I had lunch with my father this week, and honestly, I don’t ever remember doing that one-on-one before. It felt awkward at first—like you’d expect with a typical Asian dad and son dynamic. But as we started talking, the awkwardness faded, and I got to learn more about his life.

​

Somehow, we ended up talking about his journey to the States. He shared how, in the beginning, he made just $200–$300 a month working as a janitor. He told me how he learned English at a community college and worked two jobs—one at USPS and another at a dry cleaner. I couldn’t help but say, “I don’t know how you did it.” He simply replied, “That’s just life. You just do it.”

 

Then, he shared stories from some of the hardest periods in their lives. He talked about when he was working full-time at the post office, and my mom was diagnosed with cancer. Since he was working at the dry cleaner as well, he couldn’t take her to the hospital. Instead, the pastor’s wife stepped in and took my mom to her appointments for an entire year.

 

I remembered that time too—I was in Turkey when I heard the diagnosis. I thought about coming home, but my mom told me not to. She wanted me to finish the one year I had committed to God.

 

Hearing these stories in such detail felt strange because, until now, I had only seen things from my perspective. Listening to my dad recount those moments made me reflect on the past 30 years of my life. It’s truly amazing to think about everything they went through.

 

As I looked at my father closely, I noticed his wrinkles and how much skinnier he’s become. He’s aging. Yet, as he shared his story, all I could think about was God’s faithfulness.

 

There were moments in their lives that, if I had to go through them, I might have crumbled. But they kept going, enduring each trial, and God always provided a way through. They couldn’t see how everything would turn out, but they lived day by day, trusting God to carry them through—and He did, every time.

 

After the meal, I felt so encouraged. I wanted to write this down to reflect on who God is and how He’s been at work in my life. Sometimes I only see things from my own perspective, but this reminds me that there are always different sides to every story. And no matter the circumstances, God always has a way of pulling us through.

 

So, brothers and sisters, let’s continue to trust the Lord. We don’t know what tomorrow will bring, but I can guarantee this: when we look back—five, ten, twenty years from now—we’ll be able to say with confidence, “God has been faithful.”