Faith & Life

A Conductor and His Passengers

While checking passengers’ tickets, a train conductor said to a passenger, “You are on the wrong train. Please transfer at the next stop.” The conductor also said the same thing to the next passenger. “You, too, got the wrong train. Please transfer at the next stop.” However, the more tickets the conductor checked, the more people he found who had gotten on the wrong train. When he found that the train was full of passengers on the wrong train, one of the passengers politely asked him, “Excuse me, conductor, but wouldn’t it be you that is on the wrong train?” It turned out that the conductor had the wrong train.

Let’s Reduce Plastics!

The environmental pollution caused by the use of plastics is coming to the fore as a global issue. The Indian Government is making every effort to reduce plastics, proclaiming the policy of prohibiting plastics. To support that, the members from the Church of God in Pune, India, and the ASEZ members from Korea conducted the Reduce Plastics Campaign together. “Save India! Save the earth! With Mother’s love!” Powerfully chanting the slogan, we stepped off forward. It was not easy to hold placards and walk for a few hours in India, where the streets were not well maintained. Moreover, it rained all throughout our parade that we got soaking wet. But the rain couldn’t stop us. Then the citizens began to…

Hyeon Yeong-gyeong from Incheon, Korea

Mommy Heaven

Recently in our church, we looked at a picture captioned Busy Mommy. The mother is standing at a stove, cooking and holding her child on her hip. A telephone is wedged between the mother’s shoulder and her ear, and the child is trying to grab the phone. At the same time, her other child is standing behind her, watching her. The mother in the picture seemed to be stressed because she was overwhelmed with so much work, but she did her very best by multitasking. Some brothers and sisters said that the mother looked somewhat under pressure and to be in need of some help, but as a mom myself, I saw it differently. In my mind, I captioned the…

Joy Meela Gallant from New Windsor, NY, U.S.

God’s True Intention

“Min! Can you come home and stay for a few days?” My mom asked me in a somewhat serious voice. Usually, she hardly mentions anything that could worry my brother and me. So, if she gave us a sudden call like that, it meant that something serious was going on. Sure enough, I found out that she had been taken to the emergency room because her lumbar disc had become worse, but it seemed that she had to stay in the hospital for some time because she was not getting any better. So I took emergency leave and went straight to my parents’ house. My mom was lying on the bed at the hospital, and her condition was worse than…

Park Dong-min from Anyang, South Korea

Dad’s House

When I was young, my dad built a house by himself; he saved his salary and bought materials such as bricks, cement, steel bars, and shovels, and piled them in the yard. I still remember my dad digging ditches, with beads of sweat on his forehead and dust on his face. In my eyes as a little child, the construction never seemed to end, and I did not understand why he worked so hard to build the house. When I became an adult, the house my father had built for years was eventually completed. It was the most beautiful two-story house in the neighborhood. Exterior walls painted in great color, a garden for Mom, and the interior with the feeling…

Madrid, Spain

The Reason the Big Tree Fell

A big tree had stood firmly for four hundred years on a hill in the State of Colorado in the United States, but one day it fell down with a loud crash. The tree had overcome rough storms for several hundred years. Even though it had been hit by lightning fourteen times, it had not fallen. It had been strong enough to endure several huge storms and even an earthquake. Then, why did this strong tree fall? Surprisingly, it was because of several small ground beetles. Ground beetles went inside the shell of the tree trunk, and continuously gnawed its stems tree little by little. Eventually, the strongest and the greatest tree in the forest ended up falling.

