714. “Please Fetch Me Some Water” — What I Saw in the Elderly Man’s Home Were Maggots!
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Anthony9 Jan 2026 12:33
Mama Julia opened the House of Love to care for elderly people who had been forgotten.
And because her heart was full of love, she succeeded.
For us the lesson is clear: real success comes when we live for love.
We may not open a nursing home, but we can open our hearts.
Helping a friend who feels left out, showing kindness to someone who struggles,
or serving at church—these are our own “Houses of Love.”
When we choose love over selfishness, we discover joy that lasts.
That’s the kind of success God blesses. Amen!
As in the Grandpa Story;
Mama Julia’s love for Grandpa shows us that charity is found in small acts of kindness
like in taking water from the well.
Even when faced with the unpleasant task of cleaning Grandpa’s smelly and maggot-infested house,
she practiced Semchigo—seeing what was ugly as beautiful—because love transforms everything.
When we pray and act with compassion,
even the hardest tasks become opportunities to grow in joy of the Lord. Amen!
And because her heart was full of love, she succeeded.
For us the lesson is clear: real success comes when we live for love.
We may not open a nursing home, but we can open our hearts.
Helping a friend who feels left out, showing kindness to someone who struggles,
or serving at church—these are our own “Houses of Love.”
When we choose love over selfishness, we discover joy that lasts.
That’s the kind of success God blesses. Amen!
As in the Grandpa Story;
Mama Julia’s love for Grandpa shows us that charity is found in small acts of kindness
like in taking water from the well.
Even when faced with the unpleasant task of cleaning Grandpa’s smelly and maggot-infested house,
she practiced Semchigo—seeing what was ugly as beautiful—because love transforms everything.
When we pray and act with compassion,
even the hardest tasks become opportunities to grow in joy of the Lord. Amen!
Pauline Seri 9 Jan 2026 16:40
This story reminds me that serving Christ daily often begins with noticing the hidden suffering around me and responding with love, even in uncomfortable situations.
When I choose compassion over convenience, my simple acts—like offering help, presence, or a listening ear—become small gifts I offer to Jesus Himself at Daily Mass.
Julia stories encourages me to be joyful taking every opportunities coming my way to serve Christ.
Pray for me that I may have grace always open my heart to those in need and trusting Jesus is truly present in every person I meet.
When I choose compassion over convenience, my simple acts—like offering help, presence, or a listening ear—become small gifts I offer to Jesus Himself at Daily Mass.
Julia stories encourages me to be joyful taking every opportunities coming my way to serve Christ.
Pray for me that I may have grace always open my heart to those in need and trusting Jesus is truly present in every person I meet.
Vigny9 Jan 2026 19:37
Maman Julia et sa soeur ont fait preuve d'une gentillesse extrême envers le viei homme.
Comme maman Julia qui a surmonté son dégoût envers les asticots en nettoyant la maison du viel homme avec beaucoup d'amour, que le Seigneur me donne aussi la force de pratiquer la spiritualité de Semchigo en bravant la peur et en surmontant tous les obstacles sur mon chemin. AMEN
Vigny de Naju
Comme maman Julia qui a surmonté son dégoût envers les asticots en nettoyant la maison du viel homme avec beaucoup d'amour, que le Seigneur me donne aussi la force de pratiquer la spiritualité de Semchigo en bravant la peur et en surmontant tous les obstacles sur mon chemin. AMEN
Vigny de Naju
AmyRoss10 Jan 2026 00:49
If I practise semchigo during work , it will not be gone to waste.
Semchigo is like doing reparation . If I m given a tasks too overwhelming I must remember to do semchigo as though I like the tasks as if it is a GIFT from Heavenly Father to help my soul .
Semchigo is love
I should feel peace in my heart whenever I do Semchigo .
Semchigo is like doing reparation . If I m given a tasks too overwhelming I must remember to do semchigo as though I like the tasks as if it is a GIFT from Heavenly Father to help my soul .
Semchigo is love
I should feel peace in my heart whenever I do Semchigo .
714. “Please Fetch Me Some Water” — What I Saw in the Elderly Man’s Home Were Maggots!
