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| Zaina Viveca Betita Pedrosa at 5 |
The trials of life are never designed just for those who are already of age as to be strong enough to bear the burdens of pain and sorrow. It happens even to the tender body and soul of a little child. Some even from the time of conception. It is sometimes unthinkable and paradoxical, by way of our natural perception, why Heavenly Father allows these tests of life to happen to innocent children, who are yet unaccountable for sin and so young and inexperienced as to bear the weight of adversity. But it always happens and at times even serious enough as to inflict the heart and bring tears to concern loved ones.
During Jesus’ ministry with His disciples, “…he saw a man which was blind from his birth. And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind? Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him” (see John 9:1-3).
During Jesus’ ministry with His disciples, “…he saw a man which was blind from his birth. And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind? Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him” (see John 9:1-3).
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| Her birthday dress |
The trials that each of us experience, should be deeply understood as part of God’s dealings with man. In fact it is part of the purpose why we are here, even a manifestation of Heavenly Father’s great plan of happiness. Whether we suffer from it during the most tender and vulnerable times of life or during the entire course of our mortal journey, is a matter that we should always accept with forbearance and faith. After all the ultimate promise for those who overcome is so glorious that the Lord himself described it, thus: “To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne (Revelation 3:21). He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son (Revelation 21:7).”
These trials come to us in different types and in different situations, and even in different levels of pain and sorrow. But it is always our attitude in accepting the miseries and sufferings of life that we become stronger to bear the burdens attendant to every ordeals that we encounter.
These trials come to us in different types and in different situations, and even in different levels of pain and sorrow. But it is always our attitude in accepting the miseries and sufferings of life that we become stronger to bear the burdens attendant to every ordeals that we encounter.
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| The family |
I observed this positive attitude towards trials with my 5-year-old granddaughter Zaina Viveca. When she was seriously injured, her first word to her mommy was, “Don’t get angry mommy, it is my fault. I’m sorry, I have not been very careful.” To her grandma who visited her, “Please don’t cry, because I will also cry.” Grandma had to go to the bathroom to hide her tears out of pity for such a tender child bearing her agony with confidence, courage and faith.
Even in the midst of her facing a consequential longer recuperation as a result of the gravity and severity of the injury, yet she remains to be just as happy as a little child should be. She feels no enmity to anybody who might have contributed to the accident, but accepted it as her own mistake. She was so brave as to face her trial with greater optimism and positivity that she will soon recover and be back to her normal life.
I personally have been taught by her. When I first learned about the accident, I was kind of hysterical--- crying like a baby. Several silly questions surfaced into my negative mind. But I felt humbled as I was informed of her personal response to what had happened even as a tender soul. By her ability to positively accept the depth of her trials, I perceived in her, even at this time of her early childhood, what Elder Marvin J. Ashton said, “Greatness is best measured by how well an individual responds to the happenings in life that appear totally unfair, unreasonable, and undeserved.” Indeed, what happened to her in her yet very tender years is kind of “unfair, unreasonable and underserved.” But her response was something which unbelievably could have been done or conceived by such a very young soul that she is.
I personally have been taught by her. When I first learned about the accident, I was kind of hysterical--- crying like a baby. Several silly questions surfaced into my negative mind. But I felt humbled as I was informed of her personal response to what had happened even as a tender soul. By her ability to positively accept the depth of her trials, I perceived in her, even at this time of her early childhood, what Elder Marvin J. Ashton said, “Greatness is best measured by how well an individual responds to the happenings in life that appear totally unfair, unreasonable, and undeserved.” Indeed, what happened to her in her yet very tender years is kind of “unfair, unreasonable and underserved.” But her response was something which unbelievably could have been done or conceived by such a very young soul that she is.
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| Attending Church Primary Activity |
In the midst of her sufferings, she tried to just ignore and seemed not to be bothered by the physical discomforts and soreness brought about by the injury. She doesn’t want the pains and sufferings to have a place of residency in her yet very young life. Such attitude is even exemplified and demonstrated as she continues to desire to attend church and be present in her kindergarten school despite her yet inability to walk. Thanks to her dearly beloved mother who is always by her side, supporting her in all that she wanted to do and accomplish notwithstanding her crisis.
Perhaps she will not remember her excellent and admirable reaction to adversity this early in her life. But in the days to come when she will be able to read this account, which I purposely wrote as part of the chronicle of her life, she will be able to realize that she is meant for greatness and her earlier attitude of life, in the face of an enormous challenge, is one that will lead her to success. In due time she will be able to comprehend what Shakespeare wrote:
Sweet are the uses of adversity,
Which like the toad, ugly and venomous,
Wears yet a precious jewel in his head.
Perhaps she will not remember her excellent and admirable reaction to adversity this early in her life. But in the days to come when she will be able to read this account, which I purposely wrote as part of the chronicle of her life, she will be able to realize that she is meant for greatness and her earlier attitude of life, in the face of an enormous challenge, is one that will lead her to success. In due time she will be able to comprehend what Shakespeare wrote:
Sweet are the uses of adversity,
Which like the toad, ugly and venomous,
Wears yet a precious jewel in his head.
