This was presented on November 28th 2020 at the Memorial Homegoing Service for my mom, Mary Eunkyong Kang.

Beloved guests, pastors, church members, and friends, my father and I would like to thank you all for being here especially during these difficult and yet extraordinarily unique moment of history.

As we honor the legacy in memory of my mom, Mary Eunkyoung Kang, I have so much to share with you all this afternoon.

My mom was always consciences about my overall well-being. She would often call me QLB which stands for Cute Little Baby. It doesn’t matter if the word cute doesn’t start with the letter Q, the nickname stuck. QLB, cute little baby. Even at the age of 27, mom always made sure I remember that I was going to be her little baby no matter how old I am. I’ll never forget the day when my mom called me to her room and she told me to pull out my phone. I gave her my phone and she installed an iPhone app called Life360. This was a tracking device on my phone to know where I am 24/7. I didn’t really care for much of the app when that evening I was over at my friend’s house and I get a phone call. My mom called and said “how long are you going to stay over at Geoffrey’s house”. When I am at home I would be studying late into the evening and I would receive a Kakaotalk message. Who is messaging me this late at night? It is my mom and I open my iPhone and read the message. It read, “hurry up and go to sleep”. That phrase, hurry up and go to sleep, was one of her favorite phrases.

I go to my mom for advice all the time. How do I do laundry? Mom taught me how to do laundry. Unlike others however, she would always hand-wash my dress shirts. She taught me how to hand-wash my dress shirts. I found it more harder to do than lifting weights at the gym. I don’t know why we had to hand-wash our dress shirts but I simply remember the joy and smile she had when she was teaching me how to do it. She taught me how to cook. I’ll never forget the first food we cooked together, shin ramen… with rice. I shared everything with her. I would always share my dating experience with her then ask her for advice. She would always reply with the same words, “you need help”.

Mom was always there for me. I was an only child and my mom would be home so naturally I would spend much of my day with her. Mom played Super Smash Brothers with me on Nintendo 64. Her favorite character was always Peach. She watched shows with me like Thomas the Choo Choo Train, Arthur, Recess, and Clifford the Big Red Dog. We continued that all throughout our lives. I enjoyed watching her favorite show, Law and Order, then some of the more recent Netflix dramas like Crash Landing for You 사랑의 불시착 and Mr. Sunshine. I am able to memorize the lines from those two dramas simply because of the repetitive numerous times we watched it together.

When I was young, I was extremely shy and had no friends. She was my best friend and was always willing to be there for me even when she was extremely tired from work. She came with me to VBS, the elementary school activities, and much more. When I did Tae Kwon Do, she would always be there waiting throughout the entire event for me to finish my class. No other parent were in the waiting area except for her, watching from the sidelines. When I was wrestling in High School, she never missed an event or a match. She was always there at every single wrestling match and tournament. She was always there for me.

She was an amazing woman but also one who loved the Lord with all of her heart. Mom was a godly woman. Some nights I would feel someone holding my leg and sobbing and it was my mom crying and praying on the bedside that I would stay committed to the Lord. She always reminded me to be in prayer and read my Bible. She never talked negative about God at all nor about anything that happened at church nor did she talk ill or negative about anyone in life. She shielded me from that form of gossip. I would hear from others how they would treat my mom and it is not fair but never once did she bad-mouth or talk negative about them in any way or form. She would remind me constantly that people are fighting their own battles, people are dealing with their own problems, we don’t need to add to their trials – we simply need to pray for them, love them, forgive them, and be there for them – just like Jesus Christ.

Every Sunday without fail, my mom would send me a message on Kakaotalk at around 8:00am. Her text messages would read along the lines of “hey sweetie, good morning. It is a beautiful Sunday. Have a good day, I love you.” I will always cherish these messages and never forget them. I miss seeing these messages. Ever since my mom was diagnosed with lung cancer last year, mom and I prayed together every single night and every night, she said to me, “thank you sweetie, I love you”. The last time I heard that was the night before the day she passed away, holding onto my hand and giving me a kiss.

Mom was selfless and sacrificial in her love for others. She loved her mom and dad tremendously and her two sisters. She always looked out for them and wanted to make them happy. She loved dad so much and was an amazing wife to him. Mom always made my dad and I the priority in her life, even above her own. Mom was a stubborn woman but one area she was extremely stubborn in was her consistent love for others, unconditionally. The day before she passed, she ordered delicious cookies to give to all the church members. Mom was very ill and very sick yet she wanted to make sure that all the church members at Hosanna Prebsyterian got a cookie because… it’s thanksgiving. Mom always told us that money is only temporary and loving money as the Bible says is the root of evil. She said money comes and goes but love is always going to be there. Mom didn’t care about money, she always gave to others. She was faithful in her tithe and gave to missionaries across the entire world and used money to help those in need and be a blessing to others she loved.

Even with people that she didn’t know that well, mom was always willing to help them. When I was a kid, I was with my mom at the back of the church. It was raining outside when a homeless scruffy gentleman entered the lobby of the sanctuary. No one else was there except my mom and I. Everyone else were practicing the choir special in the fellowship hall. Without hesitation my mom offered my 3 chocolate chip cookies from McDonalds to the man and began to talk with him. My mom didn’t have any money but they talked for a while. The gentleman then hugged my mom and walked away.

How mom lived her life reminds each and every one of us, how we ought to live. We ought to be sacrificial in our love for others and be kind to every individual regardless of how they treat us. No one is perfect and we must be good to all because every person is going through some difficulties in their life. We must be faithful to the Lord and truly know Him. Perhaps this afternoon we have never placed our faith in Christ, that he is the only way the truth and the life, no man commeth unto the Father but by Him. Mom placed her faith in Christ several decades ago and through the gospel, her life has been transformed. Perhaps some of us have an empty hole we attempt to fill with other earthly materials but the reality is that empty hole can only be filled with the greatest refuge and hope one can ever find, the Wonderful Counselor and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Mom, I’m going to remember you for so much amazing qualities you possessed but most of all the fact that you are the greatest mom any son can ask for. Your godliness, love, sincerity, integrity, and kind soul will always remain with us forever. We’re going to tremendously miss you. Through our tears, we are able to count the blessings of knowing and loving you, a great and noble woman of God. The best mom a son could ever have.. and through our grief, we are able to smile knowing that Mom is hugging grandpa, her father, and rejoicing in Heaven with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Mom you promised me that one day I’ll see you again and I am looking forward to that day when I get to reunite with you in your mansion built of gold. Mom, I will miss you and I will always, always, love and never forget you.

Love, your QLB, Hanbit.