The Words That Should Not Be Spared for the Family

“Thank you” that makes the listener smile. “You need any help?” that makes the listener feel reassured. “Excellent job!” that attaches wings to the listener’s shoulders. “Good morning” that makes the listener start the day vigorously. “Did you eat?” that shows your love and care towards the listener. “You’re doing well” that strengths and encourages the listener. “Thanks to you” that makes you all become one in mind. “Sweet dreams!” that makes the listener sleep in peace. “That’s not your fault” that eases the listener’s sadness. “Thank you for your hard work” that recognizes the listener’s labor and effort. “I’m sorry” that calms down the listener’s anger. “I trust you” that makes the listener do his hardest. “Do not worry.…

Mother of Six Children

My mom was a very kind and calm person. She used to read to me with a soft voice, and I liked it so much. I was brought up like a princess until I was five years old, when my little sister was born. She looked like a boy because she had only a few hairs and red chubby cheeks. Since my grandfather and grandmother had been eagerly waiting for the birth of their grandson, they were disappointed when my sister was born. After my sister’s first birthday, my mom’s stomach started to bulge again. When my mom came to an event at my kindergarten, with her belly bulging out and her face swollen, I felt a bit ashamed of…

Eun-jin Jo from Changwon, South Korea

Start the Year With Words of Blessing

When a new year begins, people often exchange words of blessing. In Korea, these are called deokdam—words that express wishes for another’s happiness and prosperity. Since ancient times, Koreans have believed that words carry power—that what we speak can come to pass. From this belief, the tradition of sharing deokdam was born. Because deokdam is meant to uplift and bring joy, it should be spoken sincerely, not merely out of habit. When words are offered with genuine warmth, their power to encourage becomes even greater. This month, share heartfelt deokdam with your family. In giving such blessings, both the one who speaks and the listener will be enriched. Tip Offer deokdam using words like the following: Expressions of gratitude Wishes…

The 101st Hit

A reporter asked a question to Benjamin Franklin, well-known as a scientist, politician, and diplomat. “How could you accomplish your goals without giving up, despite many difficulties?” Franklin replied, “Have you ever watched a stonemason work? He hammers the same spot at least 100 times even if he may not see any hint of a crevice. But when he hammers the 101st time, there comes a crack in the rock. The rock is cracked not because he hit it so strongly on the 101st try, but because he hit it 100 times before.” We need patience to get the results we want. It is the same when we preach the gospel. There are times we feel frustrated because things don’t…

Answer Me

A lady, who was tender with a very warm personality, lived next door. Her baby daughter was also well-behaved probably because she resembled her mom. The baby was not afraid of strangers and made no trouble, so I gave a hearty compliment to her, “You’re a really good girl. How cute!” As I joked that I would be able to bring her up since she was so gentle, her mother waved her hand. She said that I would not know how hard it was to take care of her if I just watched her for a while, but that at moments she felt anger rise in her as she was with her child all day long. One day, I stayed…

Ji-min Yim from Gunpo, South Korea

Sincere Consideration

One day, Gandhi went on a business trip. When he arrived at a train station, he quickly boarded the train that was about to take off. At that moment, one of his shoes fell onto the train platform. Since the train started moving, Gandhi couldn’t pick up his shoe. For a short time, he wondered, and then he thought of something. Suddenly, he took off his other shoe and tossed it next to the other shoe. The people who were next to him on the train were startled. “Teacher! Why did you toss your other shoe?” Gandhi answered with a smile, “A shoe is useless. However, if the shoes are together, someone will pick them up and wear them, won’t…

Parents’ Concern

As I stay in Russia away from home, I send pictures of myself to show my parents how I’m doing. It was on a day when it hailed for the first time last winter. A shower of hail looked marvelous. I took a photo of my hands receiving hailstones. My parents asked me about the hail and if it wasn’t too cold for me. I told them I was fine and healthy. That was it; we had an ordinary conversation. A few days later, however, my mom called me that she would send me some warm gloves. I thought she was saying so because of the cold weather but that wasn’t the reason. She thought my gloves receiving hailstones in…

Kang Yo-na from Chelyabinsk, Russia

Mutual Respect, the Key Principle for Successful Organizations

Recently, there have been a report that rude speech and behavior negatively impact job satisfaction or work performance. According to a survey done on 3,000 workers by Pearson and Foras (who are economists), workers who experience rudeness become less attached to their organizations and less efficient in their work from the emotional shock; and so their performance at work decreases significantly. Rudeness at work increases the overall stress of workers, even affecting the achievements of the organization. On the contrary, a culture of mutual respect creates the workplace atmosphere for you to want to work. One of the common features of companies that aim for a good workplace is that they clearly express the words respect and consideration in their…

