My Cultivation Experiences as a Caregiver

(Minghui.org) A fellow practitioner found me a job as caregiver for an elderly couple. In the beginning, I did not like the thought of taking on the job because I considered it menial work, but I reluctantly accepted the job.

The wife could not take care of herself. She was very demanding and had fired several people already. But she liked me, perhaps because we have a predestinated relationship.

The husband caught a bad cold not long after I started work. He went to a hospital for an IV. After helping his wife with her lunch, I brought dumplings to the hospital for him.

He thanked me on the way home. He asked me to be more tolerant of his wife because she was sick and had a bad temper. I told him that I am a Falun Gong (also known as Falun Dafa) practitioner and would fulfill my duty as a practitioner.

I cooked good meals for them every day and only ate the leftovers. When the husband said he felt bad about my keeping the leftovers, I told him that every single grain of rice is the result of hard work and we should not waste any food.

I washed the woman's clothes often and made her bed neatly every day. She was very happy and kept smiling all the time. She became healthier. Even her daughter noticed her improvement.

We had a good time together, and I often made them laugh. Once, the husband said emotionally, “It's such a blessing to have a nice person like you around. We regard you as our family member. You're more like my own daughter.”

On one occasion, I forgot to put clean socks on the wife after washing her feet. She burst into a rage and scolded me in front of a neighbor. I felt bad, but didn't say a word. When she finally calmed down, she said to her neighbor, “She is a Falun Gong practitioner. She has a good temperament.”

I took the opportunity to talk to the neighbor about Falun Gong. I said, “After I became a practitioner, all my illnesses disappeared and my temper improved.” Seeing my good demeanor, this neighbor agreed that Falun Dafa is good.

The wife liked to listen to Master's Fa teachings. I told her and her husband the facts about Dafa. Both of them renounced their membership in the Chinese Communist Party.

I strictly maintained my xinxing and made sure not to develop an attachment to zealotry. To show people the goodness of Dafa, I always reminded myself to do better at my job and not to slack off.

At mealtime one day, the husband said, “Dafa has made you become a very refined person.”

I politely said, “Although I am better now, I still have a lot of things to improve on. If I'm not aware of any shortcomings, please kindly let me know.”

He replied, “Since you mentioned it, you might soften your tone to be more ladylike when you talk. Also, you should be more considerate even when the other side is at fault.”

I bought a honeydew melon during my afternoon break to thank him for his advice. Both of them were very happy.

The wife was sad and mad when she told me that a theft had occurred in her house. I reassured her, “Ma'am, don't get mad about it. Anger is not good for your health. You are much better off than those who lost everything in a flood. Some people even lost loved ones or the whole family.”

The husband overheard me and said, “What you just said is very touching and your tone was so gentle.”

I was glad that I'd improved in that regard. I saw the power of compassion. It doesn't matter how well you can speak, as long as you think of others sincerely from your heart.

Before I began practicing Falun Gong, I was in poor health, hypocritical, selfish, and harsh. After I started cultivation practice, I became kind, considerate, and optimistic.

No words can describe the greatness of Dafa and my gratitude to merciful Master, the founder of Falun Gong.