If I had to name two of the most amazing people I’ve ever met, excluding my family, it would be my father-in-law and mother-in-law. And if I had to name four, I’d probably include my brother-in-law and his wife. There are some other amazing folks but lets be honest they’ll never read this. In fact, if you’re reading this and you’re not related to me, thanks.
From the very first time I met them, they’ve embodied grace and quiet strength. They don’t judge. They simply encourage, support, and bring peace into any room they enter. I still remember nervously practicing our wedding ceremony and my father-in-law gently saying, “Take good care [of her].”.(…is a simple yes the only acceptable answer to that) And during those chaotic early newborn months, my mother-in-law insisted on sleeping on the couch in our tiny one-bedroom apartment just to help however she could.
Their lives haven’t been easy. My father-in-law served over 15 years in the Korean army before transitioning into civilian life. That discipline and resilience still shine through, though he does get disappointed if he reads news of some discipline issues. I imagine it’s like your team releasing a critical bug onto Production. Today, he manages multiple teams at an architecture firm, and I learn so much just from our conversations—how he sets priorities, when to stay hands-on, when to step back. My mother-in-law remains professionally active and is deeply loved by every family she works with. Their generosity, communication, and steadfastness in the face of adversity continue to humble me.
I hope we’ve tried to show our appreciation over the years, visiting them or road tripping to places like Yosemite and Tahoe, but I know at their core, what they want most is for us to live with joy and peace… and for me to pull my weight when it comes to household chores. Without saying, I know we’re constantly in their prayers, which means a lot.
…Writing all that reminds me I really ought to call them more often. Hopefully I’m not the only son-in-law who procrastinates on that.
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