Peter’s father passed away suddenly when Peter was only 13 years old. He was left behind with his mother and 3 sisters. With the burden on his shoulders to take care of his heartbroken family, he put studying aside and started working at an early age.
He worked and worked to help his mother find a sense of normalcy and send his sisters to college. Once he made sure that his sisters’ paths were made, it was his turn to settle down and find his own dreams.
He found a wife and grew his family with two beautiful daughters. Once his daughters were born, their dreams became his dreams. He wanted to give his daughters the chance to excel in a way that was never given to him. Thus, Peter took a leap of faith and brought his wife and daughters to America.
The future he expected was instantly crushed when he found out that the job he landed in America to support his family was a scam. He started working in a factory in a remote place, only getting to see his family once a week. Peter was able to get loans to provide a home for them while he was away.
With another turn of events, a history-making financial crisis hit and Peter lost the home and his job. His family started jumping from apartment to apartment, looking for the next cheapest place they could find. The fact that they could keep a roof over their heads was in itself a miracle, seeing that Peter and his wife’s debt kept growing out of control.
Peter decided that now was the time to start over, and he put 110% of his energy into studying for a plumbing license exam. Despite his broken English, his efforts showed through when he passed the exam.
He was embarrassed in front of his daughters for his job was barely keeping them afloat and he had to come home every night covered in sewage waste. Despite his youngest daughter running up to him to welcome him home with a hug, he had to turn it down night after night so that he wouldn’t dirty his treasure of a child with bacteria accumulated throughout the day on his skin and clothes.
During these tumultuous times, Peter and his wife found refuge in a church. The church’s congregation was made up of other immigrants, quickly making it a safe haven for Peter. He and his wife came to church three times a week, praying for their situation and their daughters.
They didn’t have money to tithe, so they tithed with their hearts and bodies. Peter volunteered to fix every plumbing problem that arose not only in the church, but also in church members’ homes and businesses. Peter frequently planned events for this church community so that he could grow closer to them. He would save up money to host church backyard barbecues. He also woke up before sunrise every Sunday to drive around and pick up the elderly for church service. While people grabbed lunch and hung out after service, Peter stayed behind to drop off every one of the elderly back to their homes again.
Though Peter felt tired, he didn’t stop because he knew that God would see his heart. He knew that God may not have blessed him financially, but that God blessed him with his amazing daughters.
He couldn’t deny these beliefs because both of his daughters were consistently the top of their class. His older daughter, especially, was a prodigy. She exceeded everyone in everything she did.
As his older daughter was approaching senior year of high school, Peter worried about whether she would be able to go to a school that made all this worth it. But whether she got into a good school or not, he worried even more about how he would even afford it. He heard other parents had college funds for their children. Peter was living paycheck to paycheck.
By true divine intervention, his daughter not only got into the best school in the nation, but she also received a full scholarship. Peter knew his daughter studied hard and never let him down, but he also credited it to God. He thought the work he did for God’s church and the prayers he and his community lifted up were seen by God. He started sacrificing more for the church and its congregation.
It is an understatement to say that the church was a huge part of Peter’s life. Peter had been a member for twenty years at the same church. All of his friends were from this church. All of his connections and broader community were church members. This was his home.
One unassuming, rather normal day, Peter’s life was turned upside down. The apple of his eye, his older daughter, had announced on her social media that she was, in fact, lesbian.
Peter knew that the church he was a part of was vehemently against the LGBT community. He also knew that most of them were friends with his daughter on social media. He hoped that their beliefs in God’s love and their love for Peter as a pillar of their community would overcome this news.
But people let him down.
They looked down on Peter and shamed him. “You thought your daughter was so great, but how embarrassing.” “I was stressed because my son never studied and always caused trouble, but at least he’s not gay.” “How are you going to show your face again in church knowing that your daughter is that?”
Peter wanted to focus on God and not the whispers behind his back. He gathered up the courage to go to church and act like everything was okay.
He sat down in service and looked up at the pastor. He wanted God’s wisdom. He wanted the pastor to speak strength and hope into Peter’s heart.
Instead, the pastor addressed the talk going around the church. And he said, “gay people go to hell.”
Peter’s heart broke to pieces. He put on a brave face, stood up, and walked out.
That was the last the church saw of Peter.
Peter chose to love his daughter.
20 years of giving, 20 years of friendships, 20 years of prayers, 20 years of hope, 20 years of faith, 20 years of community, 20 years of sacrifice all went down the drain.
Peter may not have much – money, reputation, friends, dreams – but Peter has a beautiful lesbian daughter that he wouldn’t trade for anything. This is what he was trained to since the tender age of 13 – to sacrifice himself for the ones he loves.
I love you dad.
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