Avoid Every Kind of Evil

I was sick for months. I bought all different kinds of medicine from the pharmacy and tried all kinds of treatment, including home remedies, but nothing made me better. When I came to the point that I might have to quit my job, I went to see the doctor whom I got to know through my work. My doctor prescribed me medicine for a week, and she firmly counseled me to avoid sugar during that period of time, because sugar weakens the immune system and slows down recovery. It wasn’t easy to take sugar out of my diet. Most delicious foods had sugar in them, and fruits and juice were no exceptions. It was the hardest on the first three…

Goitseone Thamae from Cape Town, South Africa

A Heaven-Like Home Filled with Heavenly Language

There’s a saying that goes, “A happy home is a little bit of heaven in advance.” Heaven is filled with joy and delight every single day, and the angels who live there speak a beautiful, gentle heavenly language. In the same way, a happy home is built on beautiful words—words filled with consideration, kindness, and humility. Happiness blooms where such words are spoken. And in a home like that, can’t we taste a glimpse of heaven even now? This month, try using this heavenly language generously with your family. A home where both the speaker and the listener feel joy through warm, loving words—surely that place would feel just like heaven. Tip Examples of Heavenly Language Words of affirmation: “That’s…

Meeting a Coworker on a Short-Term Mission Trip

While in Korea, I went on a short-term mission trip to Batasan Hills, a neighborhood in Quezon City, the Philippines. Before our departure, I looked up the location of the Zion we would be visiting—and was shocked to discover that it was very close to my company’s Quezon City branch. I had even spent two months there on a business trip two years prior, so the area felt familiar. I couldn’t help but imagine the joyful possibility of meeting my boss or a coworker there and sharing the truth with them. As the name "Hills" suggests, Batasan Hills was filled with steep slopes. Walking up and down the hills repeatedly reminded me of our Heavenly Father, who walked through mountain…

Kim Shin-hyeong from Mandaluyong, the Philippines

A Note on the Gas Valve

My wife often uses the gas stove, but every so often she forgets to turn off the gas valve afterward. I mentioned it to her a few times, but the habit didn’t really change. So one day, I wrote a small reminder—“Please check the gas valve after use”—and placed it just below the valve. The next day, after cooking and eating some ramen, I was resting in bed when my wife called out from the kitchen. “Honey! Why didn’t you turn off the gas valve?” I had forgotten too. Trying to sound casual, I said, “Even monkeys fall from trees sometimes,” but inwardly I couldn’t help but laugh. I felt embarrassed. I had been quick to point out her mistakes,…

Choi Seok-hwi from Seongnam, Korea

‘Hey, Almond, Calm Down!’

Everyone carries an “almond” inside their body. It’s actually the amygdala, a part of the brain named for its almond-like shape and size. The amygdala processes and responds to emotions, and it becomes especially active when we feel negative emotions. Once it is activated, stress hormones are immediately released. This is why keeping the amygdala calm is essential for both mental and physical health. This month, take care to keep your own—and your family’s—“almonds” relaxed and steady. When our emotions are stable, health and happiness naturally follow. Tip How to Keep Your Amygdala Calm and Stable Eat a balanced diet (especially omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants, and B vitamins). Get sufficient sleep. Take walks in nature. Engage your brain positively through…

Memories of a Train Ticket

With the holidays approaching, I logged onto the train reservation site to visit my family home for the first time in a long while. Holiday tickets are always in high demand—you have to log in early and wait in a virtual line before reservations officially open. After preparing carefully and trying my best, I barely managed to book a ticket. I checked the ticket again to tell my parents what time I’d arrive. But oh no— The departure time was different from what I remembered. I had made mistakes with train tickets before, so I thought I was being extra careful this time . . . but I still slipped up. That mistake brought back an unforgettable memory from long…

Kim Hye-seon from Seoul, Korea