Na Byeong-hyeon / South Korea
Lately, I had been weighed down by troubling thoughts and turned to God in prayer. However, it felt as if my prayers went unanswered, and I found it difficult to keep praying for long.
One day, I happened to see a child and her mother in the elevator. The little girl, her eyes misty with disappointment, did not want to leave the playground. She stomped her feet and whimpered, clinging tightly to her mother. Gently, the mother spoke to her, her voice full of patience and comfort:
“Daddy will be home soon. Let’s go wash up and have dinner together.”
Together, they stepped out of the elevator and made their way home.
Watching them, I suddenly realized how much I resemble that little child—pleading with God for what I want and feeling disappointed when the answer does not come right away. I was just like a child who did not want to leave the playground.
Even the most loving parents cannot fulfill every wish of their children. I believe our Heavenly Father and Mother are the same. To my impatient heart, They teach patience; when pride arises within me, They show me how to humbly rely on Them; and even when I pray from a place of selfish desire, They listen quietly and offer comfort. I now realize that God has always guided me along the path best suited to for my soul.
I am determined to deepen my understanding of the hearts of our Heavenly Parents and cultivate the ability to see things from Their perspective. Whatever path They lead me on—whether thorny or rugged—I will walk it with gratitude, knowing that at the end of the path awaits the kingdom of heaven prepared by our Heavenly Father and Mother.