Description

Inspired by the classic hymn written by Horatio Spafford 150 years ago, after a series of tragedies rocked his life and challenged his faith.

Horatio and Anna Spafford had a happy, loving marriage rooted in friendship and faith. They were joined, in time, by four darling daughters. Horatio was a successful Chicago lawyer and investor. In 1871 the Great Chicago Fire devastated the city. The Spaffords and their home survived, but much of his investment property did not which greatly hurt their finances. Despite this, they gave of themselves to those who’d lost a great deal more- offering up their home as a refuge to the newly homeless, for example. After two years, Anna’s health declined to the point her doctor recommended she leave Chicago for some time. The family settled on a trip to Europe, Horatio eager to use it as an opportunity to expand his daughters’ education.

The family was to sail in November of 1873. Just before, however, a business problem arose that caused Horatio to stay back while his wife and daughters continued as planned. He’d join them later.

At 2 am, November 21st or 22nd, 1873, the passengers of the Ville du Havre were suddenly awakened after their ship had been hit by another. Within twelve minutes the ship had sank. Despite Mrs. Spafford’s best efforts to hold onto her youngest daughter, only three-years-old, she was ripped by the torment of the water from Anna’s arms. Barely conscious, Anna managed to grasp hold of some debris and hold on long enough to be rescued. Her oldest two daughters also clung to debris with the assistance of another young passenger, but their strength gave out before they could be rescued. Nothing, it seems, is known to precisely what happened to the third daughter that night, only that she also drowned.

Popular belief has it that it was while sailing past where his daughters drowned, enroute to joining his wife, that Horatio began writing this song of faith. A friend of the family, however, stated that it was during a time in 1876, when this friend was visiting the Spaffords, that Horatio wrote it.

 

About The Design

Often when I see, “It Is Well With My Soul”, on other merchandise I think about those who read it and don’t know the song or the God behind it. What would they think? That the person was just expressing joy in a lovely time of life? But that’s not the message of the song, and that’s not what I want people to take away from this design. That’s why I purposely chose the final line, “Even so, it is well with my soul”, even though it appears to be a later revision of Horatio’s original words.

I hope that this shirt design will help bring comfort to those who understand God’s love and providence. And that it will serve as an avenue for witnessing to those who don’t.

This text design is created in gold glitter and hand applied to a delightfully soft Bella+Canvas relaxed-fit t-shirt.