(Minghui.org) As a Falun Gong practitioner, I'm kind to others and take personal interest lightly. I consider others first whenever I do or say something, and look within when facing conflicts. I also set very strict requirements for myself.
My first husband and I had two daughters. I remarried after he passed away. My current husband and his ex-wife have a son. The following are a few stories that I'd like to share with you.
Most parents find that raising and educating a child in today's society is wrought with difficulties. However, whenever I run into something hard to handle, I view things from the perspective of Falun Dafa’s principles: Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance. As a result, my troubles seem to quickly disappear, making me a very happy stepmother.
Master Li Hongzhi said:
“I often say that if all a person wants is the well-being of others and if this is without the slightest personal motivation or personal understanding, what he says will move the listener to tears. I have not only taught you Dafa but have also left you my demeanor. While working, your tone of voice, your kindheartedness, and your reasoning can change a person’s heart, whereas commands never could! If others are not convinced deep down inside but only superficially comply, they will still conduct themselves according to their own will when no one is around to see them.” (“Clearheadedness” in Essentials For Further Advancement)
One day, my step-son told me that his company had asked him to work on a particular Sunday. When I found out that he had lied to me, I didn't get angry with him. Instead, I said, “How would you feel if everyone around you no longer trusted you, due to your lying?”
Then, I told him a story about a shepherd boy who repeatedly deceived people into thinking that a wolf is attacking the village's flock. When a wolf really did appear, the boy's cries for help went unanswered, as everyone thought it was just another false alarm. In the end, the boy was eaten by the wolf.
Another time, he lied to me about his salary. I kindly told him: “Our family has limited income. Your parents live frugally to save money for your future. Since you're a young man now, you should be considerate of your parents.” He was touched and said that he would definitely change his ways.
He used to come home very late from work, and even turned off his cell phone so that I could not reach him. Now, things are different. He sends me messages every day and comes straight home after work.
When he has to put in overtime, he always texts me: “Mom, I'm working overtime, tonight. Enjoy your dinner. Don't wait for me.” When I see his messages, I am very happy.
One day, my eldest daughter and I were riding in a taxi when we started talking about her sister who had a car. I said, “It's not a good idea for her to ask money from other relatives to buy gasoline.”
The driver commented, “I overheard your conversation and I can tell that you're both good people.”
I said, “We're Falun Gong practitioners and are always considerate of others.”
I continued, “I remarried after my former husband had passed away. I have two daughters from that marriage. My current husband has a son. We had an apartment house, which was later demolished to make way for a new building complex.
“To compensate us for our house, the contractors offered us two separate, new apartments. My second daughter and her boyfriend are waiting for one of the apartments to be completed so that they can move in and get married.
“My son-in-law is the same age as my second daughter. I told my first daughter, “Why don't we give your step-brother the other apartment, so when he gets married in the future, he and his wife will have a nice place to live?
“My first daughter, who is also a Falun Gong practitioner, agreed right away. When her aunts later heard about our decision, they were very unhappy. Actually, it was my fault that I didn't consult with them on this. In the end, we all came to the conclusion that it'd be better if we would just lend the apartment unit to my step-son when he gets married.”
The driver said, “You're really amazing! Nowadays, brothers and sisters fight over just about everything. It's rare to find anyone like you!”
My first daughter said, “In order to be good people, we follow Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. We are kind to others, which is totally different from how the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) portrays us to the public. In order to justify the persecution, they first had to viciously slander and frame Falun Gong.”
I added, “Today, we have run into a lot of traffic, which provided you with a good opportunity to learn the facts about Falun Gong. Are you a member of the CCP, Youth League, or the Young Pioneers?” He said he was a member of the Young Pioneers. I advised him to quit his membership in this CCP-affiliated organization. He happily agreed.
When we arrived at our destination, we paid the driver and exited the car. He also got out of the car, stood at attention, and respectfully saluted us.
While our former house was being demolished, we rented an apartment on the first floor of a six-story building.
My husband renovates homes for a living. Thus, we took it upon ourselves to repair and spruce up the entire apartment we're now living in.
No matter where I go, I always remember Master’s teachings:
“That’s because a practitioner should demonstrate that he is a good person wherever he is.” (“Teaching the Fa and Answering Questions in Guangzhou” in Zhuan Falun Fajie, The Law of Zhuan Falun Explained).
I routinely clean the stairs from the sixth floor down to the first floor. I live in the east end of the building. When I clean the basement on my side of the building, I also clean the basement on the other half of the building.
Since elderly people generally use handrails, while going up and down the stairs, I make a point of cleaning all of the handrails. When it snows, I clean the road in front of the whole building, so that residents and their guests can safely walk on the sidewalk.
One elder woman commented, “It's really hard to find a good person like you, nowadays!”
I said, “I am a Falun Gong practitioner. My Master teaches us to be good people. This is how I should be!”