In a small rural village, a 7-year-old boy experienced his first life lesson under the guidance of his father in the vast expanse of their family fields. The task was simple yet daunting for the young boy: to rid the field of weeds without harming the tender rice seedlings. As the boy stood paralyzed by the fear of making a mistake, his father observed quietly before speaking.
“What’s the worst that can happen if you pull the wrong plant?” the father asked, his voice steady and encouraging. The boy looked up, meeting his father’s gaze, which was filled with a blend of patience and expectation. “Compared to the entirety of this field and the thousands of seedlings, a few misplaced weeds are insignificant. Making mistakes is part of learning and courage, my son, is the first step in any endeavor.”
This early lesson in courage laid the foundation for the boy’s understanding of life’s challenges and the importance of facing them head-on, even at the risk of making mistakes.
Years later, as the boy, now on the brink of adulthood, grappled with the disappointment of his college entrance exam results, his father’s wisdom again came to his aid. On a daybreak visit to the fields, with their shoes wet with dew, the father shared another gem of wisdom, sparked by the simple act of walking through dew-covered grass. “Every blade of grass has its dew,” he remarked. “The heavens watch over us, ensuring that each person has their sustenance. Trust that life will provide for you, as it does for every living thing under the sun.”
The pear trees shade the rice field
In one place, the family’s fields bordered land owned by a neighbor who grew pear trees that cast a shadow over a small section of their rice field. Despite the diminished sunlight and the impact on their crop, the boy’s father never complained. Recognizing the discomfort their trees might be causing, the neighbors generously shared the ripest pears from the trees each season. They even sprinkled extra fertilizer on the boy’s family field as a gesture of goodwill.
This neighborly kindness was not lost on the boy, who learned from his father that tolerance and generosity often lead to unexpected rewards. “Being generous and forgiving towards others brings good fortune to ourselves,” his father would say, teaching the boy that compassion and understanding are invaluable virtues.
Amid these lessons of courage and generosity, a story unfolded that would underscore the profound impact of forgiveness. A woman named Rui, battling Parkinson’s Disease, sought relief through traditional Chinese medicine after years of struggle. Her condition, marked by uncontrollable tremors, seemed to resist every treatment, leaving her in despair.
Through conversations with her practitioner, it emerged that Rui’s ailment was compounded by a deep-seated feud with her neighbors over a shared road that had fallen into disrepair. What began as a minor dispute escalated into a costly and bitter legal battle, draining both families financially and emotionally, and leaving Rui trapped in a cycle of anger and resentment.
Recognizing the toll this conflict was taking on Rui’s health, her practitioner introduced her to the concept of forgiveness therapy, drawing on the ancient Chinese wisdom that “stepping back opens up a new horizon, and patience leads to brighter paths.” Encouraged to let go of her grievances and embrace a more forgiving outlook, Rui experienced a remarkable transformation. As she released her pent-up anger and bitterness, her tremors began to subside, illustrating the healing power of forgiveness not just for the soul, but for the body as well.
Through these intertwined stories of a young boy, his father, and a woman seeking healing, the narrative weaves a tapestry of life lessons rooted in the simplicity of rural existence. Courage to face our fears, the generosity that enriches both giver and receiver, and the transformative power of forgiveness emerge as timeless virtues that guide us through life’s myriad challenges.
Translated article
