quality time with mom and dad
Friday, August 22

here i am, in nj. ready to celebrate my younger brother's birthday (8/22). HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DAVID!

i spent some great quality time with mom and dad.

dad

i reviewed the sermons from the retreat with my dad, and he gave me more insight and stuff he learned from the same passages. i am amazed at the knowledge and wisdom of this man. i mean, i know he went to seminary and all, and yeah, he pastored a small church for a while, but it's only in the last 2-3 years that i am starting to appreciate the wealthly source of biblical knowledge and wisdom he carries.

i mention psalm 73, and bam! he knows exactly what passage i'm talking about, who wrote it, and the main points from it. very impressive. then, he adds other insights i was not aware of. very, very impressive, dad. i hope that one day, i might become as familiar with the bible as he is. the product of many years of intensive study...

i like the type of discussions i have with my dad when i visit home. we always talk about ministry, about recent lessons learned, etc. it feels great. i feel like i'm learning from an older brother in christ, one who is just more experienced, who has been through what i'm going through. as if we are equal christians, trying to understand, share, and learn from one another (though it's mostly me learning from him). still, these are discussions, not lectures. i like that. a lot.

i really really regret my past, the way i've approached my dad's teaching. when we had family bibly studies, or when he preached, i think i used to zone out on him. because i never equated him with people/pastors that REALLY spoke to me, you know? i mean, he's my dad.

but now, for the first time, i'm seeing that he really does know a lot, and that he is actually really great at sharing and helping me to see things. i've just been very closed to him in the past. it makes me really regret the past. that i've wasted all that wisdom, knowledge, understanding... which could probably have helped me many times over since.

ai... well, at least i am realizing it NOW, even if it is rather late. gotta milk this fountain for all its worth. gotta come back more.

mom

we spend about an hour at a large korean supermarket together. we talked about church, YG, why these vegetables instead of those vegetables, the proper way to make yook ggae jang, grandkids, etc.

my mom told me how ppl at her church congratulate her on having three boys. and inside, she's thinking, "yeah, it's great, but they're not around... all in school, all too busy... i've lost my three boys..."

it makes me real sad when she says things like this, makes me want to try to make it up for her. but no matter how hard i try, i know it's not the same. i've seen daughters interact with their moms. it's a totally different relationship. just gotta get married soon and provide a daughter for her, i guess. a ruth for my naomi.


yakob at 12:57 AM

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