(Minghui.org) A retired couple lives in the same gated community as I. The husband had a bad temper and cursed his wife every day over trivial matters. He even physically abused her from time to time. All of the neighbors had gotten used to their daily altercations and shouting matches and felt there was nothing they could do.

Everyone knew how bad-tempered the husband was. His wife did all the housework, but no matter how much she did, he was never happy. Verbally abusing her was part of his daily routine.

Until one day, it became eerily silent next door. After two days of silence, the neighbors were very curious and wondered what had happened.

The wife told the neighbors, “Can you believe it? In these last two days, my husband has not only stopped cursing and beating me, but he also offered me two slices of watermelon as a snack. This is the first time he has ever offered me a snack since I married him—I was only allowed three meals a day, nothing in between. Whenever he left the house, he would always hide the food so that I could not find it.”

Hearing the wife’s confession, the neighbors laughed. Unbeknownst to all is the true reason behind her husband's change of character and the interactions leading up to it.

Last year, I spoke to the wife about my faith in Falun Dafa, also known as Falun Gong. She agreed that Falun Gong was good and felt bad about the persecution that practitioners were suffering for their faith in Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. Just a few days before, she’d thanked me again. “If it were not for the amulet with the words ‘Falun Dafa is good’ on it that you gave me, I might have died,” she explained, adding that her husband’s abuse was getting worse.

As a Falun Gong practitioner, I knew the best way to help her would be to recommend the practice to her. “I can give you a very good book called Zhuan Falun. After you read it, you will understand why your husband mistreats you,” I said. “That will help you look at things from a different angle. After all, we did not come to this world for no reason. In fact, the book might help free you of your misery.” She immediately agreed to read it.

Before handing the book over to her, I asked her to treat the book with respect and try to read it through instead of cherry-picking certain sections. She agreed.

Three days later, she was beaming when she saw me. “The book is so amazing! Right after I took it home, my husband stopped abusing me. Instead, he gave me some money and said it was my stipend for the month! You know, this was the first time he’d given me money since I married him! Also, look at my face today. It's so smooth, and my hands are, too. Look!”

Her face used to be very dry and dark. Now, it was fair and clear and looked much healthier.

She asked me, “When I go back to my hometown, can I take the book with me?” “Sure,” I said, “as long as you cherish the book no matter where you are. I’ve had it for ten years, and now I'm passing it along to you. Please cherish it.”

The next time I saw her, she’d improved even more. She no longer slouched and her eyes sparkled. She told me, “I’ve almost finished the book. It is so good! Master Li (the founder of Falun Gong) was slandered. I feel my body becoming lighter.”

She also came to understand how bad the persecution is. “The police are committing sins by arresting and detaining practitioners,” she said. Now she has a better understanding of the true colors of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). For example, although the police have been actively persecuting Falun Gong practitioners, they do little to protect ordinary citizens. “I once called the police after my husband beat me, but they were no help at all,” she said.

This is my personal experience. I am glad the book and Falun Gong have helped my neighbor. And I believe more people could benefit just like she did.