Let Us All Be Grateful

Hak Ja Han Moon, The Road to a World of Peace [Excerpts]

Yes, first we must lead a life of gratitude. Even though it is not easy to be grateful for everything at all times, but a grateful heart brings unity of mind and body. When we empty out our hearts and repent, a life of gratitude can begin. We must always train ourselves to experience and remain awake to the fact that our Heavenly Parent is constantly with us, dwelling with us and sharing our joys and sufferings. Always be joyful; pray unceasingly. By so doing, those around you will find happiness, whether in the tiniest thing or in the greatest adventure.

Second, we must live a life of forgiveness. When my husband was unjustly incarcerated at the prison at Danbury, he said not to pray for him but to pray for the United States. He invested all efforts to move the people of the United States, in order to save the world. As a result, many American leaders and Christian pastors took the lead in bringing about an end to the Cold War; later on, they also joined hands for the interreligious peace movement. When we forgive the sins of others as you would forgive yours, amazing blessings are given to us from Heaven.

Third, we should live a life of love. True love is a love by which we continuously live for others, investing in others and forgetting that we have done so. Those people that live for their own sake may fare well in the beginning, but they will face decline in the end. This is the law of nature…

Fourth, we must live a life of unity. Our original minds and conscience, and our bodies and minds, must become one centered on Heaven’s true love. When parents and children live in harmony within the family, when nations live in harmony within the world, and when the spiritual world and physical world harmonize, then and only then can an eternal ideal world of peace come about. There is no unity where there is no center. It is easy for siblings to fight when parents are not present. This happens because the siblings do not fully appreciate or understand the parents’ desire and do not understand the parents’ deep heart. Only by establishing a connection of heart-centered on true love can we understand our parents’ desire and heart. Only in this way can we become one in heart, one in body, one in mind, and one in harmony, with our parents. This occurs when our thoughts, emotions, words, and actions are one. When this takes place, we can attend God in our lives as our Parent. When this happens, you and I won’t be separated people. We will instead become one family, brothers and sisters of the same lineage. Then, we can heal and bring an end to the numerous agonies and struggles within ourselves, and, at the same time, we can bring an end to wars between nations, which are actually brothers in this one world under God…

Gratitude brings about heavenly fortune; forgiveness opens the hearts of people, and love moves people’s hearts. Let us all be grateful for everything, forgive our enemies, love our neighbors as we love ourselves, and work in oneness for peace.”

—Hak Ja Han Moon, The Path To The Future World Of Peace, Global Youth Festival, September 23, 2014 [Speech delivered by Rev. Sun Jin Moon, Director General, FFWPU International, Chiba, Makuhari, Japan].