Day 16: May 20Scripture: Hebrews 12:1-2 As I read today’s Scripture, my deceased grandmother came to my mind. She was a small lady, but a lady of courage and faith. She became a widow when she was only 30 years old. Her life of survival with her three young children in North Korea was tough and difficult under the circumstances. Korea at that time was a very poor and under- developed country. Finding a job was difficult for anyone, especially for a young widow. She had to do whatever jobs became available. Then, she found a job at a small church as a custodian and my father, a 12-year old boy, as a church bell ringer every morning for early morning prayer service at 5 and Sunday worship services. There, my grandmother met Jesus, received him as her savior, fixed her eyes on him, and walked with Jesus every day. She became the first Christian in our family. She continued to suffer in her life in the midst of the country’s turmoil by Japanese ruling of Korea for 36 years and Korean War. However, her faith in Jesus never failed and God was good to her. God’s unfailing love and grace always embraced her and her family. I know the reason I am here today is because of God’s love and my grandmother’s faithfulness in Jesus. I am thankful to God that I was able to go to Christian schools - Ewha Girls’ High School and Ewha Woman’s University, both founded by Mrs. Mary Scranton, the first United Methodist Church woman missionary in Korea. The Scripture reading of Hebrews 11:1 says faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. By faith we know Jesus is leading us each step we take until someday we see him face to face. We just need to run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Prayer: Gracious God, thank you for your love and embracing hands all through our life journey. Please help us focus our eyes on you and run our race until we reach the finishing line set out for us. In your name we pray. Amen. Chunhae Yang |