(Minghui.org) I survived a medical accident while giving birth to my daughter. I never fully recovered and I was always tired, my joints hurt, and I had frequent headaches and fevers. I tried both Chinese and western medical treatments but nothing helped.
I divorced when I was forty-two because my husband was having an affair. I had to raise our daughter by myself. Life was a painful and dark tunnel. I saw no hope. I felt miserable and helpless. I wondered why I had to live such a hard life. I frequently wept.
Some of my colleagues practiced Falun Dafa. They knew my situation and suggested I try practicing. I obtained the book Zhuan Falun in 1998. As soon as I opened it I knew Falun Dafa was special. I read the entire book in three nights. Many questions that troubled me were answered. For example, I understood the purpose of life and why we experience hardships. I saw hope for my future.
It was amazing! Without spending a penny all my diseases disappeared. I followed the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance to improve my xinxing. I began to place others first and I became a kinder, better person.
My daughter went to college in 2003. One day she told me that she was in a relationship with another student. His father was a high-level official and had a military background. His mother was a teacher and the director at a school.
I suggested my daughter tell him that I was a practitioner because I was concerned that our families might not be a good fit. He loved her and didn’t care. I thought perhaps they were predestined to marry.
They didn't want me to attend the wedding so they rescheduled it and didn't tell me. The son-in-law's manager was invited and he knew I practiced Falun Dafa. They worried that it might bring them trouble.
When I realized what they had done and why I felt sad. It really bothered me. I felt it was ridiculous that the bride's mother was not invited to the wedding! I had the urge to go to the wedding and confront them. But I realized that my acting that way wouldn't be appropriate.
Master said,
“So we must cultivate in this complicated environment and be able to endure the toughest hardships of all. Meanwhile, we must have a heart of great forbearance.” (Lecture Nine, Zhuan Falun, 2014 version)
Master also said,
“We say that when you take a step back in a conflict, you will find the seas and the skies boundless, and it will certainly be a different situation.” (Lecture Nine, Zhuan Falun, 2014 version)
I reminded myself that I must handle the situation as a cultivator.
My in-laws were deceived by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) propaganda. They couldn't tell right from wrong. Weren't they the real victims? The wedding was important to my daughter. I should wish her the best and let go of my hurt feelings.
I bought some nice candies and gave them to my colleagues. I told them my daughter was getting married. They all congratulated her. I appreciated their good wishes, but deep in my heart I still felt unsettled.
Master said,
“Since you’re consciously and knowingly enduring hardships, and your heart isn’t moved while clearly seeing your self-interest infringed upon, aren’t you cultivating yourself?” (“Teaching the Fa in New York City,” Lectures in the United States)
One week after the wedding, I called my daughter and invited the couple to dinner at my home. As we ate I asked them, “Would you like to come here for dinner every week?” They both agreed. I didn't say a word about the wedding.
I was sentenced to five years in prison in 2009 because of my faith. I was subjected to brainwashing, deprived of sleep, verbally abused, and tortured.
The police went to my daughter and threatened her. She wrote me a letter and said that her parents-in-law forced her husband to divorce her because I was a practitioner. The prison guards opened her letter and read it before they gave it to me. They tried to use my emotions for my daughter to destroy me. Thanks to my firm belief in Master Li (the founder) and the Fa, I wasn't moved.
My daughter later wrote another letter and said that she was remarrying her husband. Her husband so deeply regretted the divorce that he wouldn't come home. His parents had no choice but to apologize to her. They asked her to remarry him.
Soon afterward my daughter visited me in prison and told me she was pregnant. She gave birth to a boy.
I was released in 2014. I studied the Fa a lot and looked inward. I also memorized the Fa. It healed the pain in my heart.
My grandson was already a year old. After I was released I bought him some gifts. I only met the in-laws a few times. I wanted to clarify the truth to them and awaken them.
When my daughter's in-laws came to visit every week I tried to tell them about Falun Dafa, but my daughter was very resistant. Her in-laws didn't want to read the truth-clarification booklets, so I taped all kinds of truth-clarification information on the walls and doors so that they could easily see them.
My daughter was pregnant again and gave birth to a girl. Her parents-in-law went to babysit at her home every day. I went to visit them once a week so that I could spend more time with them and clarify the truth to them.
The in-laws had been deceived by the CCP propaganda. How should I clarify the truth to them? I realized I must be more considerate of them. If I demonstrated compassion my behavior would show them that Falun Dafa is good.
Master taught us,
“You should always be benevolent and kind to others and consider others when doing anything. Whenever you encounter a problem, you should first consider whether others can put up with this matter or if it will hurt anyone. In doing so, there will not be any problems. Therefore, in cultivation, you should follow a higher and higher standard for yourself.” (Lecture Four, Zhuan Falun, 2014 version)
When I visited my daughter I brought their favorite food. I also did the housework and chatted with them while I worked. When the meal was ready, I babysat the granddaughter so they could eat first. The in-laws refused to eat leftover food and threw it away. I told them not to waste food and I would eat the leftovers. They were very surprised.
I visited them every week for several months. One day, my daughter's mother-in-law said, “You're so healthy and energetic.” “I used to be very sick,” I said, “When I was giving birth to my daughter I nearly died. Although I survived, I suffered from lots of prognostic symptoms. I tried various treatments but nothing helped until I started to practice Falun Dafa. Falun Dafa teaches people the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance, and how to be a good person.” She said, “My husband says that you aren't like what was described in the media. You are very good and very kind.”
I began to slowly clarify the truth to them. I told them that Falun Dafa is practiced by millions of people around the world. I told them that the CCP is lying about Dafa. I gave them a copy of Zhuan Falun and said, “You should read this book yourselves and you'll understand.” I also gave them a copy of the criminal complaint I filed against the former CCP head as well as some truth-clarification letters I wrote to the security personnel in my neighborhood and the managers at my workplace.
My daughter's mother-in-law later told me, “I've read everything you gave me. Zhuan Falun is all about how to be a good person and how to walk a righteous path. It's completely the opposite of what's told by the media. We didn't know the truth about Falun Dafa. Now I understand. Practitioners are great. Although you are severely persecuted, you never give up and continue to speak the truth. No ordinary people can accomplish this. You are great. Your Master is great!”
She said, “I told my son, ‘The CCP is wrong. Falun Dafa is good. Don't disturb your mother-in-law while she's doing the exercises.’ Your daughter told me that it's good for you to practice Falun Dafa. It strengthens your body.”
Since then, she reminded me to send righteous thoughts. If I'm in the middle of something she takes over and tells me it's time to send righteous thoughts. My son-in-law also told the grandchildren not to bother me if I’m sending righteous thoughts.
When I asked my daughter and the in-laws to quit the CCP and its affiliated organizations, they all agreed. They also say, “Falun Dafa is good. Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance is good.” When my daughter's father-in-law had to undergo surgery he and his wife repeatedly said those magic words before the operation.
Cultivation has brought our family closer. The past misunderstandings have all been dissolved. I know it's the power of the Fa and compassion.
I've never mentioned the wedding or the divorce to the in-laws. Those incidents should be forgotten because it no longer matters. What's most important is cultivating well and improving my xinxing, and elevating my level. I'm so grateful for Master's salvation.