Ken Hwang

Once a year we get the chance to wish you birthday cheers. In the past several years it’s been in the form of birthday cards, emails, or phone calls. This year is very different. Not only is it your sixtieth birthday, but I don’t remember the last time we were all together as a family celebrating one of our birthdays. As an extra bonus, we have the privilege of celebrating your special day with our very good friends.

Dad, I want to let you know what a great person I think you are. You are a person who loves, who cares, who sees a person’s need and fills it, who encourages and lifts people up, who spends energy on others rather than himself, someone who touches each life he enters, and makes a difference.

Looking back at our lives especially the last twelve to fourteen years, I would classify our family life during that time as non-traditional. One thing I have learned in that time span is that there is no standard template or methodology to successful parenting or having a great family, what works for one family will not work for another. What we had worked and worked very well.

My most memorable moment I have of you is you being a father. About two years ago, grandpa pasted away. During the cremation process as we were waiting you said something to me that 1) will stick with me for the rest of my life and 2) wasn’t and isn’t true. You hugged me and apologized to me for failing as a father. I could not believe that you said that. How could you even think that you failed as a father? I know that you probably wished you could have been there as we were growing up in our teens to guide us and we do too, but look how things turned out. You have two successful sons. We are healthy, enjoying life, and most importantly happy. We have lived great lives and have done so much with our time on earth. Things happen for a reason and when we let God be involved, great things happen. To reiterate, what we had worked and worked very well.

One aspect of my life that you worried about was when I would realize and discover my potential. As a good father, you constantly checked up with me to see if I wasn’t getting complacent and was heading forward in a direction. At times it was frustrating. But something else that you did that made the process so much easier was that you were patient and understanding and you gave me time and freedom to figure things out on my own. Your attitude complimented not complicated my search for my vocation and I am very grateful for it.

I have learned so much from you – my love for kids came from you, being ambitious, working hard, helping others, staying healthy, love of family, providing for a family, etc. Growing up, you may have thought we didn't see, or that we didn’t hear, the life lessons that you taught to us, but we got every word. We've grown up with your values, and we are very glad we did. Because of what you have taught us and done for us, know that you will never need to worry about Conway or me.

You will always be our father and you will always want to give us advice. By nature, it is your obligation as a father to do so. And please, continue to do so because we welcome it and will always need it. We love you, we thank you, and we are honored to call you our father, our teacher, and our friend.