My Husband’s Grandma Calls Me Her Dearest

(Minghui.org) I noticed a book titled Falun Gong at my friend’s home one day in 1995. As soon as I finished reading the first paragraph, I felt pretty sure that this was what I had been looking for. I was so excited to find it! Ever since then, I’ve been on my journey of self-cultivation. Following Master Li’s (Falun Dafa’s founder) teachings of the practice’s principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance, I put others ahead of myself, searched within for my own faults when I encountered conflicts, and became a better person.

I was born into a happy family. Both of my parents are loving. As the only girl in my family, I grew up being pampered. After I got married, my husband and my in-laws have never said “no” to me. My life was calm and smooth until my husband’s grandma came to live with us in 1993.

My husband’s grandma was born into a rich family. She never had to work in the field when she was growing up. After she got married, her mother-in-law gave her a hard time for not being able to do any farm work. Her husband passed away when she was 26, and her mother-in-law began to treat her even worse. She had to move out with her two daughters and suffered much hardship. The ups and downs in her life gave her an unyielding personality. No one could persuade her to change her mind.

She started off treating me how she was treated by her mother-in-law. She would stare at me when my voice or laughter was a little loud and gave me a straight face when I greeted her. She was overprotective of her daughter, her grandson, and granddaughter.

Even though she didn’t say anything in front of me, she said much behind my back. One of my neighbors told me that she instructed my mother-in-law how to show authority by giving me rules. Little by little, I noticed that my mother-in-law and husband changed. They cared about me less and less and became colder. I couldn’t bear these changes and often bickered with my husband. No matter how wrong I had been treated, his grandma wouldn’t allow my mother-in-law to mediate.

I used to be healthy and outgoing, but eventually became depressed and often suffered chest pain. One day when I was making dumpling wrappers, my husband’s grandma said the wrappers I made were too large. She rolled them into one clump without asking. I was so mad that I put down the rolling pin and left.

When my husband returned, I told him what happened. He hit me instead of showing any sympathy. I cried loudly. His mom and grandma were behind the door one meter away, but they wouldn’t come out to help me. I was extremely angry and cried louder. However, they completely ignored me. I knew that old woman wouldn’t allow my mother-in-law to come out.

Thinking back on all the unfair things they had done to me and how my parents had cared for me, I felt deeply grieved. Complaints against that old woman filled my heart.

Master told us,

“To be a practitioner you should, for starters, be able to "not hit back when attacked, not talk back when insulted." (The Ninth Talk, Zhuan Falun)

I didn’t know how to cultivate myself at first, and couldn’t tolerate times of conflict. Even though I tried, I tolerated them with tears in my eyes and felt I had been wronged. I studied the Fa when I couldn’t get over it.

Master told us,

“In cultivation, when you’re really having trouble with somebody, or when other people treat you badly, it could be one of two scenarios. One is that you might have mistreated them in your previous life. You feel wronged, "Why are they treating me like that?" Well, why did you treat them like that before? You say, "I don’t know anything about back then. This lifetime has nothing to do with that lifetime." But it doesn’t work like that.” (The Fourth Talk, Zhuan Falun)

I eventually calmed down after realizing that conflicts happen due to karmic debts. Master has taught us to be compassionate and treat everyone well, and measure ourselves according to the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. Gradually, I was able to forgive grandma for what she had done and even put myself in her shoes.

Grandma worked hard all her life. She hasn’t stopped working even though she is close to 90. I do my best with the housework so that she can rest more. I do it because I genuinely care for her. I knew that she has experienced a lot of hardship raising her children by herself. I can imagine how hard it was for a woman farmer with bound feet to save enough money for her children’s education. Her older daughter graduated from college and became a professor. Her younger daughter graduated from junior college and became an accountant. Grandma has generously helped others in need as well. She is immensely grateful for those who have helped her and always does her best to pay it forward. I admire her for what she has done.

As she got older, she couldn’t take care of herself, so I did my best to attend to her. I did what she wished and bought or cooked any food that she likes. I took her to see the dentist and doctors as needed. When she was admitted to the hospital, I stayed there with her.

Grandma became nicer and nicer to me. She smiled as soon as she saw me and looked forward to my return from work every day. She often shared stories from her life with me, both happy and sad.

Grandma asked me while holding my hand, “Meng’er (my nickname,) you are so good! I didn’t take care of you when you were little, but you have taken care of me so well!” I replied, “Grandma, it’s not because of me. It’s because Falun Dafa is good and Master Li has taught me how to be good.” Looking at her smiling face, my heart was filled with love. All my old complaints against her were gone.

Grandma injured her chest bone in 2012 when she was 100 years old. The doctor didn’t suggest surgery because of her age. I couldn’t stand to see her suffer, so I told her, “Grandma, don’t be afraid. Falun Dafa’s Master will help you. Let’s repeat this phrase together, ‘Falun Dafa is great! Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is great!’”

Grandma nodded. I lead her word by word while counting with her fingers, “Fa-Lun-Da-Fa-Is-Great! Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance-Is-Great!” She eventually fell asleep.

The next morning grandma told me, “It worked! My pain stopped when I repeated those words!” I had to go to work during the day, so I told my mother-in-law to repeat them together with grandma.

When I went to visit grandma after work, she cried as soon as she saw me, “Falun Dafa is marvelous! We have repeated those words for a whole day. My pain is completely gone! We believe in Falun Dafa now! We believe in Master Li!”

Tears came to my eyes. Grandma used to worship Bodhisattva Guanyin. Though she knew that Falun Dafa was good, she thought she couldn’t give up her belief.

Grandma felt fine after a couple of weeks. Her doctor was amazed at her vitality. Seeing how I had taken care of grandma, other patients in the same hospital room praised me as a wonderful granddaughter. Grandma said with tears in her eyes, “You are my own granddaughter! You are my dearest! I would like to leave all my belongings to you...” She took off her ring and insisted on putting it on my finger.

Grandma passed away peacefully after her 101^st birthday.

My mother-in-law often repeats the auspicious phrases. She turns 87 this year, but is healthy and enjoys good vision and hearing as well as a sharp mind.

Thank you, great compassionate Master! You have purified me and lifted me up from this filthy world. You taught me the Great Law and the meaning of life. You have led me to the path of returning to my true origin! Thank you for all you have given me!