William J. Kang

Eulogy



About Daddy



Today I am here to share who my father was both to many of you and who he was at home behind closed doors.



I believe many of you know our father as a loving, kind, and generous man. He was hard-working and diligent in how he served others. For Daddy, he never calculated anything. If there was someone in need, he would literally take things from our home to help – rice, food, even vases from Mom's beautiful sets to hold buried ashes.



He was a teacher, counselor and powerful speaker. When he taught, lives and families were transformed. He taught about the power of the Holy Spirit to transform. He loved to quote Romans 12:2



"Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will."



He would always tell us to "Be transformed. Transform your mind and your thoughts." He understood that transformation starts with our thoughts and what we tell ourselves about who we are. He would constantly tell us to look in the mirror and tell ourselves, "I am great. I am strong. I am healthy" to constantly remind ourselves of our identity.



Daddy was not a typical Korean father. He constantly told us he loved us and was proud of us. We walked arm-in-arm as he was never shy to show his love and affection for his wife, children, and grandchildren. Last year, on our Daddy-Daughter trip to Taiwan, we were so close that people thought I was his young mistress. I guess it's not so common for Daddies to dote on their daughters like my Daddy did.



One of the things I admire most about our Daddy is that he had 'humility to serve.' He never felt he was better than anyone and believed one could even learn from a young child.



When I was a little girl, I remember sitting at the adults' dinner table. I must have been 7 or 8 years old. I chimed in with my opinion and when scolded by the other adults for speaking out of turn, he stopped them and said, "No, let her speak. She has a mind and an opinion." He always believed in us and allowed us to share what we felt and thought. I'm so grateful that he taught me that it was ok to have an opinion and to speak my mind as a young child.



Daddy taught us so many life lessons and he also had the 'courage to fail.' He allowed us to fail and make mistakes. I remember the first time I failed an exam at Penn. I felt horrible and wanted to drop out. When I told him I had failed, he laughed. He said it was great that I now knew what I wasn't good at and could focus on what I was good at. Daddy was the best role model for this. He wasn't the perfect husband or father but constantly learned from his own mistakes and use them to encourage others. He used his pain and mistakes to transform the lives of others. As he believed in the power of being transformed, he certainly was constantly transforming into the man many of you have grown to know, love and respect.



Daddy was also adventurous. He loved to travel and experience new things. He especially loved meeting new people. He could be in the middle of Kuala Lumpur and leave the country with new lifelong friends. We were so blessed to share many great memories with our Daddy. For his 70th birthday, we went on a Disney Cruise and all wished him special messages. We got so busy planning on our next trip that we never got to give him the final video so Daddy, here is what we wanted to tell you…



[CELEBRATION]



Daddy was our biggest advocate. He was our biggest cheerleader. He felt it was part of his job to check my facebook, twitter, and websites every day and comment on them. Whenever we did anything, he went out of his way to create new opportunities. So last Christmas morning at 7:30 am, Daddy asked me to speak to a group of business leaders. That was Daddy. Always looking for ways to help us and help our businesses. He would send us encouraging emails with bible verses or text messages telling us he loved us or that he was proud of us. Daddy had a powerful way with words.



Daddy lived life to the fullest. He was full of joy in everything he did. He could be picking Abby up from school or doing an errand for one of us or waking up in the middle of the night to massage away Mom's cramps. It didn't matter. He served joyfully.



Daddy also had a few secret talents so we wanted to celebrate his life and his memory with all of you. As Daddy was so full of joy, we felt it was only appropriate to end his life story sharing with you who our Daddy was behind closed doors – always full of life and full of joy. We love you Daddy so much. We will see you at heaven's gates. I know you will be prepared and waiting for us with open arms.



[JOY OF LIFE]