월드미션프론티어

I have taught Sunday School for many years and like to introduce personal experience into my teaching. I am always on the lookout for earthly stories that illustrate eternal truths. One of my favorite illustrative stories involves my wife's dear mother.

My mother-in-law emigrated to America in 1978. She flew on a large jet plane from Seoul to Seattle. She brought very little cash because the ticket was expensive and she brought expensive gifts. Flying was a totally new experience for her. The airplane was new to her, the toilets were new to her, the service was new and the customs were new.

After a couple hours in the air, the stewards began passing out peanuts and drinks. Everybody was getting their share, but my mother-in-law didn't have any extra money so she declined the snacks. Instead she took an apple out of her carry-on bag and ate that. A few more hours passed and the stewards were asking passengers what kind of in-flight meal they wanted: chicken, lasagna, or seafood? She was unsure about what to say. Language was part of the problem, but she was also too embarrassed to ask fellow Korean passengers about the meals. She was very hungry by now, but indicated to the steward through gestures that she would not be eating. She really suffered when the meals were delivered. The smell of roasted chicken in the cabin was torturing. As she took out a second apple to munch, other passengers looked on in puzzlement.

My wife and I met her at SeaTac Airport. After shouts, hugs and tears, my wife asked about the flight. She responded that the flight was OK, but that she was very hungry because she didn't have money to buy meals. Finally my wife said "But the meals were free. You already paid for them. It was included in the price of your ticket". My mother-in-law took a deep breath and changed the subject. We all three went to an airport McDonald's and she ate her very first Happy Meal. (Maybe she had two of them).

To me, this story illustrates the Grace of God. It is available to us for free. All we have to do is accept it. Some people may travel to the ends of their lives without knowing that the nourishment of God is free for the asking, and that it has already been paid for with a price.