(Clearwisdom.net) For most smokers, quitting smoking is very difficult. It can seem harder than trying to grow wings and fly. For my dad, the process of finally quitting was a miracle.
My dad began smoking in his teens and smoked for more than forty years. For as long as I can remember, his old tobacco pipe was his constant companion. He rolled his own cigarettes whenever he had free time. Sometimes I would do it with him. In fact, when I remember my childhood, I think of rolling cigarettes with him. He had tried to quit smoking several times but it seemed to me that he only tried to quit to please my mom.
As I grew older and my dad entered middle age, his health deteriorated from a combination of hard work and heavy smoking. Quitting smoking became necessary for his health. However, his decades of addiction had made him unsuccessful in his battle to quit.
Making matters worse was that after retiring, my dad spent more time relaxing and doing leisurely activities. The tobacco pipe became a part of his mouth even though he knew smoking is harmful. He often joked to my mother that he did not seem to have an ounce of hope that he would be able to quit smoking. My mom would joke back, "You have been saying that since your previous life." They often bantered and made fun of each other which became a part of their happy life together.
My mom is a Falun Dafa practitioner, and she has stayed true to her faith despite the horrific persecution that began in 1999. She has persisted in practicing cultivation. One day in 2000, my mom said to my dad, "It is about time to stop smoking, dear! The whole house smells of tobacco and Master's photo is hanging right here." My dad paused and said respectfully, "Yes, you are right. I should smoke outside to avoid choking your Master." No one in my family paid a lot of attention to his reply.
My dad said to my mom a couple of weeks later, "It is strange. I haven't smoked since then; I don't even have cravings to smoke my pipe." Mom was happy and asked how he had been able to quit for half a month. When my dad said he had no idea, my mom reminded him of the last time he went to smoke outside. She asked him if he thought it possible that Master Li helped him quit smoking because he showed heartfelt respect to Master. After thinking it over for a while, my dad said, "I should thank Master Li. I finally was able to quit after so many years." Many of our relatives knew that my dad quit smoking but did not know how he did it. My family often retells this unforgettable experience. Many thanks to Master Li Hongzhi!
Category: Good is Rewarded
