Enlightenment

Dew of the Dawn

The Bible likens young adults to the dew of the dawn (Ps 110:3). As I am also a young adult, I have often heard the words “dew of the dawn.” However, I didn’t know what it really meant when I heard it before. I just thought, ‘Does it mean that we should always take the lead in doing something, like the dew that forms early in the morning when everyone is sleeping?’ Then I happened to know the meaning of it. In Israel, the setting of the Bible, the dry season lasts for about six months. Despite no rain during that period, plants can survive thanks to the early morning dew that forms as a result of the temperature difference…

Yeon Bo-ra-mi from Jeju Island, Korea

Something Small and Trivial

My sister-in-law runs a restaurant by herself. When she asked me to help her with wallpapering the hall, I immediately went over to her place with comfortable clothes. “I think we have to tear it down from the upper part,” I said to her. Then she brought out a small ladder from the storage. I climbed up the ladder and moved my arms around to tear down the wallpaper. At that moment, I fell off the ladder and landed on my hip. Surprised, my sister-in-law rushed up to help me stand up. “Are you okay? That’s strange. This ladder isn’t that weak.” As she was sorry about that, I reassured her that I was fine. Then I picked up the…

Kim Im-suk from Daegu, Korea

Mother’s Happiness

On my way home, I got on the bus. The bus was crowded with students after class, office workers after work, and elderly people going home after their grocery shopping. Then I saw a kid eating toast while sitting among them. His mom was grabbing a handle while standing beside him with all his stuff in her both hands. Although her hands were full, she was smiling happily, seeing her child eat toast deliciously. The scene remained clearly in my mind as if it had been caught on camera, because Heavenly Mother came to my mind. Heavenly Mother always takes good care of us and looks at us with love even while carrying the burden of our sins. I was…

Koh Ji-hae from Namyangju, Korea

Shaking Seeds Off Sesame Plants with My Grandma

I went to my grandma’s during the harvest season. Usually I leave early for the next day’s work, but that day, I decided to help her shake seeds off sesame plants and leave later. As soon as I reached the sesame field, crossing the persimmon field where ripe persimmon fell here and there, I knew the work would be more than I had expected. At the field on hillside, sesame plants were tied in sheaves like children standing in a row at a playground. “Grandma, are we supposed to shake all these seeds off?” “We can’t finish them all today. We’ll just do as much as we can until sunset.” Since I came to help, I couldn’t stand there idly.…

Jeon Yeong-seon from Anyang, Korea

Exercise to Build Mind Muscles

I work as a physical therapist in the hospital. One day, I saw the old man whom I had been helping with exercise sit on a thump on the chair, putting up his entire weight. “Sir, do you know how the former South Korean professional figure skater Kim Yuna can walk lightly? That’s because she has good muscle strength. I know that’s not easy, but you have to grow your muscles, which will help you sit softly in the chair and not fall.” As I was explaining how to strengthen his muscles, I came to think it’s the same with the muscles of the mind. When we grow our mind muscles, we can handle any and every situation flexibly and…

Gwak Jin-yeong from Daejeon, Korea

Stained Glasses

We did repair work on our church restroom. As we finished cutting the tiles, the restroom was filled with stone powder. I left the restroom after ventilating it. For some reason, however, stone powder was still floating around in the hall, too. I opened all the corridor windows and brought in a fan and turned it on, but the stone powder blurred even the sanctuary. I got worried because the following day was the Sabbath. So I hurriedly opened all the windows and doors. While opening the windows, I looked outside and found something strange. The outside area was also covered with stone powder. ‘Did this happen because of our repair work? That’s strange. This can’t be. Can it be…

