Thursday, May 14, 2020

For The Love Of Family


In my Gospels' classes, we discuss one of the miracles of Jesus, taken from John chapter 4. A government official comes to Cana from Capernaum, undoubtedly on foot, and begs Jesus to return with him and keep his son from dying. I mentioned that it is twenty miles from Cana to Capernaum and how parents will do anything to save the life of one of their children. The following, from 12-7-06, is the story of a father who paid the ultimate sacrifice for his family.

The found him yesterday. The body of James Kim was located in Oregon's Klamath Mountains in the waters of a shallow creek Wednesday. His family had been the focus of an intense rescue effort after they disappeared two weeks ago. Headed for a resort lodge, the Kims took a wrong turn and ended up stranded in an area considered nearly impassable during winter months. With almost no supplies, James, his wife, Kati, along with their four year old and seven month old daughters, tried to stay warm by intermittently running the engine until the gasoline was used up. On the sixth day of the ordeal, James left his family to try and find his way on foot through deep snow and bitter cold to a town which he mistakenly believed was only several miles away. He never made it. His lifeless form was discovered only a mile from where the other Kims were rescued on Monday but authorities feel he might have traveled up to ten miles in his bid to save his family. The official cause of death is listed as hypothermia. There should be an asterisk in the official coroner's report, clarifying the finding. James Kim died trying to bring deliverance to Kati, Penelope, and Sabine Kim. The man deserves the dignity of the truth.

We discussed the Kim family in class today. If James had stayed with his family in the car, he would undoubtedly be alive this evening. But hindsight makes us brilliant and he did not have that option. He did what most men would do if they thought the only way to save their loved ones was to strike out on their own. You do what you have to for the lives of your flesh and blood. What a legacy he left for those two little girls. There are few Bible themes more prevalent than that of the relationship of the father to the family. Let me quote twice from Paul using his insight on the paternal role in God's plan:

"For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, encouraging, comforting, and urging you to live lives worthy of God..."
1 Thessalonians 2:11-12


"After all, children should not have to save up for their parents but parents for their children. So, I will very gladly spend for you everything I have and expend myself as well."

2 Corinthians 12:14-15


James Kim died on Monday at age thirty-five. He was a successful businessman in California. He was a good husband and father as well. His children will grow up not knowing the man who helped give them life but they will always be aware of his dying wish, that they would safely make it home. He got his wish.

Applicable quote of the day:
"I cannot think of any need in childhood as strong as the need for a father's protection."
Sigmund Freud


God bless,
Steve
Luke 18:1

www.hawleybooks.com
E-mail me at steve@hawleybooks.com

2 comments:

Razgriz said...

Thats so sad about Mr. Kim...I hope when I become a father I would have the courage to try and save my family but...wow thats so sad I mean I know it happens but...I hope those girls grow up knowing their father was a hero.

astrosfreak09 said...

That's a sad story, but it's an encouraging one. I know we talked in class about how parents will do anything to save their children, but sometimes in today's society it's hard to figure out if that's really true or not with everything that goes on. That's a powerful testimony to the sentiment that parents will do anything, it's just a let down that doing that for his family, he wasn't able to make it but they did. I would think that would be hard for the daughters to grow up without the man who tried so hard to save them. I suppose that as of now, my only wish for them is that they see what he was trying to do for them, and they don't resent their mother for letting him go out there alone. I know that in tough times we tend to blame other people, and hopefully they grow up seeing the love behind his actions, rather than viewing it as their mother letting their father die for them while she stayed behind and did nothing. There's a hero in her too, having the courage to let him leave like that, and I hope they are able to see that when they are growing up.
God Bless
Downtown Brown