Conversation with Frances’ mom

Recollections from a cloudy afternoon when I asked her some questions

Q: At what moment in life did you mature the most?

Mature is incremental. As you live through life, you become more mature. It wasn’t a moment. You become more mature as you go through hardships, every time you clash with someone else. In all those times, you realize that you don’t know everything, that there are other perspectives out there other than your own. There was a point after I got married and we moved to the US. My husband was working a lot and I was home, and it was a very lonely and dark time. We had nothing and I didn’t know the language, didn’t have community. We had left everything in Korea. I had gone to church before but I didn’t know Jesus. But slowly, as I went to church and heard the messages, they spoke to me where I was. The Holy Spirit filled me with comfort and hope. I started listening to sermons whenever I could, when I was doing the laundry, or cleaning. I started to see things the way God did. There was no going back.

Some people, they make their lives so comfortable and try to avoid disruptions or conflict in their lifestyle. It’s hard to mature then, because it is those moments that grow us. Otherwise, your ego grows and you don’t realize your sin.

There’s going to be people who applaud you, agree with you, puff you up. Pay these people no mind. Don’t let it get to your head. When you get into conflict with people, always ask yourself, “What could I have done to hurt this person”?

Q: How do you not get distracted or discouraged when other church goers, or Christians, disappoint you or have selfish intentions?

I remember that they are humans and they make mistakes and are full of sin too, like me. It is human to make mistakes.