The Secret to Happiness

Our grandchildren, who so closely resemble my husband and me, are the greatest joy of our lives. After Sabbath worship, they often stay overnight at our home and return the next day. What began as a small effort to ease our daughter-in-law’s burden of raising two young children has, over time, become a source of happiness for us as well. Each time I see the children growing up with kind hearts and our son and daughter-in-law living in loving unity, I find myself thinking, This is true happiness. Not long ago, I came to understand the reason why.

One Sabbath evening, as we returned home with our two grandchildren after worship, they asked for paper and a pencil, explaining that they needed to write reflection letters. Since it was already late, I gently asked what had happened. The older child confessed that earlier that day he had struck his younger brother when he refused to listen, and their parents had seen the younger child in tears. With small hands and careful, unsteady handwriting, the children thoughtfully wrote their letters and handed them to me first. As I read their sincere apologies and promises to do better, I couldn’t help but smile at how precious they were.

Just then, my older grandchild came back holding a New Song book and said,

“Grandma, could you help me find a New Song? The one that goes, ‘I’m sorry, please forgive me.’”

After I helped them find the song and even searched for the instrumental accompaniment on my phone, he took his younger brother and went into an empty room. Curious, I quietly peeked through the door. Inside, the two of them were singing the New Song along with the accompaniment, recording it together.

“I'm sorry, please forgive me for being blind to all the pain you held inside. When I held her hands and truly humbled myself, then Father and Mother opened her heart. . . . When we understand each other with compassion, the love of New Cov'nant is fulfilled in us. Let us love in beautiful unity!” (From New Song “I’m Sorry, Please Forgive Me”)

After singing the New Song, the children came out of the room, and I asked them softly,

“Grandma saw you singing. Why did you record it?”

With proud smiles, they replied,

“So we can show Mom and Dad that we’ve made up.”

My grandchild’s sincere response made me realize that the true source of our family’s happiness is Heavenly Father and Mother, and that it is through the warmth of the hearts They have given us that we able to live joyfully together.

I offer my heartfelt thanks to Heavenly Father and Mother, who teach us to practice the Words of Mother’s Love—“I’m sorry”—and who, through the New Song, help us remember once again the true secret of happiness.