I am finishing up the account of a Chinese Christian, Brother Yun, whose story of faith under intense torture and persecution by his own government during the 90′s is riveting. Yun was a house church leader and refused to denounce his belief in Jesus and would not give over the names of other leaders in the Chinese underground church. The accounts of his horrific torture and the miracles he witnessed within the walls of prison have left me changed. Perhaps the greatest nugget I have been thinking about lately, though, comes from a letter Yun wrote to his son.
Yun was in prison, and neither he nor the authorities thought he would make it out alive, because of the intense torture he was enduring nearly daily. When he got word from friends that his wife had had their first child, he begged to be allowed to at least send a short letter to his newborn, whom he wanted to name Isaac. Below is what was scratched on a small piece of paper within the walls of a Chinese prison cell:
“To my dear son Isaac, When you were born your father was in prison because of the name of Jesus Christ. My son, I don’t know if I wil live to see you or not. People wish their children success. But your daddy only wishes you to follow and love the Lord Jesus. Isaac, always trust and obey the Lord and you shall grow up to be a man of God. Your Daddy.”
And I have been so challenged by this simple letter written years ago by a persecuted man halfway around the world. His hope was not success by society’s definition, but it was love by God’s definition. And as I think about the cost to my own children of moving overseas, I often begin to worry and doubt. Soccer lessons, educational opportunities, knowledge of pop-culture, fun toys, ballet recitals, a comfortable home . . . these are some of the things my three children may not be very “successful” in during future years. And yet, and yet, I am grateful for Brother Yun’s reminder this week that “success” in the things I can see with my eyes is much less important than “success” in matters of my kids’ hearts and characters.
ALifeOverseas.com / LauraParkerBlog.com.
Destined Traveler.
