A 78-year-old woman living in Gwangju, Korea, died of cancer. Since her husband passed away, she alone raised her three sons and one daughter for 35 years. Feeding, clothing, and educating her four children, she could not look after herself. Despite that, she only thanked her children to the last moment for enabling her to bear up in the harsh world. Just like writing a graceful poem, just like making a shy confession, just like rubbing her children’s back, she wrote down her last message. It is so touching beyond comparison.
Thank you for having taken care of me. / You were born in the world and called me Mom. / When you looked at me, nursed enough at my breast, I was happy indeed. / When I felt like the world collapsed after losing your father, / it was you who let me overcome the harsh world. / When I was taken ill and God was calling me, / you were beside me so that I could leave this world graciously. Thank you very much. / I could live well because you were with me. / I could live hard because you were with me. / My daughter, wasn’t it hard to do your duty as the first daughter-in-law and the eldest daughter? / My big boy, wasn’t it hard to take on the role of the first son? / My second boy, wasn’t it hard to stand alone, leaving your mom early? / My youngest son, you were not nursed enough at my breast. Wasn’t it tough to study hard? / Thank you and love you all, and see you later.
December 2017
Your Mom