The Sparrow

Below is from one of the collection of short stories written by a Russian writer, Ivan Turgenev

The Sparrow

I was returning from hunting, and walking along an avenue of the garden, my
dog running in front of me.

Suddenly he took shorter steps, and began to steal along as though tracking
game.

I looked along the avenue, and saw a young sparrow, with yellow about its
beak and down on its head. It had fallen out of the nest (the wind was
violently shaking the birch-trees in the avenue) and sat unable to move,
helplessly flapping its half-grown wings.

My dog was slowly approaching it, when, suddenly darting down from a tree
close by, an old dark-throated sparrow fell like a stone right before his
nose, and all ruffled up, terrified, with despairing and pitiful cheeps, it
flung itself twice towards the open jaws of shining teeth.

It sprang to save; it cast itself before its nestling… but all its tiny
body was shaking with terror; its note was harsh and strange. Swooning with
fear, it offered itself up!

What a huge monster must the dog have seemed to it!

......

Ivan Turgenev

The dog somewhat admitted about the sparrow’s certain strength.

The power of maternal love can never be explained with physical phenomenon.

There exists the eternal energy and sacrifice of giving up on its own self.

No one can dare to break it or win against it.

This is the reason why we can receive salvation.

Frailty a woman may be

 “Oh, sister!”

“Oh my goodness! Sister, what brings you here?”

On the Sabbath day, a reunion was made in a restaurant.

Since there was a familiar face, I happened to look at it closely, and that was indeed my spiritual sister that I knew.

Few years ago, as young adults, we were at the same branch church.

When I remind myself about her...

She had a slim body as if it might fly away when the wind blew, a long straight hair  and she loved pretty accessories, which I can say she was a fully ladyish girl.

Compared to those days, she didn't change much at all.

However, she was holding hands of a little child.

She already got married and delivered a child; became a mom.

The child resembled her.

I had a funny feeling looking at them.

Though her outward appearance was the same, she wasn't the usual girl that I knew long time ago.

She carried her child with her slim arms, which I strongly felt maternal love from her.

At the same time, it reminded me of the saying that, “Woman are weak, but mothers are strong.”

Though the sister looked very fragile and weak, she was the best protector and a fence for her child.

Our God the Mother...

Though She is on this earth as a delicate woman, for the children of promise like Isaac, She has the almighty power of life to allow us to inherit Heavenly Kingdom.

Life that never ends

In the morning, I read an article that really touched me.

An Australian woman delivered twins after 27 weeks. The daughter was born relatively healthy, but the son weighing 2.2lbs, was having difficulty in breathing.

Though the medical team quickly gave first aid, but the child lost its breath and died.

However, the mother and the father didn't give up and asked the doctor for a last chance.

She embraced her child and while touching the child’s cheek with hers, the mother breastfed. Two hours passed and something unbelievable happened.

The child, who was supposed to be dead, started moving its fingers.

“Something happened that we can just express it as a miracle. When my son slightly held on my finger, at an instinct I knew that our relationship didn't end.”

The child’s breathe became normal and eventually became healthy. He is growing up healthily like normal children.

Mother’s burning love that revived a heart is truly amazing.

I give thanks to God the Mother who never gives up on us, running towards the way of death. 

Life exchanged with love

The name 'Mother' is most beautiful.

Nowadays, it is very difficult to hear good news through various press media. After a long while, I happen to hear a touching news.

It was a story about a Patuawa-Tuilave, a prominent Maori lawyer in New Zealand. 

After being pregnant, she was diagnosed with cancer. 

The doctor told her that she needed treatment to survive, in order to do so;she needed to give up the baby. 

Patuawa-Tuilave refused to get a treatment. 

She endured the painful ten months, as the cancer cells spread out to her whole body, and ultimately delivered her son on April. 

After two months of her delivery, she died with cancer. 

Her stepmother Jacqui said, “The two months that my daughter spent with her daughter was the most valuable and happiest moment.”

Patuawa-Tuilave gave up her life to save her child.

Not only Patuawa-Tuilave, but when all 'mothers' are in the crisis of choosing one person, the child or her own, mothers always make a resolution that her child must be the one to live. 

Meaning, for the child, the mother will readily give up her own life. 

Who would love something that they would devotedly give up their life?

I respect the name ‘mother,’ the name of the greatest love. 

And to our Heavenly Mother…

I beg for Your forgiveness and give thanks to You.

