This is a vinyl on the wall in my bedroom. This is a terrible picture, for sure (our camera is being repaired so I am stuck taking pics with my phone, plus I was perched on the side of my bed with the entire family running around me like crazy people while I tried to take it), but it represents so much to me!
For one, the author of “It is Well With My Soul,” Horatio Spafford, is so inspiring. When he wrote the words to this song, he had just tragically lost all of his children as well as most of his investments. He was on a ship on his way to pick up his wife, his only surviving family member, across the ocean. But he had the peace of Jesus, and that gave him hope and courage and bravery to go on. I imagine that was all he had to go on. Every time I hear this song, I think of his (and His) story.
I also love this sticker on my wall because, well, it is well with my soul. When I am having a tough day and feel pulled in a million different directions, I find encouragement and assurance in knowing that this world is temporary (our time here is so short, ya’ll), and that there is something so much better waiting for me when the time comes.
The kids and I recently visited a member of our church family in the hospital who was in his last moments here on earth. He passed away yesterday, so C & M have been asking me some questions about him and his family, and they’re curious about what a funeral is like. I explained to them that his friends and family are very sad and will miss him dearly, but are also happy for him that he is in Heaven with Jesus now, walking and running and singing and dancing, and doing other things that he hasn’t been able to do for awhile.
Later, Charlie asked me a tough question: “What if someone dies and we know they’re not going to Heaven?”
I know they’re young to know about such things, but we are honest with them about our beliefs: if you believe that Jesus is God’s Son and that he came into this world and died on the cross for our sins and then rose from the dead, you will go to Heaven. All of your sins will be forgiven. If you don’t believe this, you will not go to Heaven when you die. Out of all of the things I teach Charlie and Maddie, I consider this the most important thing.
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son,
that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16
So I answered him. I told him that it is really, really sad when someone you love dies, and you know that they are not in Heaven with Jesus. “But it does happen, Charlie,” I told him.
I know that it is well with my soul, and it is well with my husband’s soul, and we pray continuously for our children’s souls.
And if you’re someone who isn’t sure, we’re praying for you, too.
This post was written for the #Write31Days writing challenge. To see the rest of my posts for the challenge, click the image below.
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It is well with my soul also. You so inspire me.
Why, thank you, Mary Vett!
One of my favorite hymn quotes of all time. Beautiful post!
Thank you!