Dirty Laundry

I love the feeling of doing laundry. Since it is manual labor that results in a visibly clean final product, I feel satisfied and accomplished every time I fold my warm, dry, and clean clothes.

Since I came back from Korea, I've been going to my parent's home in La Crescenta almost every weekend. Going home has always relaxed me as I can spend time with my dog and just take care of the necessary things, like doing my laundry. While I'm at it, I usually wash the dishes and do my parent's laundry. The very small act of doing their laundry (my dad doesn't notice at all) results in me feeling good about helping them in a seemingly trivial way and also is appreciated by my step-mother. In the beginning of Winter quarter, I began going to help at my dad's market in downtown on Saturdays. Waking up at 5:30 in the morning and coming home at 10 in the evening, I am amazed at the perseverance of my parents. Just doing what they do once a week results in me being very tired and drained, almost unable to do anything the next day. They've been doing this 6 days a week for who knows how long. Beyond my comprehension. These days studies have prevented me from going, but really it's an excuse...I know how tired I will at the end of the day. Far from being a perfect son, I hope and strive to serve my parents obediently and find ways to make their lives a little easier. Man, I am so thankful for them.

In this blog I've recognized my sister and my father, now I think it's time to recognize another very big part of my family, my step mother. The more I age, the more my respect for her grows.

I still cannot comprehend why she joined our family. First, a man who could not promise economic security and just recently lost his wife of around 20 years. Second, a would-be daughter already in college and very much in love with her recently deceased mother. Third, me, a young boy in middle school who was in his rebel state of adolescence and just plain narrow-minded.

There is no possible way that these past years with us have been easy for her. Managing a household, supporting her parents, looking after new children that she didn't ask for, and a whole different household and environment.

She has such a big heart and if I only took the time to appreciate and talk to her earlier would I have realized the degree of her commitment to God, her integrity, her perseverance, and her strength. Under her care, I have learned and grown so much and I attribute much of my character to her example. This does not take away from the immense influence my father, sister, and those around me have had on my development. This does not mean that I look up to her more than my birth mother in heaven. I am merely stating something that has been difficult to grasp and proclaim for a long time. I love and respect my step-mother. Who she is and what she represents is a woman saved by grace, who shows and gives grace to all those around her.

I respect and love my parents very much, and even if the time we spend together is in silence, I treasure every moment.