646. My Husband Responded With “Amen” and Turned To a Life of Repentance

💌646. My Husband Responded With “Amen” and Turned To a Life of Repentance

On July 5, 1982, I hurried my husband, who had just returned from work, so we would not be late for the overnight prayer meeting. On that day, I was overjoyed, feeling as if I could fly in the sky. However, my husband who had always followed me with such unwavering support, spoke in an irritated, complaining tone, “Can we not skip just one day?” Although he was grateful to the Lord for saving his wife, who could not have survived, he must have been tired, while I continuously attended overnight prayer meetings.

At that moment, though understanding his feelings, I offered it up with Semchigo as if he were willingly and joyfully following me. I thought to myself, “Seeing how much he does not want to go today, even though he has always followed me well, the grace we are meant to receive must be immense. The devils, knowing this all too well, definitely must be trying to prevent us from receiving that grace. No matter what, I must make sure to bring him along today.”

Offering it up as Prayers of Life, I encouraged him several times but he still did not follow willingly. Feeling deeply sorry toward the Lord who had saved me from death, I said, “Well, if I were to get cancer again and die, what good would regret do then?” Then, I prayed aloud earnestly, “Lord, if my death from cancer could lead my husband to fully repent and become to be used as an instrument to reveal Your glory, I would gladly die for him.”

Then my husband, startled, said, “Honey, I am sorry. I will go with you. What is the point of me living if you are gone? I cannot live without you anymore. So please, never pray like that again, okay?” Then, on the contrary, he hurried, concerned that we might be late for the prayer meeting. Normally, we always sat together in the front but that day, I sat in the front while my husband sat in the back.

Around 3 a.m., during prayer, I heard the loud sound of a brother crying uncontrollably from behind. At that moment, I was praying with my eyes closed when the volunteers next to me said, “Julia! Congratulations.” Not understanding what was happening, I asked, “Why?” They replied, “The person crying right now is Julio!” When I turned around, it was indeed my husband who was crying loudly.

The moment I saw that scene, I said, “Oh, Lord! You have answered my prayer,” and tears of gratitude streamed down my face. That day, there was not even a designated time for testimonies during the retreat. However, when the prayer meeting ended, my husband suddenly went forward and said, “I will give a testimony,” and everyone welcomed him with applause. On the verge of tears he said, “I am Julio Kim, who has been living as a sinner without even realizing I was one.

My wife, Julia, has been suffering from terminal cancer, yet I was so focused on my job that I did not even realize she had cancer. My wife married me, the eldest son of eight siblings and throughout her life, she endured countless hardships. Despite this, she never complained. Instead, she always smiled and took care of my younger siblings as if they were her own. In fact, one of my younger brothers even called her ‘sister.’ 

Not only that, but even while battling terminal cancer, she willingly took care of my maternal grandmother, who was over 90 years old. Because of this, I could not even imagine that my wife was suffering from cancer at the time. I simply thought, ‘My wife is just naturally kind,’ and although I felt grateful in my heart, I never actually treated her warmly or spoke a single kind word to her. Instead, I often ended up hurting her feelings.

Yet, despite being in such pain, my wife never once uttered a word about her suffering. Even when I made mistakes, she comforted my cold-hearted self, consoled me, embraced me and even gave me massages, always saying with a warm smile, ‘Let us start anew.’ In those moments, instead of feeling grateful, I sometimes thought she was foolish for never getting angry and for giving me massages no matter how great my mistakes were.

After seven years of my wife’s suffering, when she finally had to lie down, it was then that I slowly began to open my eyes. However, by that time, it was already too late. The hospital had given up, saying there was no hope and discharged her. Only then did I come to my senses. As we lived together, my wife, who had always shown nothing but love to me and our family, I never once spoke a kind word to her. As I reflected on the past, I deeply regretted it.”

My personal reflection note with Mama Julia🌹💗 

Link 👇🏻

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