꽃샘추위다 뭐다 하며 도무지 봄이 올 것 같지 않았습니다.4월 중순이 지나 KTX를 타고 서울가는 중이었는데 추풍령에 눈이 내려 천지를 하얗게 뒤덮으며 나무마다 눈꽃이 피기도 했었으니 말입니다. 아름다운 광경을 기차 안에서 보는 것은 참 좋았지만 그 지방 복숭아꽃이 안쓰럽기도 했습니다. 그래도 온 사방에 꽃들이 피어난 것을 보면, 그리고 비가 겨울처럼 차갑지 않은 것을 보면 봄이 온 건 확실합니다. 우리 집 마당에도 드디어 연산홍, 철쭉들이 피어나고 마가렛도 피기 시작한 걸 보면 말입니다.
뿐만 아닙니다. 채전에도 이제는 모종을 심고 있지요. 남편이 좋아하는 오이며 토마토 외에도 호박, 케일, 고추, 상추의 여린 모종들이 귀엽기만 합니다. 이제부터 잡초를 뽑는 일이며 물을 주는 일들, 매일의 일들이 나의 손길을 기다리고 있지만 그래도 날마다 파래지는 잔디를 보면 우리에게 좋은 계절을 주신 하나님께 감사하답니다.
봄비가 부드럽게 내리는 아침이었습니다. 우리 집 원칙에 따라 해가 뜬 아침 시간이라 제가 운전을 하고 있었고 곁에 앉은 남편의 카톡이 울렸습니다. 미국에 있는 며느리와 손녀가 동시에 보낸 동영상이었습니다. 이제 막 생후 이십 개월 된 막내 재영이가 악보인지 뭔지 종이를 한 장 들고는 열심히 노래를 하는 장면이었습니다. 아직 말을 제대로 잘 할 줄 모르다 보니 가사도 제대로 될 리가 만무했고 더군다나 곡은 완전 음치 수준이었습니다. 그런데도 한 소절이 끝날 때마다 엄마와 누나들이 환호성을 지르며 열광하는 것입니다. 재영이는 그저 기분이 좋아 싱글벙글합니다.
남편이 문자로 채팅을 합니다. “허스키 음성에다 가사도 곡도 난해하긴 마찬가진데 열광하는 청중들의 수준이 대단하다. 꽃들은 봄비에 자라고 우리 재영이는 누나들의 사랑, 환호, 열광 가운데 자라겠구나. 와우 재영^^, 넌 무한한 미래가 있다.^^ 사랑해. 밝고 씩씩하게 자라거라. 할아버지 할머니가 기대하고 있다.”
우리재영이는 재작년 9월에 생후 2개월 만에 우리 집 손자가 되었습니다. 위로 누나가 둘 있지만 아들을 입양한 것이지요. 2개월 동안 엄마와 있지 못하고 시설에 있다가 와서 그런지 개월 수가 늘어가도 사람과 눈을 맞추지를 못하고 표정이 어두운 아이였습니다. 주위에서 염려를 할 정도였으니까요. 하지만 식구들, 특별히 누나들의 사랑 속에서 날이 갈수록 밝은 모습으로 자라가게 되어서 참 감사했고 우리를 사랑하시는 주님의 손길이 함께 하심을 볼 수 있었습니다.
작년 미국으로 이사한 지 몇 개월 되지 않았을 때 손녀들의 학교생활이 담긴 동영상이 역시 카톡으로 온 적이 있었습니다. 학급 친구들이 뽑은 가장 착한아이상을 받는다는 것입니다. 뭐 그런 상도 있는지 역시 미국은 못 말리는 나라입니다. 엄청 부끄럼이 많은 우리 손녀 가영이는 부끄러워 정작 웃지도 못하고 쭈뼛거리는데 반 아이들이 얼마나 환호성을 지르며 박수를 치고 격려를 하는지 참 감동적이었습니다. 둘째도 무슨 적응상을 받는다고 했지요. 이런 식으로 하면 상 못 받을 아이가 없겠다 싶었습니다.
엊그제 사모님들 모임에서도 한 분이 이런 말을 했습니다. “저는 원래 자존감이 낮은 사람이었습니다. 엄마도 언제나 내가 잘못한 거라고 말씀하셨기 때문에 나도 그런 줄만 알았습니다. 그런데 시집을 갔더니 전혀 집안 분위기가 달랐습니다. 시부모님도 저를 귀하게 여겨 주시고 명절에 시댁에 가면 도련님도 자기가 설거지 당번이라 하고 시누이는 ‘언니는 좀 쉬어요, 내가 할께요.’라며 도와주지요. 남편 역시 당신이 최고다, 잘했다고 칭찬을 아끼지 않습니다. 그러다 보니 제 자존감이 많이 회복되었습니다.” 그 시댁이야말로 예수 믿는 가정으로서 순기능가정의 좋은 모델입니다. 내 자녀뿐만 아니라 내가 만나는 모든 사람들을 격려해서 마음이 자라게 해줄 수 있다면 얼마나 좋을까요. 정말 그 말이 맞는 것 같습니다. 꽃은 봄비에 자라고 아이들은 사랑과 칭찬 격려 속에 자란다고요.