From my childhood, I never passed by the elderly or the beggars who were neglected. As I walked along the road, whenever I saw an elderly person, I would joyfully practice love toward them. More than 30 years had passed since the tragedy of the Korean War, a national tragedy for the Korean people. However, at that time, the economy was still struggling so some elderly people lived alone in hunger and loneliness and received no government assistance simply because they had children.
Consequently, many elderly people were simply existing, because dying was not an option. I felt so sorry for those elderly people that I cared for them with love during my Legion of Mary visits. And whenever I found out where such elderly people lived, I would go to them right away to help. Whenever I practiced love in that way, those who had hungered for affection and warmth were deeply moved and wept a lot.
While sharing love with those poor elderly people, I came to cherish a dream in my heart: “Someday, I will open a nursing home!” In the spring of 1984, I was returning from a visit to an elderly man whom I had often visited through the Legion of Mary, accompanied by Clara. This elderly man, whose health was declining, lived with his children. But they did not give him the care he needed, and he was unable to leave the back room by himself.
His children would leave during the day and return only in the afternoon. They would cook all the rice at once, leaving only cold rice and kimchi for him to eat. Moreover, they did not even light a fire to warm the room for him in the winter. I felt so sorry for him that I visited whenever I had the time, often bringing him thermal underwear or something to eat. He was living such a pitiful life, and I could not help but feel heartbroken, especially not knowing when he might pass away.
I asked him, “Grandpa, what would you like to eat most?" He replied, “I really want to smoke a cigarette. That is all I wish for before I die, but I cannot buy one. It has been ages since I have even seen one,” and he cried, heartbroken and with deep sorrow. I immediately bought him a carton of cigarettes (10 packs). When he saw the cigarettes, he said, “Oh, now I have no more wishes left, even if I die.” His voice quivered with tears, and he was so, so happy.
As I looked at him, tears began to flow from my eyes as well. I did not know then how bad cigarettes were for health. So, wanting to bring some joy to the elderly, who could pass away at any moment, I brought them whatever they desired — whether it was cigarettes, alcohol, or food. It was on my way back from visiting that elderly man.
As I was coming down the narrow alley in Gyodong, I saw a small, thin, frail old man standing on the street, holding a big bucket. As we got closer, the old man called out, “Excuse me, please fetch me some water.” I was so happy to help that I immediately replied, “Yes, Grandpa! I will bring you some water!” and quickly took the bucket from him.
Even if it caused me some inconvenience, my greatest happiness came from showing love and helping those who were the most lowly and vulnerable. With a joyful heart, I went to the well, drew the water, and prayed, “Jesus, please transform this water into the Precious Blood of the Seven Wounds You shed. Cleanse the soul and body of this poor elderly man, who can hardly even draw water on his own.”
I carried the water and entered this elderly man’s house while offering up the Prayer of Life. As we entered through the shabby wattle door, the yard was a muddy mess, and a foul, nauseating odor filled the air. The sister with me scrunched her face in disgust. I quickly offered it up and practiced Semchigo as if I was smelling flowers then looked around the house—it was incredibly filthy.
I turned to her and said, “Let us practice love and help here.” She replied, “Okay sister, but this is really too much.” I responded, “Let us do this with Semchigo as if we are receiving love from Jesus. Who else will help if not us?” Then I said to the elderly man, “Grandpa, we brought the water.” “Thank you so much. Please put it on this side of the floor,” he replied.
“Yes, Grandpa, may we clean your house for you? We are from the Catholic church, and we go around helping elderly people in need,” I told him. “Oh my, truly, thank you so much,” he said. When I went to clean, I noticed maggots crawling around here and there. Being someone who really hates maggots, I could not help but feel disgusted at that moment.
But then, I quickly practiced Semchigo as if I was seeing beautiful flowers instead, and offered it up through the Prayer of Life while joyfully cleaning every corner of the house. While cleaning, I found a broken red rubber bucket on the side of the floor. There were an unusually large number of maggots crawling around it. When I opened the lid to clean it, I was horrified by what I saw.
My personal reflection note with Mama Julia🌹💗
Link 👇🏻
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScMn-IyINZ8oGN8Jv4M0-pozcdF67tEqzlPkk4s0EZKdnOdEw/viewform?usp=sf_link