Faith & Life

My Father

It was when I went to my parents’ house for the first holiday after my marriage. Resting in a room, I heard Dad and my husband were talking in the living room. Later, my husband came into the room and so I asked, “What did you and Dad talk about?” “We talked about politics.” “He talks about politics?” I was surprised. I thought he was not interested in politics. On the following national holiday, Mom and I went out to have a sauna, while Dad and my husband were left at home. As Dad would watch TV in his room or workout on his day off, I thought they would spend their time individually. But when we returned home in…

Tak Jin-seul from Anyang, Korea

Laughter Defeats Even Cancer

Do you know we have special forces in our body? They are natural killer cells(also known as NK cells). Viruses or germs that get into the body from the outside can be destroyed by antibodies. However, cancer cells are an enemy growing inside the body, so antibodies alone are not enough to destroy them. NK cells are necessary in this case. When NK cells detect an infected or tumor cell, they release perforin in close proximity to the target cell, which forms pores in the target cell membrane and allows water and salts to pass rapidly into the cell. This ultimately causes the target cell to burst. So, NK cells are our immune system’s most powerful front-line defense. One of…

“Let’s Have a Family Meeting!”

There are class meetings at school, and companies hold various kinds of meetings such as a team meeting and an executive conference. A meeting is natural and essential for operating an organization. A family is also an organization that forms society, and meetings are needed for mutual understanding and compromise. When people are asked, “Do you hold a family meeting?” most of them say, “We hardly see each other,” “No, my child is still too young,” “What are we to talk about in a meeting?” “They just need to listen to what I say! We don’t need a meeting!” Like this, most people think that they don’t need a family meeting. Living a busy industrial life, parents are busy with…

A Family That Greets Becomes a Warm and Connected Family

A sincere greeting is one of the simplest yet most powerful ways to build good relationships. Even within a family, exchanging greetings creates more opportunities to make eye contact, opens the door to conversation, and brightens the atmosphere at home. When you make it a habit to greet your family warmly—even for the smallest moments—you naturally become someone who connects well with others outside the home too. A family that values greetings becomes a home filled with warmth, closeness, and positive energy. This month, don’t miss a single chance to greet one another—freely, warmly, and wholeheartedly! Tip Use a bright smile and a cheerful voice. Include the person’s name or nickname in your greeting. Add a loving gesture such as…

Experiencing God Who Is With Us Every Day

Our short-term mission trip to Medan, Indonesia, was truly a journey of prayer. Even before we departed, we united our hearts and fervently prayed to Heavenly Father and Mother to help us achieve our mission goals. Though we had nothing to boast about—neither in language skills, nor physical strength, nor even in our faith—we simply longed to be the mission team that sought God the most, despite our shortcomings. Once we arrived in Medan, we continued holding morning and evening prayer meetings. Even as we preached, we remained in prayer. Finally, a sister received the blessing of bearing the first fruit of our team. One of the Korean sisters said that she felt she lacked in prayer when preaching the…

Jeong Eun-song from Ansan, Korea

Sharing Food, Adding Warmth — The Potluck Party!

A potluck party is a gathering where everyone brings a dish to share. It’s a wonderful tradition that lightens the host’s burden, since they don’t need to prepare all the food alone. Guests also feel more at ease—rather than simply showing up and eating, they contribute something meaningful to the table. The result is a beautifully varied spread of dishes, each prepared with care. And as each person shares the food they made, the joy around the table naturally doubles. The food is shared, the warmth grows, and heartfelt connection fills the room. This month, try hosting a potluck party with your family or neighbors. Share food, deepen relationships, and enjoy a gathering that fills both the table and the…

The Gospel Journey That Transformed Me

It was around the time I had been working at my job for nearly four years after graduating high school. I found myself in a season of reflection, questioning the purpose of my work and my life. Just then, some around me suggested I try participating in overseas short-term mission work. Though I knew its value and wanted to challenge myself, I felt too unsure of my language skills to even dream of joining. Still, relying solely on Heavenly Father and Mother, I took a leap of faith and said yes. The mission destination, which I applied for along with a sister from my church, was Curitiba, Brazil. We memorized a few short phrases in Portuguese and began preaching in…

