Dafa Teaches Me to Be a Good Daughter-In-Law

(Minghui.org) I began practicing Falun Dafa in 1996. My husband is the second eldest of six siblings, and his parents were especially fond of him. Before his father passed away from an advanced stage of lung cancer, all of the siblings agreed that each would contribute 240 yuan annually to support their mother. However, after he passed away, none of them were willing to follow through with the arrangement. They would only give her money if she asked for something specifically and, eventually, they stopped supporting her altogether.

My mother-in-law was so upset that she considered taking them to court. This went on for two years. Eventually, my husband and I decided to have her live with us. I thought that, since she had at least one son, my husband, I would never regret our decision. I never forced her to go anywhere she didn’t want to or where she wasn’t welcome. I was fully prepared to care for her long-term.

My daily interactions with my mother-in-law were sometimes challenging. At first, I felt that she was disturbing my peace. Whenever her stubbornness clashed with my own notions, my human attachments would surface, and I felt uneasy. However, as a Dafa practitioner, we have a powerful tool: looking inward. That feeling of uneasiness reminded me to examine myself and discover my own attachments. By studying the Fa, Dafa’s principles became clearer to me. As my xinxing improved, my heart opened, and everything became easier and more harmonious.

My relationship with my mother-in-law continued to improve. People who did not know us often assumed we were mother and daughter. My mother-in-law always proudly corrected them, saying, “No! She is my daughter-in-law.”

A few years later, my mother-in-law’s health deteriorated, and she developed Alzheimer’s and could no longer take care of herself. She was totally incontinent and often soiled on the bed, the quilt, and the floor. She even forgot to turn off the water faucet from time to time. Whenever this happened, I comforted her instead of fussing at her.

At first when I had to clean up her messes, I could not help vomiting. By studying the Fa and looking inward, I found that I was afraid of dirtiness. I realized that the real dirt wasn’t from the outside, but rather inside me. When Master took away the substance of my fear of dirt, I was fine.

My mother-in-law’s mental state took a sharp turn for the worse after the sudden death of her son, my husband, from cancer. Someone suggested sending her to live with another one of her children. However, I reminded myself that I’m a Dafa practitioner and should act according to Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance. These are not just empty words. They mean that, when we face difficulties, we must take responsibility and fulfill our duties.

In that moment, compassion arose in my heart and I overcame all fear of hardship and loss. I no longer calculated gains or losses among the siblings when it came to supporting their elderly mother. I simply focused on caring for her with all my heart.

Looking back on my cultivation path over the past 20 years, I am filled with deep gratitude. It is our compassionate Master who has held my hand and guided me every step of the way. I truly cherish the time that Master has given us. In the limited time that remains, I must cultivate myself more diligently, do the three things well, follow Master closely, fulfill the sacred mission of saving sentient beings, and return with him to my true home!