May your father and mother rejoice; may she who gave you birth be joyful!
(Proverbs 23: 25)
My mother and father first met during the Korean War. Their love blossomed during one of the darkest periods of their lives, finding a ray of hope amidst fear, darkness, and uncertainty. After the war, they married and raised a family of five children. Like many parents, my father and mother worked tirelessly to provide food, shelter, and clothing. They lived hand-to-mouth, often bringing home just enough rice, fish, and vegetables for the next day after a long day’s work. Despite our financial hardships, my parents never wavered in their commitment to supporting their children’s education for a better future.
I didn’t realize how much my parents sacrificed for their children. As a teenage girl, I used to focus on what I didn’t have rather than what I did. I was ungrateful and often complained about the lack of resources in my home. Then Jesus came to meet me, the grumbling girl, and He changed my life. One of the things Jesus changed was my perspective on my parents. I realized how blessed I am to have hard-working parents and began to see their love for us. God gave me new eyes to see how much my father and mother had loved and sacrificed for their children. The day I met Jesus personally, I wrote a letter to my father to say thank you and sorry for my ungratefulness. i wrote that I love him so much.
I am so grateful for the chance to visit my parents this year. Seeing my elderly mom’s joy at my visit was heartwarming. Despite her aching body and nearly blind eyes, she lovingly prepared feast meals every day for me. My parents are truly God’s blessing in my life, and I am forever grateful for them. With Mother’s Day approaching in May, it’s a reminder that all mother’s deserve respect and honor, not just on one day, but always. Let’s remember to thank God for their love, a love that reflects His own. As the Bible says, “My your father and mother rejoice; may she who gave you birth be joyful.”
Your pastor,
Hannah Lee