Oh Dae-yeop from Seoul, Korea

Victory Through Endurance and Unity

I watched a video entitled “Elementary Schools’ Tug-of-War That Moved the World.” It was a tug-of-war between two elementary schools in Kazakhstan. True to its title, the video was very touching. From the beginning of the tug-of-war, the blue team was in the lead. In the beginning, most of the children of the red team were drawn to their opponent’s side, and only one boy remained in the baseline. The boy was trying hard not to cross the baseline, and he never let go of the rope even with his face distorted by the pain. While everyone was astonished at the boy enduring the pain by clenching his teeth to wrestle with the game, the momentum leaned toward the red…

Hong Jeong-eun from Seongnam, Korea

Ornaments on the Fine Linen

Recently, I went to a wedding. The bride in a pure white dress was as beautiful as a princess in a movie. The wedding ceremony began, and the bride appeared after the entrance of the gallant groom. The ornaments on the wedding dress shined brilliantly under the bright light. Looking at each ornament shining according to the movements of the bride, I admired how beautiful! It was. Suddenly a Bible verse came to my mind: The righteousness of the saints is the ornaments on the fine linen of Heavenly Mother, the wife of the Lamb (Rev 19:7–8). I looked back at myself to see if my deeds were displaying God’s glory. The ornaments attached to the dress make the bride,…

Kim Nam-su from Seoul, Korea

The Existence of Mother

Recently, my mother signed an annuity insurance contract in my name. I was not yet in my 30s at that time, and I was not happy with it because I wouldn’t be able to receive annuity benefit payments until I hit my 60s. Then my mother said, “This kind of thing must be prepared in advance.” Honestly, if I become old enough to be covered by the annuity, my mother might not be in this world. So I asked her carefully. “Mom, do you need to take care of me even after you leave the world?” “That’s what mothers do.” My heart ached. A mother loves and cares for her children even beyond her life. How can children fully understand…

Yun Du-nam from Mungyeong, Korea

Timely Words

It was when I helped organize an event for male adults in the church. As many helping hands were needed, I sent our Zion members a text message asking for help. Soon a brother sent a reply. “Thank you so much for working hard for the members. Even if I can’t help you a lot, I’ll join and support you. I love you.” I’d not done so much, but the brother said he appreciated my hard work and would help me actively. I was very grateful to him. Thanks to that, I was able to volunteer with a joyful heart. “A man finds joy in giving an apt reply—and how good is a timely word!” Pr 15:23 As the brother…

Yeo In-won from Daejeon, Korea

Zion Full of Love

One Sabbath day, a deaconess sat at the end of a pew while leaving an empty space for one person to sit on the inside of the pew. When a sister saw it, she asked the deaconess to fill the empty space first. Then the deaconess said with a smile, “I am heating up this spot for a sister because she’s coming soon.” Through her act, though small, I was able to feel her love for the sister and it brought warmth to my heart. Zion always feels warm because it is full of love from my brothers and sisters who resemble Heavenly Father and Mother.

Kim Hyeon-im from Suncheon, Korea

Wanting Everyone to Finish the Race

I went to volunteer at the National Sports Festival in Chungju. My role was to stand at the halfway point of the half marathon course and encourage athletes and prevent their deviating from the course. The marathon started and I waited for the athletes to come in. Not long after, a bunch of athletes passed in front of me. I cheered on them, applauding them. I thought that there were no more athletes left behind. But it turned out that they were athletes of the first group. The athletes passing me by were all exhausted and distressed, gasping for breath. Some of them hobbled, and some wobbled as if they were going to faint. Most of the athletes were students,…

Choi Hyeon-ah from Chungju, Korea

From a Spiritually Premature Baby to a Perfect Child of God

I worked as a midwife before. Midwives are specialists in pregnancy, childbirth, postpartum care, and infant care. My mom had a big influence on my decision to be a midwife. When I saw how hard she had to work to raise her four children, I always wondered, ‘Why does she have to live for her family with no time for herself? Will I be able to become like her?’ I began to think deeply about the role of a mother, and it made me decide to become a midwife. The questions that I had whenever I looked at my mom were all solved after I received the truth in my school days. The love and sacrifice of mothers reminded me…

