News > North America

Chicago UBF, US
March 31, 2014

A Tribute to My Dearly Loved Mother

Good evening! I never knew that Chicago is cold even at the end of March! Thank you for coming to this farewell service for our mother in spite of the cold. I feel reassured seeing all of you here. Even though I was not with my mother, I have been confident because of the many reliable coworkers in Chicago. I would like to thank you for the message of P. Ron Ward, which enlightens us with resurrection faith. Whenever I think of my mother, Romans 8:28 comes to mind: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

My mother was born at Hamheung, North Korea in 1924. Like other mothers in her generation, she went through much hardship such as the Japanese occupation and independence, Korean War, several coups, democratic revolution and the “May 18 KwangJu” situation. All these historical events were not just stories from a book but a real part of her life. During the Korean War, my mother carried me and my brother, Missionary Timothy, in the middle of gun fire while passing by dead bodies, to a waiting US Navy boat, in order to escape to South Korea. Although we arrived safely in Yusoo and my father began a business to support our family, we did not know anyone. Therefore, my mother was the only one who took care of my father’s frustration and his business partners while taking care of four children. When my father was frequently hospitalized, my mother was the one who worked hard to prepare his hospital bills and serve him until he was well.

When her first son accepted God’s calling to be a shepherd, it was painful for her to see him go. When I became a UBF shepherd, many people around my family criticized me, saying, “Your mother suffered so much! It is time for you to live with her and support her. How can you just leave her?” But my mother rebuked them saying, “Is he drinking or gambling or chasing after women like your sons? How dare you criticize my son? Only one thing I am sorry about is that I cannot support him. If any of you criticize my son, do not come to visit me or even greet me.” When she said this, I was moved and cried for a long time. But my mother did not have any joy in her heart because she did not know God. When her children, Missionary Timothy Rhee and Sarah Chung became missionaries, she became resentful towards God.

However, once when I came to Chicago, my mother called me and asked me to pray with her. I was completely shocked that she could pray! But I was even more shocked by the content of her prayer. She prayed, “Father in heaven, thank you so much for calling my two children to be missionaries and my oldest to be a shepherd. I did not know that this is your great blessing for my family. Please forgive my past resentment towards you.” At the moment, I recognized that she met God very personally and began to have a deeper relationship with him. I also found that she saw that her past pains and fate were all a part of God’s great purpose in her life and for her family. When she realized this, her sorrow turned into joy and happiness. She was able to serve and take care of UBF children with all her heart. From that time on, whenever I met my mother, Romans 8:28 always came to mind: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Because of my mother’s persistent prayer, her two sons and daughter became missionaries along with her three daughters-in-law and son-in-law. Her grandchildren also became UBF shepherds and Bible teachers. Now she has four great-grandchildren. God turned her painful life into fruitful victory. In all things God works for the good of those who love him. Through my mother’s life, I realize that God always works in our lives, turns all things into fruitful victories according to his purpose and leads us to his kingdom because we love him.

I am very thankful for Missionary Grace Lee and Rebecca Choi who visited my mother and sang hymns and prayed for her. When they were praying, she breathed her last and went to heaven peacefully. Through them, I came to know that the angels are there. I am thankful to Mother Barry and P. Abraham and Sarah Kim and P. Ron Ward and Monica Barry who visited my mother as soon as they heard about her passing. As the oldest of my family, I always felt guilty that I could not take care of my mother. But I am thankful to my youngest bother Nak-Gyu and his wife, Dong-Kyung, Missionary Timothy and Hannah who could serve my mother. Especially, I thank God for my sister Missionary Sarah and her husband Missionary Paul Chung who served my mother for the last 27 years in Chicago.

When I arrived at Washington D. C. airport, an airport attendant asked me, “Do you have a Green Card?” When I said to him, “No,” he told me to go to the 'Non-citizenship' line and I realized that I was in the wrong line. On the other hand, my mother has 'the citizenship of the Kingdom of God.' No one can say to her, “Go away,” but instead, will welcome her into His kingdom. I am very proud of my mother. She was a woman of integrity and she was very sacrificial. And she was beautiful. On her small desk there were always the Bible and color pencil and her magnifying glasses. I am very sad sending her away and I will miss her. But with the great hope of meeting her in heaven, I will live as a pilgrim and serve God wholeheartedly more than before. In this world I could not be with her, but in the kingdom of heaven I will be beside her forever. Thank you again for your coming and support of my family members in the time of sorrow.

Daniel Rhee