Perhaps, you have been sacked. This after working faithfully for your boss for the last 11 years. Maybe, you are yet to get a job after graduating from college three years ago. Or you have a sick child and no one to turn to… Such was the story of Horatio B. Spafford, giving us the classic gospel tune ‘When Peace Like a River’… better known as ‘It is well with my soul.’ But have you ever wondered why God would have you so afflicted? Perhaps, He wants you to acquire humility before blessing you to be an important person in society. Like that time your landlord locked you out of the house because of rent arrears, He wants you to be an empathetic landlord when it is your turn to be so. And so, in times of sorrows, and times of bounty, you sing of Him: Ukawa baba yangu, ukawa mama yangu Ukanirithisha, jamii la mapendo Ukanibariki, ukaniinua Sasa ni mtu, mbele ya wenza. (You were my father, you were my mother From you I inherited a family of love You blessed and uplifted me ...