In honor of my mother’s wishes, we traveled to Vietnam for the first anniversary of her passing, to be with my two Vietnamese brothers and my aunt. In many ways, I found my relationship with God in my mom’s homeland.

Being so far from my support system—13 hours apart—was difficult. I prayed and asked God to keep my heart at peace, and to help me truly be present and enjoy my time with family. But on the way to our hometown, I received information that involved not only my parents, but my entire family as well. I was traveling in the middle of the day, which meant it was late night back home. My support system couldn’t be reached in the moment.

As we drove the same route my mother used to take to visit her father—around the same age my daughter is now—I prayed for guidance… for peace… and for forgiveness in light of what I had just learned. I remembered conversations with my dad before he passed. He would always tell me, “Do what you’ve got to do, son. If the Lord wants you to know, He will make it known in His time.”

My mother’s life before meeting my father was complex, and I believe her full story was hers to share—when the time was right. She won’t be able to tell me in person, but I’m learning to trust that I’m still part of that journey, and that God is the Author of our lives. God isn’t finished writing her story. In God’s timing, what needs to be revealed will be revealed. For now, I’ve done my part, and I’m waiting for that next chapter to unfold.

My own relationship with God is rooted in my father’s favorite verse, Proverbs 22:6: “Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.” Although I grew up in the church and stepped away in my late teens, I found my way back after my daughter’s birth and after losing both of my parents. I’ve come to realize it’s not about me controlling everything—it’s about building a foundation with God and learning to trust God’s plan.

Dennis Bennett