How can a child's teeth be so pearly white?" The dentist's eyes widened when he saw the lost baby tooth of the older child. Since the child was born, my wife has never missed a chance to clean the baby's gums and tongue with a finger toothbrush shaped like a thimble after feeding. After years of this care, the lost baby tooth looked as if it had been soaked in bleach and polished. My wife's obsession with our children's dental care stems from her own childhood. She had no healthy teeth due to her indulgence in snacks, and she had to rely on dentures for one or two teeth that she couldn't save. In our newlywed days, after finishing a meal, she would grab a toothbrush and insist on brushing my teeth, leading to months of battles. One day during elementary school, our child burst through the apartment door after school, calling for mom. "Mom, I got a lot of lollies and candies from my friend's birthday party at school today." To my surprise, the child pulled out a bunch of candies from the backpack and threw them into the trash right in front of mom. How much brainwashing must have gone into that? I want to pay tribute to my wife's remarkable dedication. She has ensured that our entire family's teeth are at an A+ level. Ironically, my wife is still more interested in desserts than meals. Her favorite is dark chocolate ice cream. It seems the now-teenage kids have figured out why mom often goes shopping late at night when they are asleep.

At some point, she started including a donation budget for the city in our living expenses. On average, she makes deposits into the city account two or three times a year. Although it's called a donation, it's not entirely voluntary. It's more of a self-soothing act to cope with the pain of paying traffic fines. The definition of good driving is when the passenger feels comfortable. In the busy life of New York, if I can catch a quick nap while on the move, it's what people nowadays would call "the best." However, there are some who claim that when I drive, no matter how tired I am, it actually sharpens my focus. When will my holy definition of good driving become my own story?

After graduating from school, getting a job, and accumulating life experiences through family and social life, one develops a certain set of values. People sometimes assert their beliefs and convictions in front of others. The problem is that what we confidently express often doesn't reflect well in our own lives. Sometimes, it even manifests in the opposite way. The four-character idiom "표리부동" (pyo-ri-bu-dong), which means "inconsistent between appearance and reality," is rarely heard in daily life, but similar phrases like "내로남불" (naero-nanbul, meaning "you can do it, but I can't") and "선택적 정의" (seontaekjeok jeong-ui, meaning "selective justice") are frequently encountered in today's media and social networks.

David is considered the greatest king in the history of ancient Israel, comparable to King Sejong in Korea. He was not only skilled in politics, diplomacy, and military matters but also had exceptional artistic talent, composing countless psalms and being a performer and singer-songwriter. He elevated the small tribal nation of Israel to a superpower status that no neighboring country dared to challenge. Before ascending to the throne, David endured a long period of hardship, but the more difficult times came after he became king. His transgression with the wife of a loyal general was a minor incident that wouldn't even make a headline for someone in his position, yet it sowed the seeds of tragedy. One day, while the kingdom enjoyed peace as if nothing had happened, an unimaginable event occurred among his children. Surprisingly, the king was furious about it but chose to cover it up in silence. Any attempt to address the situation would have lacked authority due to his own past actions that closely mirrored the incident. Consequently, the lineage of King David became a history of tragedy (2 Samuel 13). While David is personally remembered as the greatest king due to God's special grace, his family life was marked by misfortune. Despite his many qualities that showcased his greatness—faith, skill, talent, and courage—his life was marred by wicked actions.

To what extent must we be clean to say we are living a decent life? Is it acceptable if we are not ashamed in front of our children? Those with families know that this standard is not easy to meet. The unprecedented situation of being together 24/7 during the pandemic made it difficult to maintain a polished image. Those who have yet to start their own families might find it hard to find respectable adults around them, hinting at the difficulty of this standard. One reason we enjoy dramas, movies, and literary works is for vicarious satisfaction. Don't they beautifully fill the gap of our own inconsistencies? "Until the day I die, may I look up to the heavens without a trace of shame..." Many find comfort in this poem where the poet confesses his own struggles.

In a northern fishing village of Palestine, which was once a Roman colony, there lived a carpenter. Although the country had long since fallen, the child born in this household was a descendant of the long-vanished House of David. In his thirty years of life, this man’s words and actions, outer self and inner self, beliefs and life were completely aligned. I experienced a change in my life in my twenties. I had hope that a person could truly change. That was during my 30 months of military service. When I first came home on leave, I turned the house upside down. As the youngest, I shouted at my family, questioning how life could be so messy. I organized everything, including the closets, and my words and actions were, of course, neatly aligned. However, the discipline I thought would last forever faded like mist just three months after my discharge. Then, I met a descendant of David. It has been 35 years since I met him, and I still lack confidence in front of my children and my wife. I still look up to the heavens with much shame. Yet, I have not left him. Because of him, I have not given up on the desire to live like a true human being. The dynasty of David has vanished from history, but the descendant of David has become my king. I hope many will have the chance to meet him.

Written by Pastor Joo Jin-kyu  
• Manhattan GCC (Gospel Centered Church)  
• https://www.facebook.com/Gospelcenteredchurch  
• https://www.gcc-nyc.org