Dear Grandma,

You are many things to me. You are my best friend, the glue that keeps our family intact, my strength, and the definition of love. I’ve told you since elementary school that you are my soulmate, and I cannot tell you any more times than what I tell you everyday. I can easily replace the word “love” with your name, Angela, in the Bible verse 1 Corinthians 13:4-8. You are patient, you are kind, you do not envy, you do not boast, you are not proud, you are not rude, you are not self-seeking, you are not easily angered, and you do not keep any record of wrongs.

Since the beginning, you have taught me the journey of faith. You are one of the three most influential people in my life who have helped to have a closer relationship with God and have always motivated me to have faith and to trust Him in all seasons in my life. The strength you have in difficult times has continuously amazed me because you still praise God amidst trials.

Thank you for being one of my biggest supporters in anything I do. Regardless of how insignificant an accomplishment is, or whether I failed or not, your never-ending support for me has always helped me feel proud of myself. The confidence I have now is a model I follow by seeing your confidence. You’ve always told me that your love for me would not change any bit, and I can’t even put into words how affirming and comforting that is for me.

Thank you for the amount of happiness you carry and the innumerable moments of laughter we have shared. A majority of the best moments I have had and carry close to my heart are with you, doing monotonous things, like folding the laundry together, taking an evening walk, or just sitting with you on the floor of your room, talking. Your positivity and contagious laughter is something that makes me smile no matter how early or late in the day and cultivates an environment that’s full of gleeful chortling.
Thank you for putting others first before you. When you’ve been sick, you have always taken care of me first. You are and have been my rock. You’ve wiped my tears before wiping yours, hugged me first when you needed a hug, prayed for our family when you were struggling and in pain, and have always welcomed me with open arms.

And finally, thank you for all the little things you do for our family. Thank you for taking the time to make food that I have craved, praying for our family at the crack of dawn, cleaning the house when we are all too busy with work or school, waiting for me to sleep until I finish my homework, giving me a warm hug every time you pass by me, and surprising me with little trinkets that you had or bought that made you think of me. The relationship you have with your daughter, my mom, has made me excited for the relationship I will have with my mom when I am an adult. Thank you, 할머니, for showing me a love that I pray that one day, I will be able to love others as selflessly as you do and for shaping me into the young woman that I am today.

I love you!