Father, We Long For You!

Following True Father’s Seonghwa, I buried the simple expression, “I long for you,” in the deepest recesses of my heart. This is because the moment I would say “longing,” the tears I had hidden deep within my heart would burst forth in an endless stream of tears.

When I painfully strove to ignore my heart of longing and when my heart was deafened by the thought of Father, I looked to the vast expanse in the sky and tried to imagine happy thoughts.

However, even in the happy thoughts I tried to imagine to chase away my longing, I found Father. Father, your bright twinkling eyes, your tears, your sweat and your voice, which I yearn to hear, were everything to me. Everything was with you. Father, I deeply yearn for you.

Father! Do you remember that time?

In the winter of that year, it snowed a lot yet I left my beloved parents and siblings to go to America, a land I knew little about, to meet my husband, the head of security, and form a family nest there.

When I began my life of attendance in East Garden, I was so young, yet Father you asked me to read the Tongil Segye! I was shaking and so scared that I do not remember how I read the text to Father. At that time, Father you said, “read it louder!” and you laughed so brightly. From that moment, my life as a Hoondok reader began. Early in the morning, you would cough and begin reading the Word again and again from early morning till late at night. However, this was not enough. Father, you asked me to record your words and play them to you, which I did. Thanks to you, I lived completely within your Word. I grew through your Word, Father, and through your word, I was raised.

Father! Do you remember that time?

Barely a month had passed since I had given birth to my first child; my body was still weak yet you called me and asked to go. I do not know where I got the strength but I courageously followed you, Father. I left my newborn baby behind and hid my tears as I left East Garden; nevertheless, because you only thought of Heaven’s Providence, I could neither complain nor leave your side. On the contrary, I followed Father worried that I might miss you or you might leave me behind. I followed you behind as if I were walking barefoot. Father, when I looked back, I understood that this was the true love you spoke about. Father, when I looked back, I understood that this was true shimjung you spoke about. When I looked back, I understood that you taught me so much that was true.

Father! Do you remember that time?

While we were sweating in the hot weather of Hawaii, you asked me to prepare winter clothes. Until we set off on the journey to Beijing, I did not know where we were going. While in the guesthouse in Hamhung, Father and Mother toured the surroundings and prayed in the middle of a winter night that was

pitch dark. At that time, you said, “Wonju, can you sing something?” It was so cold that I could not pronounce the words, yet I kept singing and walking.

Father, you offered prayers and devotion in anticipation of meeting Premier Kim Il Sung the next day. You fought, risking your life, for the sake of North and South reunification. This memory remains engraved in my heart as an unforgettable memory. There is nowhere around the world I have not gone thanks to you Father. Thanks to you, I traveled the world over.

Father! This is the first time I am writing you a letter after three years; there is so much I would like to tell you.

While you were in the hospital ward under anesthetic, you asked for Mother the moment you woke up, tightly held her hand and prayed. Even in the midst of physical pain, you understood the heart of Heavenly Parent! Father, our Father, not once did you live for yourself! Even in situations where we could not sit, you sat and did hoondokhae! I vividly remember reading hoondok passages from volume 56 of your Words when you were transferred from Cheongshim hospital to the hospital of the Holy Mother (성모병원). Father, at that moment, you took a deep breath and placed your hand on the volume of Words.

Father, I can never forget this moment.

Father! Even now, I just feel like if I turn around, you will smile brightly and call me, “Wonju!”

You were the Father who loved my voice,

You were the Father who loved my singing,

You were the Father who loved my dances,

You always encouraged me and today, I long for you so profoundly!

If I were to spread this heart of longing for you, I feel that it would cover the entire world.

Father, you loved heaven so profoundly; you were the true son of filial piety. Father, you were the son of Heaven who loved a blind and ignorant humanity. Until the last moment, you showed us the way to live a life of true filial piety before the Heavenly Parent and today, at this moment, I so long for you.

Furthermore, Father,

For the past three years; whether it rained or snowed, Mother mourned and offered tremendous devotion for you on behalf of all humanity. Two days ago, during the 3rdSeonghwa Memorial, Mother said, “Father! From now on, please stand by the lonely Heavenly Parent and comfort Him. Please find your freedom in this farewell.”

Following your ascension, Mother shed tears of yearning and while stroking your face, she said, “Father, you went through so much trouble. Please do not worry. Until the day I day, I will establish Cheon Il Guk on this earth without fail.” Mother’s resolute Will became the root of Cheon Il Guk and three years after your ascension, it is bearing fruits. We will attend Mother and realize the Cheon Il Guk you yearned for without fail.

You are one and I am so happy to be able to attend you together.

Father, thank you from the bottom of my heart for the love you gave me during this life.

I am so happy and proud to have lived my life attending you, Father.

Father, I love you eternally.