without delay to bring his wife home. While sailing across the Atlantic Ocean, the captain of the ship called Horatio to the bridge and told him, “A careful reckoning has been made, and I believe we are now passing the place where the Ville du Havre was wrecked. The water is three miles deep.”

That night, alone in his cabin, Horatio G Spafford penned the words to his famous hymn, It Is well with my soul.

It is well with your souls, folks.