During the summer vacation, more than ten children came to Zion almost every day. Thanks to that, our Zion was full of children’s laughter. They are young but filled with hope for the kingdom of heaven and want to receive blessings. Even the youngest sister says, “Amen,” during the worship service and greets others graciously with a bow.
One day, I told these little angels that everything we do in Zion is followed by God’s blessing. Since then, two little sisters who are nine and seven years old always look for the things they can do in Zion, thinking of how to receive more blessings. Whenever I am about to cook, they ask me what they can do. When they are done with washing the vegetables, they ask me, “How much blessing did we receive?” Every meal time, the two sisters are excited to set dishes for other children. After the children eat, they responsibly wash the dishes as well. They carefully watch how I take care of the children, and when I am busy, they take care of them and sometimes even wash them instead of me. I wonder how young children could do it, but when I see them saying, “I did it just as you did it,” with a beautiful smile, I feel proud of them.
The faith of another sister named Angel touches me as well. In the Philippines, Christmas and Halloween are one of the biggest holidays. The sister too liked to participate in them and receive gifts and snacks. After learning God’s regulation, however, she doesn’t celebrate the events that are not in the Bible. Despite her young age, she preaches to her friends and cousins. One day, she told her mother that she eagerly wanted to see Heavenly Mother in the flesh. When her mom told her to meet Mother when they get a chance later, she cried out loud in sadness.
Hearing this, I was so moved. Age doesn’t matter in realizing heavenly blessing. It’s not a hindrance to recognizing our Savior. Seeing these little children, I reflected on myself seriously: ‘Did I really have this kind of pure heart to receive heavenly blessings, or did I just want to be complimented by others?’ There were times I saw myself serving in Zion because this was just my responsibility, forgetting the very reason why I was doing it. If I felt tired or worried, I came to have a grumbling mind and lost my first love gradually. I truly felt sorry to Heavenly Father and Mother. Now, I will not lose the first love in my heart and I want to receive the countless blessings which God prepared for me in heaven.
I thought I was teaching the value of heavenly blessing to the children but I was the very one who needed to realize the importance and value of the heavenly kingdom. Seeing the children, I gave thanks to Heavenly Father and Mother for Their mercy to encourage me to preach with a more beautiful heart, and let me only look toward the heavenly blessings God has prepared even from the beginning.