Rewards

     Seven-year-old Jonathan walked slowly into the kitchen, dropped his back pack on the floor and slumped into a chair, "Mom, how come when I'm good no one ever notices?"

     Mom pulled a chair next to Joanthan. "What do you mean?"

     "I try to do everything the teacher asks me to, but even when I do extra nice things, like share my pencils with Ben or help Jill find her books, no one notices. The only ones that get attention are the ones who get in trouble."

     "I'm sure your teacher notices all the good things you do, but with twenty-five kids in class it can be hard to give each one special attention every day. Your teacher has told me that you are helpful to her and you are a good example for your classmates."

     "I guess she notices, but it just seems to me that the bad kids get all of the attention."

     Mom squeezed his hand. "Sometimes it seems that way, even to me! And many times you are going to feel like you never get anything being a good boy. But Heavenly Father has promised that those who do good will receive rewards from Him in His time." She reached for the Bible on top of the piano. "Listen to what Jesus teaches us about rewards. 'And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogue and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut the door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly."

     "But, Mom, that talks about prayer and fasting. I'm talking about being good."

     "Isn't being good just as important?" Mom asked. "I know Heavenly Father will bless you for all the good things you do whether anyone else notices or not."

     "I guess." Jonathan shrugged.

     As Mom stood up to answer the telephone she added, "You can always ask Heavenly Father if it's true. I know that He'll answer your prayers."

     Jonathan spent the rest of the afternoon and evening thinking of what he and Mom had talked about and included it in his prayers. He was still thinking about it as he drifted off to sleep.

     The next morning Jonathan jumped eagerly out of bed and ran into Mom's room. "Mom, you were right!"

     Mom looked up from making her bed and smiled, "I'm certainly happy about getting something right. What am I right about today?"

     "Rewards!" Jonathan tossed her a pillow. "I asked Heavenly Father to help me understand and I had the neatest dream. I'm sure it was His way of answering me."

     Mom sat down and patted the bed beside her. "I'm happy that the Lord heard and answered your prayers so quickly."

     "Do you want to hear about my dream?" Jonathan asked as he sat by her.

     "I'd love to."

     "I was in Heaven. It was so beautiful and peaceful. I was walking up a soft, sandy road that was so sparkly it looked like gold and silver. There was green grass on each side of the road and further out a beautiful stream of water and tons of flowers everywhere. There were all kinds of animals playing together in the grass, too. I could have stayed there and watched all day, but then I saw Jesus and he wanted me to go with Him."

     "Did you?"

     "Ah, Mom, of course! Who wouldn't? He took my hand and told me how happy he was that I was trying to be good. As we walked he showed me the beautiful houses along the way. Then he stopped in front of a beautiful castle. Oh, Mom, it was so neat!"

     "I'm sure it was."

     "There were lots of people there. And they were all so happy. It felt good to be there. Jesus said that this would be my house if I continued to do my best."

     Then Jonathan sat quietly. Mom snuggled him closer and said, "Sounds like a wonderful answer to your prayers."

      "That isn 't all of it. All the houses we passed were nice, but they didn't feel as peaceful and happy as the castle. I asked Jesus why. He said that the people that lived in those houses had received their rewards on earth. They were good people, but had done those good things to be seen of men and that we should do things because we want to do right and not because someone will see us and tell us how good we are." Jonathan stopped again and cleared his throat. Mom knew he was trying not to cry so she just held him and waited.

     "But best of all, Mom, Jesus hugged me. That felt better than anything else in all  of Heaven." This time Jonathan did let the tears fall. "And, oh, Mom, I hope I can always do good no matter  what so I can really get a hug from Jesus."

     His Mom continued to hold him close and wiped a tear from her own eye. "I hope we all can, Jonathan, because that's the very best reward anyone could ask for."