Matsumoto Miwa from Osaka, Japan

If It Is the Will of Father

In Zion, I was given an unexpected duty. At first, I gave thanks to God for using me even though I was lacking in many ways. However, as time went on, it was felt beyond my capacity. ‘It was too much for me.’ ‘If another sister had been given that duty, she would have done it better.’ Around the time when I got frustrated and enervated, I happened to read a verse from the Bible that gave me courage and strength. “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered.” Mt 10:29–30 It…

Yu Eui-jeong from Pohang, Korea

A Good Example

A Mongolian lady accepted the truth. The sister, who is poor at Korean language, learns the culture of Zion such as how to greet Zion members and how to worship, by carefully watching us. So when I’m aware that she is next to me, my words and actions become godly. As I’m in a situation where I have to be an example to a Zion member, Jesus’ teaching comes to mind. “I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.” Jn 13:15 Every day, during the three years of ministry, Jesus showed the examples that Christians should do. Also in this age, Heavenly Father sowed the seeds of the gospel for thirty-seven years…

Lee Ji-won from Gimhae, Korea

The Love of God Who Has Swept Away Our Offenses and Sins

As I grew older, I gradually got away from the church I had been attending since I was young. But when I felt that all was futile, I sought God again. Everything seemed very new to me as I began to live the life of faith again. One day, while reading the Bible, I found why I was able to come back to God. “Remember these things, O Jacob, for you are my servant, O Israel. I have made you, you are my servant; O Israel, I will not forget you. I have swept away your offenses like a cloud, your sins like the morning mist. Return to me, for I have redeemed you.” Isa 44:21–22 I left God and…

Park Su-yeon from Zagreb, Croatia

A Surprise Gift

At my workplace, I work for kids, so I’m interested in children. One day, I saw a child who always loosened her hair. I wanted her to look beautiful, so I tied her hair back. After the class was over, her mother came and repeatedly thanked me. I thought it was not a big deal because I used to tie children’s hair back, but seeing her mother take great delight in my help, I felt as if I received a surprise gift. I was reminded of a Bible verse I read before. “I tell you the truth, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to Christ will certainly not lose his reward.” Mk…

Sim Hyeon-ji from Guri, Korea

Aroma of Christ

There are moments that are remembered by scents. Occasionally, my mom bought flowerpots for gardenias; when I put them by the window, the scent from the flowers spread out along the soft wind. To this day, when I smell gardenias, I’m reminded of old memories against the sunset background. In my middle school years, when I opened the door of the broadcasting room for the final interview of joining the broadcasting club, I smelled freesias which eased the tension. The scent of freesias evokes the old memories I had with the broadcasting club. In spring season, acacias bloomed around my university, turning the air into sweet scents like those of perfumes. Every spring, I’m vividly reminded of the memories I…

Lee So-yeong from Seongnam, Korea

Faith Like Abraham’s

Abraham obeyed God’s command to sacrifice his son Isaac, who was born to him when he was one hundred years old, as a burnt offering. Since Abraham passed this test, he earned the title “forefather of faith.” God promised to make Abraham’s descendants numerous as the stars of the sky and the sand on the seashore through Isaac. To me, the command to sacrifice Isaac as a burnt offering seemed too difficult to obey. Wondering what kind of mindset Abraham had, I came across a verse that helped me fathom the depth of his faith. By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had received the promises was about to sacrifice his one and…

Hong Jeong-eun from Seongnam, Korea

Be the One Who Serves

After I received God and started my life of faith, I noticed a few things in Zion that couldn’t be seen in any other places. First of all, it was hard to find out who was older and who had attended church longer. The reason was that I didn’t see anyone who exerted authority over others. Second, they all participated in the Bible study, cleaning, and volunteer services very actively though nobody asked them to. These were the things that I couldn’t understand easily, because I was used to the strict order of rank in the social life. In my experience, it is usually hard to control a group, so it requires a command system. If two people are in…

Park Seong-min from Seoul, Korea