The last memory that I have of my father is him humming his favorite hymn songs of worship. Why was he just humming you might ask? My father had an incredible voice, he was a true tenor. In fact, after receiving his Masters of Divinity degree in Korea, he came to the States in to receive a degree in classical singing as well. I never was able to appreciate how amazing a singer my father was until I was much older, but man could he sing.
So why was he just humming you might ask? The simple answer in one word: cancer. You see, my father had gastric cancer and it was in its terminal stages. And so here he was, Reverend Kyu Hyun Cho, my loving father, who had once been invincible in my eyes, broken down by this disease. It broke him down to where he couldn’t see. It broke him down to where he couldn’t even speak. But, the thing it could never break down was his love for God, his faith in Jesus Christ. More than the reality of the pain, more than the reality of sickness or brokenness of his condition, more than the reality of death, the reality that God loved Him and was bringing Him to be by His side gave Him great comfort and joy. I know it saddened him greatly to leave us so early, but he knew we were in God’s hands as well.
And so he hummed, not because he didn’t want to sing the words, but because he physically was not able to. But with all of his heart, he praised the LORD, even amidst such difficulty and pain. He was faithful until the very end. He went out humming songs with his lips, but singing songs of praise with all of his heart to the ONE who had given Him life and was now taking him Home.
Happy birthday, Abba. And thank you for showing me what it means to be a man of God. I want to be faithful until the very end, just like you. I can’t wait to see you again. And to God, thank You for blessing me with such a loving father, who taught me so much about who You are and Your amazing love for Your people. Thank You for taking care of my mother and brothers and me, for being forever faithful in our lives.
May 1st, 2011 at 9:33 pm
Hi Joshua,
I found your blog shortly after adding you to my favorites playlist on youtube. Your voice is incredible and your faith (the strength and vigor of which is evident through your songs and your written words here) is inspiring. i just wanted to drop a note here and just let you know that you are such a blessing.
September 1st, 2011 at 10:53 am
Thank you so much for your kind words, Janie. I am always humbled to know that a God so great could love me so, and that He’d even allow someone like me to be a part of His Kingdom work. I’m glad that you were blessed.