Hi, everyone! It's been a while... I hope you all had a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
I entered Vision Forum's Essay Contest for the year 2012 and decided to post my entry here. Tell me what you think!
Well With My Soul
“Tell us a story, Grandpa!” Andrew and Agnes excitedly begged. Grandpa and Grandma had come for baby Rose's first birthday, and the children loved it when their grandfather told them stories – even if they were old ones. But today, Grandpa had a new story in mind. “Sure, kids! This time, my story is about something that happened sixty years ago. My story takes place in April of 1912 – when I was about your age, Andrew. But first, let's all go to the living room and get comfy.” Grandpa took his story-telling position in the great big armchair, and the eager listeners gathered around on the floor.
“It was April of 1912. My family had been visiting my Grandparents in England. When it was time to go home, my Father paid for our passage back to America on the Titanic. I was so excited; the ship was gigantic! Your Great-Aunt Lily and I had a lovely time exploring it.
“Unfortunately, on the second day into the voyage, Mother became sea sick, so Father spent all his time in our cabin taking care of her. Because we wanted to be a blessing to our parents, we made sure not to go anywhere that they could not hear us, and stayed out of mischief and out of the crew's way.
“On the third day, Lily and I had an especially good time. By the end of the day, we were very exhausted, so we went to bed early. At about 11:40 p.m., I woke up as I was jolted out of my bed. Lily awoke as well, and Father went to find out what was going on. Lily started to cry. I went over to comfort her the best I knew how. She, Mother and I all prayed that His will would be done. Just as we finished praying, Father came back down. He said, 'The ship's hit a glacier. Get dressed, children. I believe we will have to evacuate the ship.' Lily and I were very nervous, and dressed quickly. Soon our family made our way on deck, with Father carrying Mother.
“We prepared to board the lifeboats. However, foolishly, the ship had not been equipped with nearly enough lifeboats. The cry of 'Women and children first!' was echoed over and over all around the ship. The crew members and noble men were holding back those men who were trying to sneak a passage on a lifeboat.
“Lily clung to me then, weeping. As Father gently laid Mother in a lifeboat and helped Lily and I on board, he said his final fare-wells. His last words to me were these: 'Son, you are the man of the family now. Take good care of your Mother and sister. Above all, “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart, and lean not unto thine own understanding; in all thy ways, acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths.” And remember, son, that God has given men the responsibility to protect women, and that women and children are the future of the nation. Never act in cowardice and fail that responsibility.'
“I started to cry as well. We pushed off, and Father stood, waving on the deck. Behind him, we could see people scurrying about. Then I heard Wallace Hartley and his musicians begin the familiar tune of the hymn 'It is Well with my Soul.' I heard my father singing. I began to sing as well.
When peace like a river attendeth my way,
“I saw the ship sinking, sinking, sinking. The sensation of profound peace mixed with utter confusion and despair made my whole body tingle.
When sorrows like sea billows role;
“The Titanic was being swallowed by the sea, the lights brilliantly lighting up the wee hours of the morning.
Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say,
It is well, it is well with my soul.
“I thought of my father and the other men on the ship. They were willingly giving up their lives for those of their women and children. I knew that many of those men understood all too well what this song really meant. It was well with their souls; they were right with God, and had done their duty. But it was more than just a sense of duty that had compelled them to do this thing. They had done this out of love for God. They were fulfilling the command in Ephesians 5:2 - 'And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savour.'
“As I sang the rest of the chorus, I watched as the ship sank bellow the surface of the water. There was not a dry eye left on the lifeboat. Just about every one had lost someone - a father, a brother, a son. I prayed for all of them, and us, too. What would we do?
“'Trust God,' answered a still small voice. 'Trust in the Lord with all thine heart, and lean not on thine own understanding; in all thy ways, acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths.' I knew that God was talking to me. I prayed that He would help me to just trust him.
“I learned many lessons from that fateful day. They were summed up in my father's last words. Part of obeying the command in Proverbs 3:5-6 is to read and obey God's Word. And in His Word, I find that men are to treat women as precious gems. They are the weaker vessels, and need to be protected. I also find that if someone harm a child, it were better for him that he were drowned.”
After a moment, Agnes said, “That's an awfully sad story, Grandpa.”
“In a way it is, sweetie. But did you know what happened after that?”
“No, what?”
“Your Great-Aunt Lily got saved!”
“Really?”
“Yes. She saw how much her father must have loved her – and me and your Great-Grandma – to die on the sinking ship so that we could have room on the lifeboats. She saw that what He did reflected God's love, and how God truly is a loving Father. So my mother led her to Christ.”
Andrew had been thinking this over. He realized that it is truly God's role for men to protect women. “Grandpa,” he said, “Can you teach me to treat women that way?” “I sure can,” said Grandpa with a
great big smile, “I sure can.”
In Christ Alone,
