669. A Couple Who Had to Be Apart for Countless Days Because of Their Love

💌 669. A Couple Who Had to Be Apart for Countless Days Because of Their Love

At the Charismatic Renewal Seminar in Haenam, I was assigned to lead a team of young newlywed women. Among them, sister B, who wore bright makeup, appeared to be smiling on the outside but her heart seemed heavy and she appeared to be suffering from a serious physical illness. During a break, I called her aside and placed my hand on her chest to pray. The moment I did, I began coughing severely.

Later, my coughing became so severe that I could barely breathe but I offered it up with Semchigo as if I were being loved by Jesus and prayed for the complete healing of sister B’s soul and body. At some point, she had fallen into my arms, weeping. Through the suffering I was experiencing, I realized that she was afflicted with tuberculosis. When the prayer ended, she finally began to speak.

“Dear volunteer, can you keep what I am about to tell you a secret?” “Of course. Though I am unworthy, I have come as the Lord’s messenger and there is no one for me to tell nor any reason to, except for the Lord. So please feel at ease and speak freely.” With that, sister B shared everything about the life she had lived until then.

She had struggled to marry despite her in-laws’ opposition but only after the wedding did she discover that she had tuberculosis. The couple was utterly shocked and did not know what to do. Since their marriage had already faced opposition, they feared that if her in-laws found out, they may force them to divorce. After serious consideration, they decided that in order for her to recover, they would have to live apart for the time being.

Faced with unexpected misfortune in the early days of their marriage, they held each other tightly, weeping over and over again. Trusting the doctor’s words that she could recover if she diligently took her medication and received treatment for just one year while being apart, they told their family, “We decided to be temporarily apart to earn money while we are still young.”

Then, everyone strongly opposed, saying, “How can a newlywed couple be separated so soon after marriage?” However, the husband left for a foreign country for the sake of his wife’s recovery. During the year they were apart, she suffered in silence, like a mute person with a heavy heart, unable to speak to anyone and quietly agonizing inwardly.

She longed for her husband’s return, counting the days with eager anticipation. In the meantime, she did everything she could to fight off the illness—diligently taking medicine and undergoing treatment. However, when the promised year had passed and her husband finally returned, her tuberculosis had not healed. As a result, her husband had to bid her another tearful farewell, promising to return in yet another year.

Another year passed, but her tuberculosis still had not healed, so her husband left for a third time to a foreign country. However, as the relentless disease continued to afflict her, she lamented that she now truly wanted to die. Feeling great pity and sorrow for sister B, I prayed to Jesus, earnestly wishing for her healing—even if it meant I would take on her tuberculosis in her place.

Then, bursting into tears, she said, “I could not confide in any priest, nun, or anyone else about this desperate situation. I suffered alone in silence, agonizing inwardly, until both my soul and body were completely broken. I no longer wanted to keep making my husband sacrifice for me. But now that I have met you, dear volunteer, I believe that through your prayers, I will surely be healed this time.” With that, she rushed to me.

I, too, firmly believed that she would be healed. This was because, through the healing of her sick soul and wounded heart, she was able to sever the lingering roots of resentment that had remained due to her inability to forgive. In particular, I kindly helped her accept that the resentment and bitterness she felt toward her in-laws, who had opposed her marriage, as “my fault.” As a result, her hatred transformed into love and by the end of the counselling, she seemed much more at ease and unburdened.

My personal reflection note with Mama Julia🌹💗 

Link 👇🏻

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