Yesterday I drove my wife Susi across the mountains to the Seattle airport. She spent about twenty hours traveling and is now visiting our daughter in Seoul, So. Korea!
I have been a bit anxious for her and for myself, wondering how she will handle this great "adventure" and also concerned for myself "holding down the fort."
I must say that this is yet another way God is developing my faith and confidence in Him.
As we enjoyed a final embrace and several "last kisses" along the line to her security checkpoint, I enjoyed the assurance that what we have in our relationship cannot be diminished by the miles between us or unsettled by the events of the coming week. When she reached the point beyond which I could not follow I entrusted her to the loving care of the God we serve. I believe she had to do the same with me and the children left at home.
How like our Good Shepherd to leave the Ninety nine (actually there are only eight of us) and to seek out the one lost sheep (of course Amanda is not really lost, we just miss her and she misses us) halfway around the world. Amanda has commented that Love is inconvenient, and I believe that sometimes the distance we will goes speaks volumes about the depth of our love.
Her senior year we drove to a piano recital in Salem, OR (almost five hours away). When she first invited us, I must admit I thought "That's crazy!" And I'm not sure how serious she was about having us come. (Though she did say that we hadn't missed one of her recitals yet and that we shouldn't start now.) But Susi's "mother-love" saw no distance at all. Only an opportunity to affirm her daughter's accomplishments (an original composition).
Looking back, I wouldn't have missed it for the world. We had a wonderful time, some friends joined us there and then we all went out to dinner.
And now that she's in Seoul, the distance to Salem seems like a drive around the block. I haven't heard yet how Susi did on the long flight, but knowing the Mom she is and how she has "borne" other difficulties, I'm sure all was overshadowed by the joy of the Mother-Daughter reunion!
Amanda is halfway through her one year commitment to teach English to elementary students. I know that this visit from Mom will leave a huge mark on her time there and that she will enjoy sharing her experience and what she has learned. I hope also that she will be greatly encouraged by her parents' love for her.
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3 comments:
Love is not convenient...This is so interesting, and true i think. I like reading what's going on in your family.
Thanks for your comment on my blog! It wasn't until I read the last post on your blog that I realized you were Amanda's father! She is one of my all-time favorite people. Thanks also for the book recommendations - I'll look into them. -Katie
awww dad...you've outdone yourself again. i wish we had a picture from that recital. i didn't assume you would come, but i can't say i didn't halfway expect it. that must mean something about how you've "proved" yourself in the past. i love you and miss you.
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