Choi Mi-ran from Seongnam, Korea

Love Is Heard in a Gentle Voice

Sound has a powerful influence on a listener’s mood. Natural sounds such as falling rain or ocean waves, as well as soft, soothing sounds like a lullaby, help release tension and bring a sense of calm. Instrumental music, including classical music, has been shown to have positive effects not only on our emotions but also on brain function. By contrast, loud mechanical noises from construction sites or the blaring of car horns often trigger stress and discomfort. Sound is composed of many elements, including volume, pitch, tone, and rhythm. The words we speak are also a form of sound produced in the throat. In everyday conversation, it is easy to assume that the most important factor is the content of…

Small Talk Is Not Small at All!

Generally, conversations fall into two categories: those with a clear purpose and those without. Purposeful conversations include calling a service center when a device breaks, asking a store clerk about a price, or presenting strategies to a supervisor to increase sales. These exchanges exist to share information or make a request, driven by a specific need or goal. But people cannot go through life speaking only when necessary. Imagine running into a distant relative after a long time, meeting a neighbor in the elevator, or bumping into a coworker from another department in the break room. If you stay silent simply because there is no clear reason to talk, an awkward silence quickly follows. The atmosphere becomes uncomfortable, and both…

Family Meals—Joyful and Happy!

Just a few decades ago, family meals were an ordinary part of daily life. Families shared a hearty breakfast before leaving home and, upon returning, enjoyed a relaxed dinner while talking about their day. At mealtimes, everyone gathered around the table as if by unspoken agreement. It was a routine—simple, yet never to be neglected. Today, however, in many households, family meals occur only when scheduled in advance. Breakfast is often skipped or hurried, and dinner is pushed aside by studies, work, and countless other priorities. The rise of dining out and the convenience of ready-made foods have further reduced home cooking. As a result, many people eat alone, even while living under the same roof. This is a kind…

A Heart Warm Like Hot Water

Due to the impact of COVID-19, our family’s financial situation became difficult. Wanting to help even a little, I started working part-time at a barbecue restaurant near our home. I usually came back quite late after my shift. Around that time, I noticed something: My high school daughter was always using the bathroom right when I got home. I didn’t know why she chose that exact moment to shower, but I didn’t ask. One night, I arrived home later than usual because I stayed to have dinner with the restaurant owners. My daughter immediately asked why I was late and told me she had already showered. Then she added softly: “I try to shower just before you get home so…

Jeong Nam-suk from Gimhae Korea

The Day We Ran Out of Sesame Oil

I was about to make bibimbap for dinner when I stopped in my tracks—I’d run out of sesame oil. I thought about substituting perilla oil, but a quick check of the fridge showed that it was gone too. I was surprised; we had never once run out of oil before. In a hurry, I texted my mom: “Mom, we’re completely out of sesame oil. Could you send some—either sesame or perilla is fine.” Whenever I asked Mom for something, a package would show up at my doorstep within two days, without fail. But this time, even after a full week, nothing arrived. A few days later, my younger sibling called me late at night. She’d spoken to Mom and told…

Gwak Jeong-ah from Hwaseong, Korea

The Pecking Order at Home

“Son! Dad’s really thirsty—could you get me a glass of water?” Feeling exhausted after work, I asked my eldest for help. He paused for a moment, then turned to his younger brother and said: “Go get Dad a glass of water.” The youngest glanced at him, then headed straight toward the kitchen to find Mom. “Mom! Dad’s thirsty and wants a gla—” Before he could even finish, my wife called out to our eldest daughter: “Sweetie, Mom’s a bit busy—can you get Dad some water?” To which she replied, without missing a beat, “Tell Dad to get it himself.” And just like that, my simple request traveled all the way around the house only to return right back to me.…