Thank You Mother.

Bitter coffee and sweet milk

A few days ago, I went to the library in my university.  I was a little sleepy so I wanted to take a rest for a while in a resting area.  When I got a cup of coffee from a vending machine and tried to sip it, I was so surprised it was too bitter.  It was not even black coffee. Normally, I love to drink milk coffee, for I like the sweet taste but on that particular day, the coffee was too bitter to finish.

I doubt if there’s something wrong with the vending machine so I was about to throw it away and at that moment, I could notice the ‘Milk’ button.  Then I remember the time when I took some milk with curiosity and regret getting it, because it was too much sweet.    So, I took some coffee immediately and started to mix with milk, holding both of them in two hands.  It looked like a science experiment or something.  When I thought it was mixed quite moderately.  I tasted it and found that it was just beautifully harmonized with bitter coffee and sweet milk.

And then I thought of the spiritual life in the truth.  I could realize that just like bitter coffee and sweet milk, even in the truth, many brothers and sisters are allowed around because we cannot complete the gospel work alone, even though everyone has his/her own individuality. If we try to do something ourselves, then we would definitely become useless existences who give bitter taste only to someone, just like bitter coffee.

However, if we are in harmony in God,even though we are too different with each personality, then I believe amazing miraculous work of God should be made, which one cannot do alone.  This must be what God really wants for us.

Coffee smells and tastes good when it is rotten.  In the same way, I pray we also could become shining jewelries of Heavenly Mother with beautiful harmony and unity.  Also, I would like to be the children of God who inscribe the fact deep in my heart that all those miracles were possible by the noble sacrifice of Heavenly Mother who gathered every one of us into Zion and changed and united us with Her love.

Even giving a share of her liver

Even giving a share of her liver

Trying to see the weather forecast, I turned on the TV.

Changing channels, I stopped; something caught my eyes.

The child seemed to be like a two year old and looked very sick.

The child was suffering genetic metabolic disorder.

As a result, the child had developmental disorder, since the he couldn't digest specific nutrients, and couldn't walk but crawl.

The child had to receive a liver transplant to be cured.

Holding her child, the mother just shed endless tears.

The mother decided to give her liver to her child.

The mother and the child were hospitalized together.

The child cried because of pain and fear.

Though the mother had to go through many examinations, she cried feeling sorry for her child instead of her pain.

The mother gave her child one third of her liver.

Right after the child woke up from anesthetic, he was looking for his mother.

Mother is a person that can only be described with limited words, that is, ‘love.’ She really has something that is so great.

It reminded me about Heavenly Mother who is always sorry thinking that is insufficient, even though She gives out all of Her flesh and blood.

My God the Mother, who is still praying for me...

I give thanks again and again...

Mom's message

Mom’s message

“Why isn't she coming home yet? It’s so late!”

Repeating her words,she was in a dither.

It was all because of my younger sister who still hasn't come home in this late night.

She waits for her call and after a while, she finally grabs her cellphone.

My mom didn't really call her children unless it was something special.

But it was an exception for me and my sister.

It was even more of an exception, when I used to live apart from my family.

I received mom’s text messages every single day.

Though I had my cellphone like my alter ego, I couldn't really reply her messages all the time.

I just felt bad so I couldn't possibly delete her messages, so they just piled up.

Her messages were short and concise, and didn't contain any fancy modifiers or emoticons.However, out of others, they were the friendliest messages, and messages that I could really feel the warmth.

‘I love you darling.’

‘Cheer up pumpkin.’

‘Don’t hang around late at night and go home early.’

‘Are you eating well enough?’

Though I scrolled down and down the messages that I have received, the only difference was the date and time. They were nothing special, but just messages worrying about me.

It could be consider as ‘no big deal, they are just messages,’ but sending those messages, she would have been all anxious, pressing the buttons one by one, trying to send her true heart.

Like the palm of my hand, I can visualize about her thinking about her child all day long, and finally grabbing her cellphone since she couldn't possibly stand still.

In contrary, I am just busy thinking about myself.

However, in a mother’s mind, there is nothing about herself, but full of thoughts for her children.

What’s the use of me talking about Heavenly Mother’s love who gave up Herself for me, the one who was blinded by greed and arrogance?

I cannot repay even with my whole life, or even mimic Heavenly Mother’s love and concern. Receiving Her love and concern, I am the most happiest person in this world.