it is well with my soul...

Women's Conference 2008, Crossroads Church, Grass Valley, Cali
Kay Strom
Kay told us many stories today, about how God is working in our lives and in the lives of others all around the world. She talked about our turbulent lives and that even when faced with adversity, our Savior is there. She told us about a man whose entire fortune, home and material things were lost in the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. He and his wife, along with their four daughters decided to start over in England, regroup and eventually return. He trusted that God could heal their family and deliver them from this horrible event. He sent his family along to England aboard a ship, promising to see them soon when he was able to get all their affairs in order and join them. Halfway across the Pacific, their ship was struck head-on by another ship and it sunk in minutes. Rescuers retrieved the woman from the water, but all four of the couple's daughters drowned. On his journey to reunite with his wife, the man asked the captain to please show him where his daughters had died, so that he could pray for them and say goodbye. Overlooking the sea that took his children, he began writing a poem. The words to "It Is Well With My Soul." A few years later, his wife gave birth to a son who lived for four years before a sickness took him from them as well. And still, all was well with his soul.
Then came the story that sent shivers down my spine and made me fight back tears... On one of Kay's trips to India, she visited an all boys orphanage. There was a beautiful little girl amongst all the boys. Kay asked a woman why there was a girl there at this strictly boy refuge. The woman proceeded to tell the little girl's story. When this tiny child was born her father said that they had no use for another girl in the family. He dug a hole, dumped the newborn child into the hole and replaced the dirt- burying her alive. The girl's grandfather didn't want another girl anymore than the father, but couldn't handle the thought of burying her alive. So he dug her out, took her an orphanage (I think), and left her on the doorstep. The orphange workers heard a noise outside and found the little girl, covered in dirt and gasping for air. They had no use for another girl either. They called the people over at the all boy's place and told them that if a girl was important enough to waste their time on, then they needed to come get her or she would just die. They rushed over to find the infant blue and not breathing because her nose and mouth were filled with dirt. They cleaned her up and got her breathing again. She was important enough to God for Him to sustain her life. She was important enough to the orphanage. I believe that little baby girl with do great things. Big things. Maybe she won't become a world leader or an esteemed scholar. Maybe she won't live to see tomorrow. But she moved me. She touched me. I'm ready to get on a plane and go to India tonight. If I could, I would. That little precious person really just set my desire to save a child (or 2 or 50!)... and someday, I will. Someday, I will give a child a home just like the girl in the story deserves.