In Memory of James Kim

I did not know him. I only listened to the radio in the mornings and afternoons after dropping off my son or before picking him up at daycare. I did not want my baby to see me cry, be sad, or worry. But the afternoon that I heard that they had found James Kim, I cried.

I had been following the news story about a missing family of four, mom, dad, and two girls, 4 years and 7 months. I wondered what had happened to them. California can be a scary place. Abductions and things like that. Anyway, I had hoped that it was something trivial and we all worried for nothing.

I was overjoyed to hear that mother and two girls had been found in good condition though they had gone missing for nine days. I thought, "What a miracle! Truly they are blessed!" And I prayed that the same miracle and happy ending would be had for the father too.

But being missing in snowy wilderness for four days....I prayed for a happy ending anyway.

I thought, what would we do? What a terrible situation. What would I let my husband do? I can't say that I know.

James Kim, thank you for being a brave man. Thank you for trying to help your family out of a desperate situation. I pray that somewhere you feel at peace knowing you did your best and forgive yourself anything that might lead you to think you did anything less than extraordinary.