With the lingering late cold snaps, it felt as though spring would never arrive. In mid-April, while riding the KTX to Seoul, snow fell over Chupungnyeong, blanketing the whole earth in white and dusting every tree with snow blossoms. Looking at such a beautiful scene from inside the train was wonderful, yet I couldn't help but feel pity for the local peach blossoms. Still, seeing flowers blooming all around and feeling that the rain is no longer bitterly cold like winter's chill, spring has undoubtedly arrived. Even in our own yard, royal azaleas and rhododendrons are bursting into bloom, and the marguerites have begun to open their petals.
That is not all. We are now planting seedlings in the vegetable garden as well. Besides the cucumbers and tomatoes my husband loves, the tender young seedlings of pumpkins, kale, chili peppers, and lettuce look so utterly lovely. From now on, weeding, watering, and daily chores will be waiting for my hands, yet watching the lawn turn greener day by day fills my heart with gratitude to God for blessing us with such a beautiful season.
It was a morning when gentle spring rain was falling. According to our household rule, since the sun was up, I was driving, and my husband's KakaoTalk chime went off beside me. It was a video sent simultaneously by our daughter-in-law and granddaughter in the United States. It showed our youngest, Jaeyoung Jung, just twenty months old, holding a sheet of paper—perhaps sheet music—and singing with all his might. Since he cannot speak properly yet, of course there was no chance of coherent lyrics, and the melody was completely tone-deaf. Even so, every time a line came to an end, his mother and older sisters would erupt in cheers and enthusiastic applause. Jaeyoung was simply delighted, beaming from ear to ear.
My husband texted back: “With his raspy voice, both lyrics and melody are quite baffling, but the standard of his enthusiastic audience is truly magnificent! Flowers grow in the spring rain, and our Jaeyoung will surely grow amidst the love, cheers, and excitement of his sisters. Wow, Jaeyoung! You have an endless future ahead of you. We love you. Grow up bright and courageous. Grandpa and Grandma have high hopes for you.”
Our Jaeyoung became our grandson two years ago in September when he was just two months old. Though they already had two daughters, they adopted a son. Perhaps because he spent those first two months in an institution instead of his mother's arms, even as months went by, he could not make eye contact and wore a dark, troubled expression. People around us were even worried. However, embraced by the family's love—especially that of his older sisters—he began to grow brighter day by day. How grateful we were, witnessing the loving hand of our Lord at work.
Last year, just a few months after they had moved to the United States, a video of our granddaughters’ school life arrived via KakaoTalk. One of them was receiving the “Kindest Kid Award” voted by her classmates. I wondered what kind of award that even was—America is truly something else! Our granddaughter Gayoung Jung, who is painfully shy, was so timid that she could not even smile and stood there awkwardly, yet her classmates cheered, clapped, and showered her with such encouragement that it was deeply moving. The second grandchild also received some kind of adaptation award. I thought to myself that with this approach, no child would ever go without an award.
Just the other day at a pastors’ wives gathering, one woman shared: “I used to be someone with very low self-esteem. My mother always told me that everything was my fault, so I grew up believing it was true. But when I got married, the atmosphere in my in-laws’ home was completely different. My parents-in-law treated me with deep honor and respect. Whenever we visited for holidays, my brother-in-law would say doing the dishes was his job, and my sister-in-law would help, saying, ‘Sit down and rest; I’ll take care of it.’ My husband, too, never held back his praise, telling me that I am the best and did wonderfully. Because of that, my self-esteem has been deeply restored.” That in-law family is truly a wonderful model of a healthy, functioning Christian household. How marvelous would it be if we could encourage not only our own children, but everyone we meet, so that their hearts may flourish? That saying is truly right: flowers grow with the spring rain, and children grow with love, praise, and encouragement.
Met die voortslepende koue vlae het dit gevoel asof die lente nooit sou aanbreek nie. Teen die middel van April, terwyl ek op die KTX na Seoel gereis het, het daar sneeu oor Chupungnyeong geval en die hele aarde in wit gehul, terwyl elke boom met sneeubloeisels versier is. Dit was wonderlik om so 'n pragtige toneel vanuit die trein te aanskou, maar ek het tog jammer gevoel vir die plaaslike perskebloeisels. Maar wanneer 'n mens sien hoe die blomme oral oopgaan en voel dat die reën nie meer yskoud soos die winter s'n is nie, is die lente sonder twyfel hier. Selfs in ons eie voortuin begin die azaleas en rododendrons blom, en die madeliefies begin ook hul ogies oopmaak.
