A Bit of History for Inspiration

A pastor relayed this message in church a few months back, and for some reason I felt compelled to share it via this blog by plagiarizing wikipedia :). It brought tears to my eyes, and if you love old hymns like I do, I think it may affect you the same way:

On October 8, 1871, as Horatio Spafford and his wife Anna were grieving over the death of their son, the Great Chicago Fire swept through the city. Horatio was a prominent lawyer in Chicago who had invested heavily in the city's real estate. The fire destroyed almost everything he owned.

Two years later, in 1873, Spafford decided his family should take a holiday in England knowing that his friend D. L. Moody would be preaching there in the fall. Delayed because of business, he sent ahead of him his family: his wife Anna, and his four remaining children, daughters Tanetta, Maggie, Annie, and Bessie.

On November 21, 1873, while crossing the Atlantic, their ship was struck by an iron sailing vessel. Two hundred and twenty six people lost their lives, including all four of Spafford's daughters. Somehow his wife, Anna, survived. On arriving in England, she sent a telegram to Spafford beginning "Saved alone."

Spafford took his ship to England, going past the place where his daughters had died, and wrote these words:

"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."

If this man could pen such a beautiful hymn after going through such terrible tragedies time and time again, I can certainly muster up the courage to keep life in perspective when I feel like complaining.