Jang Seong-min from Seongnam, Korea

Lift the Corners of Your Mouth

A simple movement can instantly brighten your mood. It can bring out your most beautiful expression, make you look more youthful, and even leave a pleasant impression on others. What’s the secret? Just lift the corners of your mouth. The facial muscles used for lifting the mouth corners are called the levator anguli oris. These muscles play an important role in expressing emotions and communicating feelings. When you smile, you not only show happiness, joy, and satisfaction—you also share those positive emotions with others, and your own mind begins to feel them too. This month, try practicing this small habit of lifting the corners of your mouth. You may find that your happiness rises right along with your smile! Tip…

Take One Step Closer with “What”!

“What” is a pronoun we use to ask about something unknown. It often appears in questions that spark curiosity and naturally reveal our experiences, thoughts, and feelings. Through such questions, we gain a deeper understanding of one another. If a question is the doorway to conversation, then “what” is the key that opens it. This month, try asking your family questions that begin with “what.” You may uncover things you never knew—and grow a little closer in the process. Tip Try asking questions that start with “what,” such as: What made you feel good today? What are you thankful for today? What would you like to eat? What makes you happy? What do you think we have in common? *…

Prince’s Identity

A king visited a village famous for unfriendly neighbors. Before he left, he made a request: “My youngest son is staying here temporarily. Please be nice to him.” But the king didn’t tell anyone who the prince was or where he was staying. The villagers began to greet each other with smiles, thinking any child could be a prince. While doing so, they came to greet each other with gentle words and looks on their faces even among adults. A few months later, the king came to the village again. The villagers didn’t know who the prince was yet. “O king, did you come here to take the prince back? Who is he?” Then the king answered with a smile.…

The Greatest Coordinator

When I was young, my mother always bought me clothes that I loved. Not only my clothes, but also other items that my mother bought me, such as my shoes and belts, fit me very well at all times. I felt good whenever I stood in front of the mirror, wearing the clothes she picked for me. As I became an adolescent, I wanted to buy my style of clothing. After saving some allowances, I went to the store alone to buy clothes for the first time in my life. While looking around with excitement, a mannequin that was wearing a neat shirt and pants caught my eyes. ‘Wow! That is my style!’ I couldn’t take my eyes off the…

Tapiwa Toruvanda from Harare, Zimbabwe

Say, “I’m Sorry,” Before the Sunset

When winter passed and spring was about to begin, lockdown was issued in all cities in the U.K. It was an action taken to prevent the spread of the virus as the number of confirmed cases and deaths increased every day due to the global outbreak of COVID-19. As I started working from home, I was able to have more time with my family. It was really good at first. However, as time went by, I started being in conflict more often with my husband. As we felt comfortable with each other, we spoke less carefully, which ended up hurting each other’s feelings. One day, we raised our voices a little while arguing over something trivial. While trying to ignore…

Kim Du-ri from Manchester, U.K.

Your Beginnings Will Seem Humble

A river starts from a drop of water. A raindrop falling from the sky, and tiny water drops that well up from the forest and form a spring gather and flow into a stream. When they meet other streams from every direction, they get a name, river. The river that embraces dozens or hundreds of tributaries flows continuously and becomes wider and deeper. The waters that have gathered in the river do not quarrel but flow without any complaint until they reach their destination, sea. While the river goes with the flow, it achieves things that it could not even think of when it was alone as a single drop. It breaks down a hard rock with a strong wave…

Love Starts from Seeing

“A rainbow is a full circle.” It sounds odd but it is true. From an observer’s line of sight, we can only see half of the circle above the horizon, but it is full circular if seen from an airplane. Anorexics, who refuse or are afraid to eat, look in the mirror and see themselves fatter than they really are. Researchers at a hospital in London have found that anorexic teenagers have an abnormality in blood flow to the part of the brain which affects body image. If you try to believe only what you can see, you come to make a hasty judgment. If you regard a part of something as its whole, or if you take a fake…