En dit is nie al nie. Ons is nou ook besig om saailinge in die groentetuin te plant. Benewens die komkommers en tamaties waarvan my man so baie hou, lyk die teer saailinge van pampoene, boerkool, brandrissies en blaarslaai eenvoudig pragtig. Van nou af sal onkruid uittrek, natlei en die daaglikse take op my hande wag, maar wanneer ek sien hoe die gras elke dag groener word, is ek God innig dankbaar dat Hy vir ons so 'n lieflike seisoen geskenk het.
Dit was 'n oggend waarin sagte lentereën geval het. Volgens ons huisreël, aangesien die son reeds opgekom het, was ek agter die stuurwiel, en my man se KakaoTalk het langs my 'n gelui gegee. Dit was 'n video wat gelyktydig deur ons skoondogter en kleindogter in die Verenigde State gestuur is. Ons jongste kleinkind, Jaeyoung Jung, wat pas twintig maande oud geword het, het 'n vel papier vasgehou—moontlik bladmusiek—en uit volle bors gesing. Aangesien hy nog nie behoorlik kan praat nie, was daar natuurlik geen sprake van duidelike lirieke nie, en hy het heeltemal vals gesing. Tog, elke keer wanneer 'n reël tot 'n einde kom, het sy ma en ouer sussies gejuig en uitbundig hande geklap. Jaeyoung was bloot in sy skik en het van oor tot oor geglimlag.
My man stuur toe 'n boodskap terug: “Met sy hees stemmetjie is sowel die lirieke as die wysie heeltemal ondeurgrondelik, maar die gehalte van sy entoesiastiese gehoor is werklik merkwaardig! Blomme groei in die lentereën, en ons Jaeyoung sal gewis opgroei te midde van sy sussies se liefde, gejuig en vreugde. Sjoe, Jaeyoung! Jy het 'n grenslose toekoms voor jou. Ons is baie lief vir jou. Word helder en dapper groot. Oupa en Ouma verwag groot dinge van jou.”
Ons Jaeyoung het twee jaar gelede in September, toe hy maar net twee maande oud was, ons kleinseun geword. Al het hulle reeds twee dogters gehad, het hulle 'n seuntjie aangeneem. Miskien omdat hy daardie eerste twee maande in 'n kinderhuis deurgebring het sonder sy ma se arms, kon hy selfs na maande nie oogkontak maak nie en het hy 'n donker, swaar uitdrukking op sy gesiggie gehad. Mense om ons was selfs bekommerd. Maar danksy die gesin se liefde—veral dié van sy ouer sussies—het hy dag vir dag helderder en vroliker geword. Hoe dankbaar was ons nie, en ons kon waarlik die Here se liefdevolle hand duidelik aanskou.
Verlede jaar, 'n paar maande nadat hulle na die Verenigde State verhuis het, het 'n video van ons kleindogters se skoollewe ook per KakaoTalk gekom. Een van hulle het die toekenning vir die vriendelikste kind ontvang, soos deur haar klasmaats gestem. Ek het gewonder watter soort toekenning dit nou eintlik is—Amerika is werklik 'n land op sy eie! Ons kleindogter Gayoung Jung, wat verskriklik skaam is, was te verleë om selfs te glimlag en het ongemaklik rondgeskuif, maar haar klasmaats het só gejuig, hande geklap en haar bemoedig dat dit 'n mens se hart diep geraak het. Die tweede kleindogter het ook een of ander aanpassingstoekenning gekry. Ek het by myself gedink: as hulle so te werk gaan, sal geen kind ooit sonder 'n toekenning bly nie.
Nou die dag by 'n byeenkoms van predikantsvroue het een van hulle gesê: “Ek was vroeër iemand met baie min selfagting. Omdat my ma altyd gesê het dat alles my skuld was, het ek geglo dit is werklik so. Maar toe ek trou, was die atmosfeer in my skoonfamilie se huis heeltemal anders. My skoonouers het my met groot eer en respek behandel. Wanneer ons vir vakansiedae by hulle gekuier het, het my swaer gesê dat die skottelgoed sy beurt is, en my skoonsuster het gehelp en gesê: ‘Sit gerus en rus, skoonsuster; ek sal dit doen.’ My man het my ook nooit lof ontsê nie en het gereeld gesê dat ek die beste is en goed gevaar het. Daardeur is my selfbeeld grootliks herstel.” Daardie skoonfamilie is waarlik 'n pragtige voorbeeld van 'n gesonde, gelowige Christen-huisgesin. Hoe wonderlik sou dit tog wees as ons nie net ons eie kinders nie, maar elkeen wat ons teëkom, só kan bemoedig dat hulle harte mag groei en gedy? Daardie woorde is werklik waar: blomme groei deur die lentereën, en kinders groei deur liefde, lof en bemoediging.