(Clearwisdom.net) My mother turns 88 years old this year. She started learning Falun Dafa during the first lunar month of 1999. Being illiterate, she studied Falun Dafa mainly by listening to Teacher's lecture tapes. After July 20, 1999, when the persecution began, facing the overwhelming slander and lies about Falun Dafa, she was also affected, and there were times when she didn't study the Fa or practice the exercises. However, because of benevolent Teacher's kind hints, she was able to eliminate the interference and continue on her path of cultivation.
Everyone who sees my mother says she doesn't look 88 years old at all. She speaks loud and clear, her mind is sharp, and she is very organized. She alone takes care of her and my father's daily needs, including grocery shopping, cooking and laundry. Her hair is completely silver but she has very few wrinkles on her face. Although her feet were bound when she was young, she walks at a fast pace for a person of her age.
I visit my parents frequently. Seeing that my mother's health is so good and that she can take care of my father, I am very grateful. Shortly before the lunar New Year, she became a great-grandmother. She has visited my older brother's home twice to see her granddaughter-in-law and great grandson. Four generations live happily and harmoniously together. Seeing this healthy, good-tempered, and happy great grandma, I can't help but think that life is great because of Falun Dafa cultivation.
It was after the lunar new year of 1999 that one of our relatives introduced Falun Gong to my mother. She was 81 years old at the time. She has since joined millions of people in cultivation. Every morning she walks twenty minutes to the practice site, and every evening she attends a group study session.
In recent years I have frequently visited her and my father. Sometimes I stay for several days in order to study the Fa, do exercises and send forth righteous thoughts with my mother, and read Teacher's new articles to her. We exchange our thoughts while encountering tests and tribulations, so we can both improve from them. Last year my mother fell twice in one month. The second fall was more serious, such that she couldn't turn over while lying in bed. My older brother is a doctor. He gave her several kinds of medicine. For a moment she felt fear and didn't know what to do. She asked me what to do. I shared my experience with her and told her there is no need to worry as long as she follows what Teacher says and regards herself as a practitioner. In that case the Falun that Teacher gives her will also help to adjust her body. She understood. Thus with Teacher's merciful care, she recovered in two weeks. During that period of time, I also kept sending forth righteous thoughts for her to eliminate the dark minions and rotten ghosts that were disturbing her.
After the Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party was published, my mother and I sat with my father and watched the video of the Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party. Since I clarify the truth about Falun Gong a lot to my father and he witnessed my mother's huge improvement in health since practicing, he finally understood and announced he would withdraw from the Communist Party using an alias. Recently his health has obviously improved. It is true that the whole family benefits when one person practices.
To be human is to suffer, especially while being sick. One of my friends told me that her mother is also 80 years old and has been bed-bound for several years. Although she hired two people to help, taking care of her mother still keeps her very busy every day. When Dafa is spread in the world, we are so fortunate to be able to cultivate Dafa, be free from illness, and improve both in mind and in body. It is such an incomparable honor. No human words can describe our gratitude to Teacher for his merciful salvation and the tremendous suffering he bears for us.
This is purely my personal understanding, please point out any errors.
