💌 556. My Mother, Along With My Two Aunts, Organized a 60th Birthday Feast for My Mother-In-Law

My mother-in-law’s 60th birthday approached. She said, “Let us just have a simple meal with the family.” However, since my father-in-law had passed away too early without having his 60th birthday celebration, I have been planning early to make sure that my mother-in-law’s 60th birthday would be well celebrated.

Even though I experienced countless hardships for a long time because of my mother-in-law, I always offered them up joyfully with Semchigo as if I had been loved by her. My only wish was to do even better for her. It is customary for siblings to meet together to organise the 60th birthday celebration for their parents. Although my mother-in-law’s 60th birthday was approaching, my husband who is the eldest son among eight siblings, none of his brothers, sisters, or sisters-in-law attempted to reach out to us at all.

Thinking, "As the eldest daughter-in-law, it is natural for me to take on this responsibility," I joyfully accepted the task with Semchigo as if I had already received help. I resolved to handle all the preparations, entrusting everything to Jesus through the Prayers of Life, praying, “Jesus, although I am unworthy, please make this a banquet of love.” Despite the limited space, I chose to hold the banquet at Jeong Beauty Parlor. These days, if one has the money, any banquet can easily be arranged at a restaurant.

However, back then, it was common to prepare all the food at home and host such events. When I consulted my mother, she said, “Dear, we should do our best to make it the best for her.” I was so grateful to my mother. My mother rolled up her sleeves and began preparing several days in advance. Moreover, she called her two younger sisters, my aunts, to help, and they prepared the food for several days.

At that time, I was extremely busy running the beauty parlor and managing the household, all while spreading the Lord's word. Despite being occupied, I was still dedicated to preparing for my mother-in-law's 60th birthday celebration. As I reached out to the guests who would be attending, I prayed, “Lord, please invite each of them to Your heavenly banquet as well.” The only person I did not contact was the one my mother-in-law had decided to call herself.

The day before the 60th birthday party, with so much to do, I was worried about being unable to take care of my youngest son. I phoned my mother-in-law in advance and asked, “Mother-in-law, since I am busy preparing for the party and the youngest is still small, could you come a day earlier and help look after him?” My mother-in-law said, "Sure, I will do that." However, on the day before her 60th birthday party, she did not come and did not give any notice of her not coming.

I offered it up to the Lord with Semchigo as if my mother-in-law had taken care of my youngest son and Semchigo as if I had been loved by my mother-in-law. In the end, without any help from my in-laws, and while doing the customers' hair and taking care of my baby, I completed all the preparations for the party with only the help of my mother and two aunts. Although I was tired from the busy schedule, since I offered it up with Semchigo as if I had received help from my in-laws, I felt deeply fulfilled imagining how happy my mother-in-law and her family would be.

On the day of the 60th birthday celebration, after I had set the table with all my heart, my mother-in-law arrived at the parlor with my younger brothers-in-law just before the party started at 11 o'clock. Still, I welcomed her gladly with Semchigo as if she had come the day before to help out. I said, “Mother, welcome! Congratulations on your 60th birthday!” I had only the desire to make my mother-in-law happy.

Even though my mother-in-law and siblings-in-law came over, they did not help with anything and only ate the food. Since many relatives from the countryside came to the small parlor, I was busy running around attending to everyone. Despite the hectic atmosphere, I sang songs to liven up the mood, kept smiling, and shared love with the guests. One of the guests asked for makgeolli (A traditional Korean alcoholic beverage made from rice), but we had run out.

My mother, my two aunts and I were too busy with our tasks to leave, so I had no choice but to ask my brother-in-law for help. “Dear, we are short on alcohol. Could you please buy some makgeolli?” As soon as he returned, he said, “Sister-in-law, the two makgeollis cost 40 Won. Please give me the money,” and took the payment.

Seeing that, one guest remarked while eating, “Oh my goodness! What a disgrace. They did not help at all and yet they even took 40 Won for the makgeolli.” Another person commented, “Usually, guests at a 60th birthday celebration would at least bring a small gift, but all the siblings-in-law came empty-handed. Asking for even such a small amount for the makgeolli is really too much.”

However, I quickly replied, "Oh, I am sure they must have given gifts to my mother-in-law. That is probably why. It is just that God loves me so much." I said this to ensure that the guests would not think poorly of my in-laws. And, thinking that it was just the devil trying to upset my feeling, I offered it up to the Lord with Semchigo as if I had received God’s great love.

By offering it up this way to the Lord, I did not feel the slightest bit upset when they even took such a small amount of money. Towards the end of the celebration, my mother-in-law and my siblings-in-law ate the food and then just went home.

I was used to living like that so I was fine but the other guests present uttered a comment again about this. So, I smiled and said, “It is okay. They must be tired to greet so many guests. Even though she did not say a word about my hard work for this party, I can practice Semchigo as if she had said, ‘Dear, you worked hard preparing for my 60th birthday party. Thanks to you, I enjoyed a good meal.’ And besides that, the sisters-in-law (the younger brothers-in-law’s wives) are still young. I can offer it up with Semchigo as if they had cheered me up by saying, ‘Sister, you worked hard preparing the table for our mother-in-law’s 60th birthday. We are sorry we could not help you.’”

Then the neighborhood guests said, "Wow, a person who believes in God is indeed remarkable!" By turning it into prayers, I happily managed all the cleanup with my mother and two aunts, with Semchigo as if the sisters-in-law had helped me.

While cleaning, I offered up praying, “Jesus, please cleanse the bad habits of my mother-in-law’s and that of my in-laws’ souls too and make them healthy.” And so, just the fact that they came to the party and had a good time left me feeling very satisfied.

My personal reflection note with Mama Julia🌹💗 

Link 👇🏻

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