Thank you for the profound love you bestowed upon me ＜Testimony＞

＜Testimony＞

Thank you for the profound love you bestowed upon me.

"You are the child born between your father and another woman."

I was twenty years old when my mother told me this revelation.
And the woman who gave birth to me vanished without a trace, leaving me behind as a baby.
Not my mother's child... I had never doubted that my mother was my biological parent until then. It felt as though my world had shattered with this revelation.
My father had already passed away three years prior.

From that moment, complex feelings toward my parents began to haunt me. Why did my father do such a thing? While I held no resentment towards him, the questions remained. Was my physical disability a divine punishment for my father's actions? I had suffered from polio as a child, and its effects lingered. If this were a divine punishment, then I was bearing the weight of his sin. Such a thought trapped me in a vortex of emotions.

I also wondered about the woman who raised me. Although I couldn't fathom her feelings towards my birth mother, she showered me with so much love that I never felt any different. I felt guilty for my mother's heart. Regardless of my circumstances, I wanted to repay her. So, I decided to spend the rest of my life taking care of her.

In time, I got married and was blessed with children. Seemingly assured by this, my mother peacefully passed away at the age of eighty-three. Now, both my parents were gone, leaving behind only unresolved feelings in my heart.

Years passed, and I turned fifty. Reflecting upon my life, I was suddenly flooded with memories.

One day on a train, I felt the weight of curious and pitying glances, something I had become accustomed to over the years. Just as I was reminiscing about the past, I saw a vision of my younger self on the train.

At that moment, someone stood up between me and that person.
... It was my father. And beside him, my mother also stood up gently.

My parents, seemingly aware of the stares, stood protectively beside me, shielding me from the world's judgment.

Memories flooded back, and I realized that they had always been there for me. Overwhelmed by this realization, tears streamed down my face. They had always protected me.

While we didn't often communicate verbally, I remembered my father's concerned gaze and my mother's nurturing nature. They had always loved me unconditionally. This realization filled me with profound happiness.

Despite the mysteries surrounding my birth, my mother's departure, and my physical condition, No matter how far I delve into it, it seems there won't be any light shining in my heart.

However, there is one thing I am certain of: I was truly loved by my parents. I can firmly believe this much.
When I recall the gentle gazes of my parents, I felt the previously clouded world around me suddenly shimmering and radiating with beauty.

Believing in my parents' love, I realized that I wasn't living a life burdened by sin but one enveloped in love.

My mother took me in when she was fifty. Reflecting on her sacrifices now, I truly understand the weight and challenges she faced raising a child at that age. As I grew older, I realized the magnitude of my parents' sacrifices.

Thank you for your incredible love, Dad and Mom, and for the beautiful life you gave me."