(Minghui.org) Less than a month after I started practicing Falun Dafa in 1998, my many illnesses went away, including tracheitis, lower back pain, headaches, and heart problems. My body felt light, and I could do all kinds of work without getting tired. I took everything lightly and focused on cultivating myself–studying the Dafa books, doing the exercises, being a good person, and improving my character.
I was recruited that winter to work as a cook at a nursing home. There were six elderly residents and a few staff members. Most of the staff would leave after meals and did not work at night. Seeing residents who couldn't take care of themselves broke my heart. I decided to live in the home so that I could take care of them at night.
Two of the residents were bedridden. When I brought dinner, I saw them sitting in a soiled bed. I cleaned them and fed them. When I went back to my room, I felt disgusted. The smell of feces and urine were stuck to my hands, no matter how many times I washed them. After some days, I didn't notice the smell anymore.
A woman frequently fell when she got out of her bed. I put a mattress on the floor next to her bed and got up twice each night to check on her. Sometimes, she did not make it to the bathroom and relieved herself on the floor. I cleaned her and put her back to bed. After she died, her daughter thanked me for being so good to her mother.
I did not want these people to be cold in the winter, so I bought them wool pants. The director wanted to reimburse me, but I declined.
Gaining Respect at New Job
I changed jobs in 1999 and started working at a towel manufacturing company. While others fought over more desirable duties, I accepted work that no one else wanted. Others looked down on me because I was old and slow.
No matter how I was treated, I conducted myself according to the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance taught by Falun Dafa.
During my lunch breaks, I went out to tell people about Dafa and the persecution. As no food was left for me, I just brought something to eat from home.
I also sharpened scissors and unclogged toilets during my breaks. I did not accept more money from my boss because I was a Dafa practitioner and thought of others' needs before my own. Slowly, I gained the respect of everyone, including my boss.
