774. The Last Time with My Godmother, Who Left Angry About Me Refusing Insurance

💌 774. The Last Time with My Godmother, Who Left Angry About Me Refusing Insurance

Not long after I had already taken out nine insurance policies, my godmother came to visit my Jeong Beauty Parlor. I greeted her warmly, and she said, “Julia, you should get a few more insurance policies.” Though I politely expressed that it would be difficult, she kept coming back again and again, asking me to buy more insurance even though I already had nine. I told her, “Godmother, I already have a lot of policies. Julio told me not to purchase any more.” She replied, “Then just do it without him knowing.” 

I said, “I can’t lie. I’m sorry, godmother! I’ll try to bring it up when there’s a chance.” Then she asked, “What about people you know, or your in-laws, or Aunt? Can’t you help them get insurance?” However, I couldn’t fulfill all of godmother’s requests. Since I already had nine insurance policies, my husband—who usually did not say much to me—scolded me when he found out and said, “Do not get any more insurance!”

I felt very sorry for him as I felt I have worried him, so I said, “Julio, I’m sorry. I won’t take out any more, so please don’t worry.” Later, I learned why Julio reacted so strongly. In his family, the topic of insurance was always sensitive. His father had graduated from what is Kyungseong Imperial University (today’s Seoul National University) and Waseda University in Japan, and Julio was born in Tokyo. When they moved to Korea, his father held a very high position at an insurance company and had taken out a lot of policies.

However, when the Korean War broke out, thinking that the insurance could not be used, he threw away all the insurance certificates. Later, it turned out that those who did not throw theirs away became extremely wealthy, while his father’s family suffered financially. That is why in his family the very mention of insurance was unwelcome. I did not know this history, so when I took out nine policies, Julio unusually reacted far more strongly.

One day, my godmother suddenly came again to my Jeong Beauty Parlor and said, “Julia, sign up for some more insurance. This one is good, that one is good…”

Although I felt very sorry for her, I had to keep the promise I had made to my husband. So as politely as I could I said, “What should I do, godmother? Julio won’t allow me to take out any more insurance.” At this, her face flushed red with anger, and she snapped, “Why not just do it without your husband knowing? Can’t you even take out one measly policy for me?”

I apologized again, saying, “I’m really sorry, godmother. I’ve never lied in my life and I can’t do anything behind my husband’s back. I’ll try speaking to him again later.” But she would not listen. No matter how much I apologized, it was but to no avail. She grew more upset and finally stormed out of the parlor in anger. No matter the reason, feeling that it was my fault she was angry, I sincerely prayed that her heart might be softened. 

As someone who constantly desired peace with neighbors, I could not bear being on bad terms with her. So I bought food and went to her house several times to ask for forgiveness. I said, “Depending on the situation, I’ll try again to get Julio’s permission.” But she replied, “I don’t need it anymore,” pushing away the food I had brought. “I don’t want it. Take it back.”

Was she not the godmother whom the Lord had given me? To her, I might have been just one among many godchildren, but to me, she was my only baptismal godmother. I had always tried my best to fulfill my duty as her goddaughter with love and devotion. She herself had once said, “It is I who should be teaching you, my goddaughter, spiritually, but instead I am always learning from you,” and she was happy about it.

That is why it hurt me so profoundly that our relationship could suddenly be broken simply because I refused to take out more insurance. Even more painfully, that turned out to be the last time I ever saw her. Later, I heard from another goddaughter that she had started selling insurance, expecting that, since I had won a gold prize and my parlor was thriving, I would buy many policies from her. But when I could not do so, she gave up the work.

Though it left me sad and heartbroken, I offered up the pain, practicing with Samchigo as if I had received her lov. Believing that the only thing I could do for my godmother was to pray for her, I continued to do so. Still, I felt helpless, not knowing what more I could do to restore our relationship. So I brought it up during confession and spiritual counseling with a priest.

The priest, also saddened, told me, “It is indeed excruciating, but if she will not accept, then there is nothing more you can do except pray for her. Offer your prayers for her as your penance.” Even if she no longer wished to see me, I believe the heavenly family bond the Lord established between us is eternal. And so, I always remember my godmother in prayer and will never forget her.

My personal reflection note with Mama Julia🌹💗 

Link 👇🏻

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