Watermelon Seeds & the Dead Sea Scrolls: A Day in the Life of Min

             Life as parents of a special needs adult is far from boring. Conversations with Min are as broad, fractured, interesting, confusing as any could be. Example: the day he went from talking about watermelon seeds to the Dead Sea Scrolls in the same minute. You laugh? We did too, but this is just a typical day in the life of Min.

            In less than a month you’ll have the opportunity to peek more into the life of Min—from his perspective (ours also). You see, in January of 2021 Min approached his dad and I and said, “I want to write my story. Will you help me?” We didn’t start right then because we weren’t actually sure Min comprehended what a mammoth task this would be. But, come that mid-July we began what birthed his memoir…

A Home for Min Soo: Putting Together the Pieces of My Life

            I don’t know if I’ve ever taken on a rougher writing challenge than this. I became Min’s “secretary” and served as his scribe as well. Some days were pure torture. But then there’d be gems he’d drop along the way that made his memoir shine.

            I’ll never forget the day he wanted to quit. I urged him to give it at least five more minutes. He grudgingly did, yet it was in those minutes Min unknowingly unleashed the purpose of his book…

            … and his life. Wow. It stymied me!

            I verbally committed to giving Min one year to get down the rough draft. It took an additional year+ to do all the edits and every other task needed to see Min’s dream come true—his memoir in print.

            We had wonderful support from professionals who helped, all because of their love of Min. And there’s no way the “secretary” could have brought the manuscript to completion without Brian, Min’s dad and “techno support.” We labelled us all TEAM MIN!

            When Brian and I did several edits together, we found ourselves in awe and wonder of how Min, a developmentally disabled individual with an I.Q. below 70, could’ve come out with the words and thoughts he did. Oh, there are many episodes of hilarity within the pages, but there are also solemn, deep moments that still move us to tears, even after reading the whole book countless times.

            We believe the Holy Spirit aided Min in this writing. There’s just no other explanation for it. God’s Hand was on this broken fella as he poured out his joys and sorrows from a soul and spirit that are not disabled. (And Brian and I added backstory.)

            So, yes, this is a shameless promotional blog post, to be honest, as we invite you to look for Min’s memoir. Coming soon in paperback, e-book, and audiobook forms! Maybe we’re a little biased, but we—along with Min’s pre-readers—agree that his story may move you. Change you.

            Thank you for letting us share our son with you through A Home for Min Soo: Putting Together the Pieces of My Life. Min used his birthname as author, so you’ll find this title authored by Kim, Min Soo. He hopes one day his story reaches South Korea, his homeland, and touches lives there as well.

            It seems fitting to share Min’s favorite hymn with you this time—

“When peace like a river attendeth my way, when sorrows like sea billows roll;

Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say, ‘It is well, it is well with my soul.’

 

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come, let this blest assurance control:

That Christ has regarded my helpless estate, and has shed His Own Blood for my soul.

 

My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought! My sin, not in part, but the whole,

Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more; Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!

 

O Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight, the clouds be rolled back as a scroll;

The trump shall resound and the Lord shall descend; even so, it is well with my soul.

 

REFRAIN: It is well—with my soul. It is well, it is well with my soul.”

 

(from the hymn “It Is Well with My Soul” by Horatio Gates Spafford, 1873, public domain)

#AHomeforMinSoo #memoir #SouthKorea #KimMinSoo #GodsHand #HolySpirit #developmentaldisability

 

8/21/23: A Home for Min Soo—Putting Together the Pieces of My Life is now available for pre-order through Walmart, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other online retailers who sell books. The audiobook version will be available soon.