A Mother’s Heart That Seems to Understand the Heart of Heavenly Parents

I prepared pork ribs for dinner as a special side dish for my children, who had worked hard studying during their exam period. From draining the blood, removing the fat, boiling the ribs, then simmering them in seasoning with large chunks of potatoes, onions, and carrots—it took time and effort. Still, when I thought about how much my children would enjoy eating them, it didn’t feel troublesome at all.

As soon as they came home, my hungry children clamored for food, and I proudly set a plate full of ribs before them.

“Wow!”

Hearing their delighted reaction made me happy. Because of my children’s picky eating—choosing only the ribs—what was left for me were the potatoes and carrots. Yet, simply watching them eat so happily filled me with joy.

At that moment, Heavenly Parents came to my mind. Heavenly Father, who, though weary from the hard labor of a stonemason, still wrote Books of Truth with the joy of saving His children—how many countless nights must He have stayed awake, hoping we would eat the food of life, sweet as honey, and realize His love? And Heavenly Mother, who has patiently waited for Her spiritually picky children to change—how anxious must She have been, watching over Her immature children?

Lately, as I find myself laughing and crying because of my son and daughter who are going through puberty, I reflect: Could I even begin to fathom a ten-thousandth, or even a millionth, of the heart of Heavenly Parents?

Perhaps the very words I long to hear from my own children are the same words Heavenly Parents long to hear from me:

“Father, I will enjoy the spiritual food You have prepared.”

“Mother, I will follow Your words.”

From now on, I resolve to become a child who brings joy and comfort to the hearts of Heavenly Parents.