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| With her sister Jera and Primary kids |
Someday she will understand that just as a knife becomes sharp with continued grinding, so we become more spiritually polished and perfected by the trials that we suffer. Paul taught that we are “…heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
“For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us” (Romans 8:17-18).
Our collective family prayers and fasting and sincere pleadings to Heavenly Father may have contributed to her recuperation, but it was the unbending faith and courage of this little child in her trials that draw the power of divine healing from heaven. Nothing comes in great power and intensity in this life than the faith and sincere petition of a little child to the One who dwells on high even God.
“For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us” (Romans 8:17-18).
Our collective family prayers and fasting and sincere pleadings to Heavenly Father may have contributed to her recuperation, but it was the unbending faith and courage of this little child in her trials that draw the power of divine healing from heaven. Nothing comes in great power and intensity in this life than the faith and sincere petition of a little child to the One who dwells on high even God.
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| Advance birthday celebration at school |
Yet more than the pains of injury, she also suffered an even harder blow of adversity earlier, at age two, which emotional consequence she might carry long into her mortal journey. Estrangement, like divorce, is such a venomous evil that brings pangs of sorrow and distress as to inject emotional pain that may take a long time of healing. However, as she continues to trust in the Lord she will have His promise, “…in this world your joy is not full, but in me your joy is full.” (D&C 101:36.)
The Lord so loved little children that when His disciples asked Him, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?
“…Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them,
“And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
“Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
“And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me” (Matthew 18:1-5).
They are so precious to Him that He declared with such an sternest warning: “But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea” (Matthew 18:6).
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| The sisters |
As she grows in the nurture of the gospel she will come to realize that all the trials that she had gone through and will go through are temporary and only a proving event in her mortal probation. All will come to pass. More opportunities will, in due time, be available to help her overcome the challenges of life.
Her childhood may have been battered by unwanted events and occurrences, but all have its divine purpose. I know the Lord is by her side and provides her each day with the comfort she needed in her sufferings. Children as so special to the Lord, that during His visit to the Nephites, “…He commanded that their little children should be brought.
“So they brought their little children and set them down upon the ground round about him, and Jesus stood in the midst; and the multitude gave way till they had all been brought unto him.”
Then …”he wept, and the multitude bare record of it, and he took their little children, one by one, and blessed them, and prayed unto the Father for them.
“And when he had done this he wept again;
“And he spake unto the multitude, and said unto them: Behold your little ones.
“And as they looked to behold they cast their eyes towards heaven, and they saw the heavens open, and they saw angels descending out of heaven as it were in the midst of fire; and they came down and encircled those little ones about, and they were encircled about with fire; and the angels did minister unto them” (3 Nephi 17: 11-12; 21-24).
Zaina Viveca may not yet be able to fully comprehend the great love and ministering power that the Lord has for her at this time of her trials. But on the day when she will be able to understand these writings and look back to that awful past of a child’s trial of faith, she will gain an enlarged vision and an advanced perspective about the purpose of life and salvation through the Atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Her childhood may have been battered by unwanted events and occurrences, but all have its divine purpose. I know the Lord is by her side and provides her each day with the comfort she needed in her sufferings. Children as so special to the Lord, that during His visit to the Nephites, “…He commanded that their little children should be brought.
“So they brought their little children and set them down upon the ground round about him, and Jesus stood in the midst; and the multitude gave way till they had all been brought unto him.”
Then …”he wept, and the multitude bare record of it, and he took their little children, one by one, and blessed them, and prayed unto the Father for them.
“And when he had done this he wept again;
“And he spake unto the multitude, and said unto them: Behold your little ones.
“And as they looked to behold they cast their eyes towards heaven, and they saw the heavens open, and they saw angels descending out of heaven as it were in the midst of fire; and they came down and encircled those little ones about, and they were encircled about with fire; and the angels did minister unto them” (3 Nephi 17: 11-12; 21-24).
Zaina Viveca may not yet be able to fully comprehend the great love and ministering power that the Lord has for her at this time of her trials. But on the day when she will be able to understand these writings and look back to that awful past of a child’s trial of faith, she will gain an enlarged vision and an advanced perspective about the purpose of life and salvation through the Atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ.
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| The celebrant |
Today, August 28, 2019, she turns five years old. Despite her plaster cast, she is very excited for this, her birthday, to come. Her most caring and loving mother was taken aback and was carried into the heights of the same excitement, seeing her so happy and unconcerned about her situation and physical condition. There may not be a sumptuous feast, but as always the pick of the bunch in the menu---the love of family---is always laid with delight on the tabletop. We wish her the best for today and throughout the coming years of her life. May Heavenly Father continue to provide comfort to her very young life through the Holy Spirit and may His divine healing power restore and fully recuperate her injury. May Heavenly Father’s love beacon as a guiding light through her yet long and challenging journey to the blissful shores of life.
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