An inspiring human story that contains numerous meaningful messages, bringing spiritual value to our daily lives, is worth contemplating. Furthermore, through the characters in this story, we can deeply feel the moral education of the preceding generation.
Grateful for adversity
At the age of 8, Ms. Sau Tran (born in 1963, in Khanh Hoa province) came to understand the pain of losing her father, and her mother had to shoulder the burden of raising 9 children alone. Her mother was a capable and kind-hearted woman, who was known for her filial piety and respect for her parents-in-law, and loved her siblings-in-law as if they were her siblings. She always set a shining example for future generations with her virtues and tolerance
In those days, she came to realize the difficulties her family was facing, so every morning she would wake up very early to help her mother sell goods at the market and take care of her younger siblings after school. She never complained, and even when there was delicious food in the house, she would tell her mother “I’m full” or “I prefer to eat vegetarian” to give more to the other family members.
While part of a large family, they did not have any relatives in Lam Dong province. As a result, when their father passed away, their mother decided to relocate the family to Khanh Hoa in 1972 for a fresh start. Due to the unstable housing situation upon arrival, the family had to split up and stay with various relatives. One went to stay with their maternal grandparents, another with their aunt, the other with their uncle, and she lived with her paternal grandparents. It was here that she learned valuable ethical lessons from her revered grandfather.
Unconditional Love
“Mr. Hai Thuong’s real name is Lu Tri Tuong, born in 1916 in Ninh Hoa District, which is now a town in Khanh Hoa Province. He was one of the most famous traders in the nem (a type of traditional Vietnamese food) region at that time. In the historical context of the country’s independence in 1945, when the economy was not yet developed, people lived in poverty and hardship. Those who had large families had even more burdens because they mostly worked as farmers, hired laborers, water carriers, or household helpers, with relatively low wages, not to mention the exploitation and discrimination from wealthy landlords.
Contrary to that, Mr. Hai Thuong always stood ready to help the poor with practical deeds such as cooking porridge for daily consumption, giving free rice, supporting tuition fees for children, and sometimes even paying for medical expenses for those who couldn’t afford it. Moreover, he took in orphans as foster children to provide them with stable jobs or helped arrange marriages for those who were far away from their families. For firewood sellers, he was like a “savior” because he would buy their unsold items at high prices to help them earn some profit to support their families. Although he rarely went to the temple, he was always willing to donate money for any construction project in need.
In particular, he taught that “If you want to help someone, you need to speak kindly, without displaying any arrogance or showing off your good intentions. At the same time, it’s important to keep the help confidential, to avoid causing any discomfort or embarrassment to the recipient. And when giving, remember to show respect and sincerity.”
He always acknowledges the good qualities in others, and never speaks ill of anyone, even those who may envy or intentionally harm him. He never thinks poorly of them, but instead maintains respect and gratitude toward them. Even if they have difficulties in life, he will take care of them wholeheartedly. Therefore, he has touched many individuals to transform from bad to good because they see his sincerity and humility.
Photo: Mr. Hai Thuong (on the right) is beloved and highly respected by the Ninh Hoa’s people
An elderly woman once told, “Mr. Hai Thuong is a man of few words but is generous, benevolent, and kind to workers. He is also very loving towards the poor. If he knows someone is in the wrong, he will not criticize or blame, but instead silently helps them to return to an honest life, one step at a time.” His noble cause has earned him the love and respect of the people in the area, which is why all his descendants receive attention from the elderly people there, especially in rural villages, when they introduce themselves as “Mr. Hai Thuong’s grandson.”
Having witnessed and heard many people in the community speak highly of his achievements, she was even more impressed by his noble character. Although he passed away in 1983, she always saw him as a living embodiment of the principles taught in the book “How to Win Friends and Influence People” a priceless legacy that she strives to emulate.
Suffering is a blessing
By learning positive things from her venerable grandfather. Plus, with her large family where each member lived in a different place so she was aware of developing a self-reliant and empathetic personality with others. After the complete liberation of the country in 1975, the Vietnamese economy was not yet ready to integrate with the world’s general development, so business activities everywhere were severely affected. Since then, her family moved to the countryside of Ninh Da, a rural area under the new economic policy. It can be said that this was an unforgettable difficult period for most Vietnamese people because every meal only had rice mixed with sweet potato, cassava, pumpkin, coxix seed, etc.
Having lived through the transitional period between pre and post-war times, as well as experienced many ups and downs in life, she has a deep understanding the life impermanence. Coupled with her simple and composed nature, she often chooses to share her joys with others. Her understanding and empathy are evidenced by her discreet and subtle communication style, helping others in a gentle and understated manner. Because to her, the loss is not always sorrowful, and sometimes, happiness can also be found in those experiences.
Photo: Optimism is a positive trait commonly found in Ms. Sau Tran
One time, a person whom she was acquainted with was experiencing difficulties and came to her for help. At that particular moment, she also needed that amount of money to import goods for her business. However, because she felt sorry for their situation, she gave her immediate assistance without any hesitation. Not long after, she unexpectedly received an order worth ten times the value, filling up an entire large truck, placed by a wealthy customer. Interestingly enough, that customer was an elderly security guard she had previously known, who had escaped poverty after winning the lottery. Out of goodwill and with the enthusiasm and help of the interior owner when he timidly asked: “I need to buy some used plastic chairs, even if they are slightly damaged because my son will be bringing his friend home for the first time this New Year, but we don’t have any chairs in the house for anyone to sit on. Will you sell until the 30th of Tet (Lunar New Year) here? Because at that time, I will have enough money…to buy”
Photo: This is where Ms.Sau Tran’s family is currently residing in Ninh Hoa.
Therefore, no one can predict what the future holds, but kindness will make people remember forever, and a pure heart is always worth cherishing. Today may be full of challenges, but who knows what tomorrow will bring. Above all, the most precious thing in life is inheriting noble personalities and passing them on to future generations.
By TVVN Press
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