God’s Faithfulness to Our Family
It seems like yesterday that I wrote my English Compass article for the first month of the year but we are already in the month of December. Where did the time go? It’s been a good year for me, many milestones for our family. But the year marks another year of decline for my aging parents and in-laws. So it goes with the ebbs and flows of life, but with Christ in the center, I can praise Him for His mercies and kindness.
Matthew, my youngest son, had some significant landmark events this year. He got his driver’s license and has become the first in the family (out of four children) to be driving before leaving for college. In the time between getting his license and having his learner’s permit, Matthew and I had some great bonding time in the car. When he was driving, he couldn’t scroll through his phone, and I had a captive audience. I tried not to use the time to lecture him too hard. But sometimes the temptation was too much. But as he prepares to leave for college, and the prospect of being an empty nester after rearing children for thirty years, the future is bittersweet indeed. What does life look like, without having to think about caring for children in the house? It’s a mystery that I face with a mixture of feelings between dread and delight.
A huge blessing came to our family as my oldest son, Christian and his wife, Esther, announced that they were expecting a baby. But our fears were kindled when Esther started early contractions in her 6th month. But “all things work together for good to those that love Christ.” Prayers were lifted up in our churches, families, and friends. And praise God that those contractions stopped and Esther’s pregnancy is progressing safely, now in her seventh month. But even greater praise was that in the midst of the scare, God kept Esther and Christian in peace. Their precious baby was prayed for in a much bigger way than if there was no early labor threat. “Where sin abounds, much more does grace abound.”
For the Chung clan, we were blessed to be able to celebrate my Father-in-law’s 93rd birthday with all the children and grandkids gathered together. With our growing family as three of the grandchildren brought their spouses, it was a full and beautiful gathering as we honored the patriarch.
But the flip side of having aging parents is seeing and dealing with their physical and mental decline. This year marked the first year of having to help my father-in-law take showers, also to help him with his dental hygiene as his dementia worsened. Recently, I started to help my mother with her shower as well. It is bittersweet having to do these duties for my mom and my in-laws. Bitter that they have become so needy to need this kind of help but also sweet that I can take care of my parents/in-laws in the way that they took care of us. It’s the circle of life but with Christ in the circle, there is assurance of God’s blessing and providence in the midst of an uncertain future.
The events of the year have deepened my faith and trust in God. Each year that passes God reveals His goodness more and more. When the world seems so out of control, I praise God that I can be confident that He has the whole world in His hands. For me, my family, my church, my country, my world - God is faithful, I can depend on that.