The year began with my Mom’s death on January 1st and ends today with my Dad’s burial on December 31st. Pretty weird.

During his final days, a t-shirt hung on his IV pole stating “It is well with my soul.” After he died, I asked the nurses to put it on him so that when the family gathered one of the first things they saw were these words–and his peaceful repose. The t-shirt made its appearance again at the funeral home and was laid over the top of his casket during our final song.

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.

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control
That Christ has 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.

And Lord hast 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.

We asked our pianist to play with enthusiasm and asked the congregation to sing not a dirge but a triumphant song. During the last verse, I put down my song sheet to raise my fists in a gesture of victory and praise. It is something my father would have done and I needed to sing and praise with my whole body–to say and sing aloud that in spite of this year of loss, in spite of overwhelming sorrow and in spite of the fact that my faith is not yet sight (but Dad’s is!!) it really is well with my soul.

Let this blest assurance control.

In the next few days I will share the eulogy I wrote for my Dad and will probably share a few stories from his life and mine. But for now, I just tend to keep singing this song:

It is well, it is well with my soul.