(Minghui.org) My husband had gambling and drinking addictions, and he didn’t take care of our family. My father-in-law was paralyzed and bedridden from a stroke. So I took care of him for about 18 months when he lived with us and never complained. My brother-in-law later took him to another city, where he died half a year later.
After his father’s death, my husband indulged himself even more. Our daughter was still in elementary school, and I sometimes had to work the night shift. No one looked after her, and my husband didn’t answer my calls. I was in a very negative mood and thought of getting a divorce. But when I thought of how young our daughter was, I decided against it. I complained to my elder sister, who recommended that I learn Falun Dafa. Since then, I have changed my attitude, and my husband has also changed a lot.
Cultivating in Dafa to Be a Good Person
I started practicing Falun Dafa in February 1999. Through studying the Fa and cultivating myself according to Dafa’s teachings, my views on life underwent earth-shattering changes. From Dafa's principles, I understood that everything has a reason behind it. My husband’s behavior may have been due to my treating him badly in the past.
There suddenly seemed to be hope in life! I listened to Master Li Hongzhi's teachings about being a good person, looking within when facing conflicts, and being kind to others. The many ailments I had before, such as rheumatism, pharyngitis, costochondritis, and hemorrhoids, all disappeared without my realizing it. My body is now light and illness-free. I truly embarked on the path of cultivation. Whether at home or at work, I have been trying to cultivate my xinxing (character) well.
In my work as a nurse, I treat my patients like family. One year, the hospital asked patients and their family members to vote for star-rated nurses, and all three of the Dafa practitioners in the hospital were selected. Together, we improved in our cultivation diligently, exchanged experiences, and participated in the evening Fa-study group. I later set up a Fa-study group in my home.
Whenever I had an opportunity to clarify the truth at work, I would tell people about the beauty of Dafa. I tried my best to persuade them to withdraw from the Chinese Communist Party and its affiliated youth organizations. The other practitioners and I also used our lunch break and time after work to distribute truth-clarification materials and talk to people on the street. Through doing what practitioners are supposed to do, our joy is beyond words. There is only one thought in our minds: Let more people hear the truth about Dafa and be saved.
Treating Losses Lightly
In 2008, I found out that my husband had an affair. I was initially very angry and couldn’t accept it, but as a Dafa practitioner I should listen to Master and be tolerant and forgiving. My husband and the woman were ordinary people, while I followed the principles of the Fa and shouldn’t do what ordinary people would do: cry, make trouble for others, and feel sorry for themselves. I knew I should use the principles of the Fa to help them both.
The woman was my husband’s work colleague and was divorced. I had heard of her, but we’d never met. I wrote her a letter, telling her that I practice Falun Dafa and I would not divorce my husband. I copied Master’s teachings about the proper relationship between husband and wife, as well as the sins that are committed by those who have extra-marital relations. I said I understood her pain after her divorce and told her that Falun Dafa could help her get out of that pain. If she wanted to learn the practice, I could help her find Dafa books.
I let go of my preconceived notions and sincerely wanted the best for her. The wisdom and compassion I obtained through Dafa cultivation didn’t cause any harm to her and, at the same time, protected my family.
My husband took the initiative to admit everything to me and completely cut off contact with that woman. This seemingly stormy ordeal ended up like a spring breeze to heal two lost souls.
Since then, my husband treated me better and supported my practicing Dafa. If I didn’t practice Falun Dafa, I think it would be difficult for me to live, and my family would not be as happy as we are today.
My Husband’s Gambling Addiction
My husband called me in September 2020, and told me that he had moved away and taken his clothes and medicine with him. He also mentioned he’d left me a letter and told me to read it.
In the letter, he said that our bankbooks were all fake. Seventeen years ago, he became addicted to gambling. In 2005, he lied to me, saying that his classmate’s workplace paid their employees high interest rates on their savings, so he took our family’s money and deposited it there. He later told me the savings had increased to a total of about 500,000 yuan with interest. I never doubted what he told me. He also said that a deposit of 300,000 yuan for him and others to run a school was also not true; the money was actually lost in gambling.
He said that he was a sinner. He had gambled for 17 years and caused huge losses to our family. He was deeply remorseful. In May 2013, he wanted to cut off his fingers and stop gambling. He felt sorry for what he had done to the family.
After reading his letter, I understood why he had insomnia for so many years and relied on sedatives to sleep. When he had insomnia, I was very anxious and often told him to take everything lightly. But I couldn’t untie the knot in his heart. He now had the courage to tell me what happened, which must have lifted a huge weight off his shoulders.
I could see that his life was not easy. For so many years, we needed money for our home and our daughter's education. If I’d have known the truth, how would I have lived? Although he was in the wrong, he endured it alone. Fortunately, our family had no need to spend extra money; we had enough for our daily needs.
I remained calm and told him not to worry. “A prodigal son who returns was more precious than gold,” I said. “Just don’t gamble any more. Wait for me, I’ll cook a meal and take it to you. After we finish, we’ll come back home together.”
In the face of such devastating news, my heart was unmoved. My husband, however, was especially moved because he was prepared to accept whatever consequences would come to him. But I'm a Dafa practitioner and need to act according to the Fa's standards. I decided to treat him kindly and tolerate him because Master has helped me understand the true meaning of life: Returning to one’s true self!
My Husband Is a Good Man
After 20 years of cultivation, not only have I recovered from my many illnesses, but my personality has also changed. I can understand others better and be more tolerant of them. My husband saw my changes and supported me in my practice. He is now willing to let other practitioners come to our home to study the Fa. He said that he feels at ease when we study the Fa. He has also supported me in making truth-clarification materials.
I often talked to my husband about being a good person and that good is rewarded and evil is punished. He is a kind man and often helped people in need at work. My husband also runs a school that helps students who need academic assistance in preparing for their college entrance exams. He charged some poorer students less tuition, even when the school’s financial situation was not good.
There was a student whose parents were divorced. She and her grandmother had no money to pay her tuition. My husband waived her tuition fees and gave some of our daughter’s clothes to the student. The student’s grandmother expressed her gratitude to my husband by kneeling down in front of him. My husband lifted her up and said, “Please. You don’t need to do that. As long as your granddaughter studies hard… ” The student was successfully admitted to a university.
When a practitioner and I were clarifying the truth on the street in September 2018, we were reported to the authorities and detained. My husband immediately took my Dafa books somewhere else, so the police didn’t find much when they raided our home. He tried to reason with the officers while other practitioners sent forth righteous thoughts to help get me released.
We were in administrative detention for eight days before returning home. During those eight days, my husband came to see me every day. When he saw me wearing the inmate’s vest, he cried. During that time, he couldn’t eat or sleep well. When I was released, he brought all the Dafa books home and told me to study them hard. I was moved and felt relieved that he treated Dafa in a respectful manner.
Now my family is happy and harmonious. Our daughter earned a doctorate in economics, works in a city, and has her own family. I am fortunate to practice Dafa in this lifetime, and I can’t express in words my gratitude to Master.
After practicing Falun Dafa for 22 years, apart from my good physical health, the biggest change is to my inner being. I now think from the perspective of the other party regardless of the situation. Although I have experienced many unfair things, I have no resentment because I have Dafa in my heart.
This is the mighty virtue of Dafa!
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