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, and it felt like I was seeing my sons and daughters. I wanted everyone to finish the race without giving up, regardless of their rankings.
Now that we are running a spiritual marathon, I somewhat understand how earnestly Heavenly Mother wants all of us to be able to arrive in heaven safely, regardless of whether we are good at it. She is worried we might give up, and She never stops encouraging us and praying for us. As I know Mother’s hard work, I will run until I reach heaven, though it may be tiring and hard.