Mrs Bo Roloson
Pastor's Wife
“For David's Sake”
And he walked in all the sins of his father, which he had done before him: and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as the heart of David his father. Nevertheless for David's sake did the LORD his God give him a lamp in Jerusalem, to set up his son after him, and to establish Jerusalem: 1Kings 15:3-4
I was reading this passage while in college and was immediately struck by the phrase, “for David's sake,” which is mentioned 10 times in the Bible. At the time, I was thinking about how I could make a difference in the lives of those who would come after me. But in recent years, I began to think about me and about how I came to where I am.
I often think about how I became a Christian and how God worked in my life to bring me to Hyles-Anderson College. I can clearly see the Lord's hand in my life. I am a first generation Christian. I didn't have anyone in my lineage that paid a price for me to be a Christian, or did I?
I recently visited my grandmother when my grandfather passed away. My grandparents had lived on the 38th parallel in Korea. At that time, it was still one country. They had suffered through the Japanese occupation, which was demoralizing, only to have to endure the Korean conflict. My grandmother suffered the loss of several babies. She sold much of her jewelry and precious things to bribe the soldiers from harming them. My grandfather was given the job of burying the corpses, some of which were his friends. My mother spoke of how she was often so hungry, that she would eat the beetles in the rice paddies. There were times when they had to flee their home and hide in caves in the mountains. Understandably, I cannot speak of all the atrocities that were inflicted upon them. Afterward, they lost their land, their house, their heritage, and their families. They received no compensation for anything, but instead, were forced to migrate to Seoul. They had been farmers, with a very successful plantation. Living in the city was absolutely foreign to them. But they didn't give up on living or on each other. They worked multiple jobs, until they were able to immigrate to America. At the passing of my grandfather, they had been married for over 70 years. Life was not easy, but quitting was not in their vocabulary.
I knew bits and pieces of their lives as I was growing up, but truthfully, they were just facts. Only as I have gotten older have I realized the incredible price that they paid. How could I ever complain about anything that was bad in my life? How could I ever thank them enough? They didn't know that I would become a Christian. But they did intend to give my family a better life. (After coming to America, they were both saved.)
My grandmother is 90 years old and as feisty as ever. She told me at the funeral that all she wanted for me is to love the Lord and be happy. They endured so much. And somehow the Lord used that to bring me to where I am. Had they given up at any time, I don't know that I'd be where I am today.
Certainly, my grandparents' story is not unique, but it is MY heritage. It makes viewing life so differently. I am very blessed to be a child of God. I have a wonderful and loving husband. There are five kiddos who call me mom, for which I am very grateful. And they had a great part in it. Knowing what they have endured has fueled my resolve to serve the Lord with a greater vigor. Prayerfully, the Lord will allow me to be used in such a way to make a difference for the future generation.
And he walked in all the sins of his father, which he had done before him: and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as the heart of David his father. Nevertheless for David's sake did the LORD his God give him a lamp in Jerusalem, to set up his son after him, and to establish Jerusalem: 1Kings 15:3-4
I was reading this passage while in college and was immediately struck by the phrase, “for David's sake,” which is mentioned 10 times in the Bible. At the time, I was thinking about how I could make a difference in the lives of those who would come after me. But in recent years, I began to think about me and about how I came to where I am.
I often think about how I became a Christian and how God worked in my life to bring me to Hyles-Anderson College. I can clearly see the Lord's hand in my life. I am a first generation Christian. I didn't have anyone in my lineage that paid a price for me to be a Christian, or did I?
I recently visited my grandmother when my grandfather passed away. My grandparents had lived on the 38th parallel in Korea. At that time, it was still one country. They had suffered through the Japanese occupation, which was demoralizing, only to have to endure the Korean conflict. My grandmother suffered the loss of several babies. She sold much of her jewelry and precious things to bribe the soldiers from harming them. My grandfather was given the job of burying the corpses, some of which were his friends. My mother spoke of how she was often so hungry, that she would eat the beetles in the rice paddies. There were times when they had to flee their home and hide in caves in the mountains. Understandably, I cannot speak of all the atrocities that were inflicted upon them. Afterward, they lost their land, their house, their heritage, and their families. They received no compensation for anything, but instead, were forced to migrate to Seoul. They had been farmers, with a very successful plantation. Living in the city was absolutely foreign to them. But they didn't give up on living or on each other. They worked multiple jobs, until they were able to immigrate to America. At the passing of my grandfather, they had been married for over 70 years. Life was not easy, but quitting was not in their vocabulary.
I knew bits and pieces of their lives as I was growing up, but truthfully, they were just facts. Only as I have gotten older have I realized the incredible price that they paid. How could I ever complain about anything that was bad in my life? How could I ever thank them enough? They didn't know that I would become a Christian. But they did intend to give my family a better life. (After coming to America, they were both saved.)
My grandmother is 90 years old and as feisty as ever. She told me at the funeral that all she wanted for me is to love the Lord and be happy. They endured so much. And somehow the Lord used that to bring me to where I am. Had they given up at any time, I don't know that I'd be where I am today.
Certainly, my grandparents' story is not unique, but it is MY heritage. It makes viewing life so differently. I am very blessed to be a child of God. I have a wonderful and loving husband. There are five kiddos who call me mom, for which I am very grateful. And they had a great part in it. Knowing what they have endured has fueled my resolve to serve the Lord with a greater vigor. Prayerfully, the Lord will allow me to be used in such a way to make a difference for the future generation.
What a legacy! Mrs. Robison is a great example of faithfulness too.
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