It Is Well

He got the news from his wife, “saved alone…” Their four daughters had drowned, pulled out of their mother’s arms by the strong current. Only she had survived. Not long before, the couple had lost their only son. All of their children, gone in the blink of an eye.

As he traveled to meet up with his wife, he passed the place where his daughters had lost their lives. Grieving, he tucked himself away and began to write.

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou hast 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.

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ hath regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for 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!

For me, be it Christ, be it Christ hence to live:
If Jordan above me shall roll,
No pang shall be mine, for in death as in life
Thou wilt whisper Thy peace to my soul.

But, Lord, ’tis for Thee, for Thy coming we wait,
The sky, not the grave, is our goal;
Oh, trump of the angel! Oh, voice of the Lord!
Blessed hope, blessed rest of my soul!

And Lord, haste the day when the 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.

Horatio Spafford wrote this poem in the late 1800s, and it was turned into a song that is still sung today. Amy Carmichael once said, “a cup brimful of sweetness cannot spill even one drop of bitter water, no matter how suddenly jarred.” Surely Spafford was suddenly, intensely jarred - and sweet water was spilled.

If you are jarred, dear Christian, what will you spill? When the waves of life jostle you to spill a drop, or many drops - will the water be bitter or sweet?

If it be bitter, take heart. Repent and be comforted by His forgiveness. It is hard to imagine spilling sweet water after devastating loss, such as Spafford experienced. Sweet water from the depths of our beings must come from complete satisfaction and trust in our Lord. It cannot be manufactured on our own; there will be trials far beyond what we can muster strength and grace for.

Has He saved you? Taken your sins and nailed them to the cross, that you bear them no more? If He can conquer this feat, He is trustworthy for all the rest.

He who made the stars, does He not know the hairs on our heads? He who tells the wind to blow, the sun to shine - does He not see our frames and know our trials before they arrive? “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28). Rest in Him.

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

Pizza Night || Friday Magnify

“Oh, magnify the Lord with me,
and let us exalt his name together!”
Psalm 34:3

Just like that, it’s Friday again. Another Friday, another pizza night. Chopping peppers and shredding cheese, rolling out dough and spreading sauce - mundane yet a little miraculous.

Somehow, the food that takes hours to make gets swallowed in minutes and we watch. We watch little people get taller, muscles grow stronger.

Somehow, the conversations that happen in those short minutes help build their foundations and frameworks. Their questions deepen, their observations broaden.

Suddenly, the tasks that can seem almost insultingly simple and repetitive appear nourishing in more ways than one. When did they learn this or that, or arrive at that specific conclusion?

We plod along, meal after meal, knowing it all leads somewhere and enjoying the ride. What a gift to be involved in God’s work of feeding bodies and souls.

Friday Magnify || The Sewing Machines

“Oh, magnify the Lord with me,
and let us exalt his name together!”
Psalm 34:3

There was a day a couple months ago that my sewing machine and my sister-in-law’s sewing machine both conked out. She had sent hers to be repaired, and it returned in working condition only to fail again. I hadn’t sent mine out, but spent hours fiddling with it and looking at the manual and watching videos about my model machine. A friend even sat with me and tried to troubleshoot, and was equally stumped.

My mother-in-law offered some advice. “You know,” she said, “a while ago Grandma had a washing machine that wouldn’t work. She had little kids at home and no money to fix it, so she prayed over it and asked the Lord to help her out. Funny enough, that machine started working and lasted a few more years!”

I laughed, and asked God if He would somehow get my machine working. I had Christmas stockings to finish sewing, and would really be grateful if I didn’t have to do them all by hand!

Not long after I asked Him, the machine started working. I still don’t know what happened and what made it work, but it hasn’t stopped working since and it makes me smile every time I use it.

The day after my machine started working, my sister-in-law asked the Lord to help her with her machine as well. And He did! It also started working and she has finished her projects. We laughed and thanked Him together!

These stories aren’t something to build a theology around, other than the fact that our God is kind and He cares about the details of our lives. He loves to help us and see us smile, and be thanked in return!

We Call Him Ours

Nine months.

Nine months, to the day. Nine months ago we took a chunky little three-and-a-half-year-old boy overnight and he has been with us every day and every night since. And today, he became a permanent part of our family.

Praise the Lord, He has given a needy child a home! Praise the Lord, He has equipped these otherwise-incapable people with the strength and wisdom to do the job!

The analogy isn’t seamless, but the significance of this timing isn’t lost on me. For nine months, we have carefully gotten to know each other. Like a baby in my womb, this little one has grown and stretched me and I have felt his kicks. He knows my voice and without him speaking, I know his personality. I have wondered who he will grow to be, and he has slowly awakened to the world outside of himself.

And today, we have another son and he has our last name. On Josh’s birthday nonetheless, what a gift! And what a gift that Kash has a dad who will always remain in his life, who will continue to play with him and teach him and protect him. He has a dad who will continue to point him to his Heavenly Father, the One who can heal his wounds and give him purpose. The Lord has taken Kash out of a life of brokenness, away from dangers and hopelessness. How humbling it is to see that He has placed him into our family.

Today, Kash has two brothers who love him for better or for worse. They have nine months behind them of getting to know each other, learning from each other, understanding new aspects of this life we live together. When asked if all the boys get along, I answered that they act like brothers - truly, they have melded together and while it’s been rocky at times, none of us could imagine Kash being anywhere else but here with us.

Today, Kash has a mom who will stay steady for him. Since we took him in, I have cared for and loved him - though it has seemed like caring for someone else’s child. Today, I can call him mine. I have prayed for God to make this shift for me mentally, and He has done so in the last couple days. He is gracious!

Kash, my sweet boy - you are a gift. God plucked you out of harm’s way and has shielded you from experiencing more of the world’s brokenness. And as you know, our family is broken too; we will fail you at times and you will see our flaws. We are human and faulty. But by the grace of God, you will know stability, joy, and peace. You will see forgiveness, in the big things and the little. You will hear of God’s goodness, as you have many times already, and you will see how He can heal the deepest parts of each of us.

Your previous caregivers and your tummy momma are never far from my thoughts. I don’t know the roads they’ve walked, I don’t know the struggles they’ve had. I hurt for them and I pray for them often. Have they ever known stability, or the comfort or peace of God? Have they ever been nurtured or protected? Only Jesus can heal them from their addictions, only He can give them hope. May He do just that for each of them.

You are home now. Settle in, little one. Your things have their places, your schedule will remain consistent. And while I know you are getting comfortable, and healing has begun, I know the ache isn’t gone. When the memories are too painful and the loss to great, we will still be here to hold you. When you are able to speak, I pray that you will trust your dad and me to tell us the stories your life has held. We will be here to share in your giggles and rejoice as you learn new things. We will be here to encourage you and support you.

You are loved, sweet boy. God has started this good work, and He will see it to completion. Let’s praise Him together.