Appreciating God’s Grace

Dearest Master:

Today, I write this letter to express my gratitude to you. In the last six weeks, I underwent unprecedented training: teaching in a juvenile detention center.

This was a very difficult job. Most of these kids didn’t have a happy childhood and just like Master said, “Those children or prisoners are not really that bad. Their behavior is mostly due to their wretched family backgrounds. For instance, their mother might have been a drug addict, or their step-father might have been addicted to gambling or alcohol and often beat them up. Such family backgrounds account for the misdeeds of the children, who vent their wrath on other people.”(From News #126 “Master Says” section) Some kids were neither taught nor disciplined by their parents. They’ve committed various crimes. Some have been in and out of the detention center so many times. They are very wretched, unfortunate and in real need of love. I’ve heard some similar stories from those that they told me on the news before, but never imagined that these sad things could really happen to these kids. Even though they hurt other people, they were the ones who got hurt the most. They hurt other people physically, but actually hurt their own hearts. The crimes that they committed made them look down upon themselves, and made them feel hopeless for their future. Lots of them take drugs, smoke and are alcoholics. They don’t trust anyone; perhaps except their parents. However, the sad thing is that most of their parents already abandoned them. They don’t like each other, they swallow their own sorrow, and they are so lonely. In this prison environment, they are very sad and depressed.

In the beginning, I saw distrust, anger and hatred in their eyes. Some of them didn’t even dare to accept my candies. During those six weeks, everyday was a battlefield for me. Before every class, I always sincerely prayed to You, “Dear Master, please bless both my kids and myself. It is You who teach them. I am only a tool of Yours to serve them.” Through Master’s blessing, the class became better and better: the trust between us gradually started increasing. Finally, I was able to see their childlike immaculate smiles. How beautiful and wonderful they were! Whenever I thought that I could handle the class and that Master could take a break, everything would get messed up! It made me realize how limited “my” love is. God’s love is what they really wanted. Thank You, dearest Master!

Dear Master! Though this was a tough job, because of Your blessing and guidance, it became my spiritual training class. To these students, I could only give and contribute everyday without any expectation; I couldn’t possibly expect any reward. Everyday, all I thought about was to become your good tool, to pass your unconditional love to these kids. From childhood to now, I have never been able to accomplish this. From my parents, to brothers and sisters, to friends and relatives, and to husband and children, I always had some kind of expectation. Sometimes, I would feel sad because the other party didn’t give back what I expected. However, if I had the same expectations during the time of teaching at this facility, I would have just been disappointed. I have been practicing Quan Yin method for many years, Master’s unconditional love, with no expectation for any reward, has always been present in my heart. But I could never do it myself. Now, through this training, finally I have started walking the way of love! Thank You, dearest Master!

Now, I understand Master’s teachings even better. Just as Master said, “No matter where we go, we should always observe this world with “God’s eyes’, treating sentient beings with ‘God’s heart’. Whenever you treat others equally with an unbiased heart, they are going to treat you the same way. Even if they don’t treat us well, actually this is also ‘good’, because God is testing us, and would like us to learn from it.”(Spoken by Master in Hsindian, Formosa August 22, 1986 Originally in Chinese) Everyday, while I faced these kids, I always felt that they all had beautiful hearts; this feeling came from the bottom of my heart. I kept telling them how I felt.

In the beginning, they didn’t believe in me, but as time passed by, they started accepting it and changed themselves. They were not only opening their hearts and laughing more, but also started communicating with each other. I was so touched by their change. Even though they looked cold from outside, they had an even more sensitive, soft and gentle heart than I did. They treasure love more. Initially, I wanted to take Master’s blessings to them, to let them feel God’s boundless love. But the fact is, they have brought God’s love to me. Just as Master said, “You are each other’s treasure!” Through those few weeks of teaching, I found myself change, my heart has become softer, gentler and more considerate.

Dearest Master! You’re my everything. One day, while I was driving, I thought that after a few months, I might be able to see You. My tears poured out. At that moment, I realized that it was all because of You that I would think of doing this job and was able to continue it. You are the source of my power, You are my inspiration and You are my great example. Without You, I might have been able to teach for a few days only, or I would have gone to the other extent, “Doing it for the sake of surviving!” Many times, I struggled between “I” and my students. I always tended to think for myself. However, because of Your guidance, I stepped out of my selfish circle and started thinking from my students’ point of view. I kept on reminding myself, that God’s love is unconditional, no matter how high or how low, or how good or how bad they seem, everyone deserves this love! This is God’s love, I can’t stop it flowing, and I can’t be selfish! Thank You, Master!

Dearest Master, on the last day of my class, my students gave me a simple card thanking me for teaching them. I was touched with tears. Dear Master, this card is for You! Without You, I could do nothing. You are my everything. You are the mother of all the mothers. I got my reward, experiencing the joy of, “Do whatever I could, leave the results to God!” Thank You for Your blessings, You let me enjoy these wonderful rewards which encouraged me to continue this job. Thank You, dearest Master!

It truly is like Master said, “To Love others is to love ourselves!” “The more we give, the more God is going to give to us!” Through serving these kids, I am the one who has benefited the most. I don’t know how long they will keep their changes, but their influence towards me is profound. They helped me overcome impassable obstacles, and made me realize lots of shortcomings. I also truly understand what the meaning of spiritual practice is: to cultivate oneself from inside and translate it into actions. Dearest Master, through this experience, I am really appreciating your teachings from the bottom of my heart. Now, I truly realize that everything is God’s grace. Every sentence that Master said is true and is for our benefit. Thank You! Greatest Mom! By following Your gracious steps, finally I have started growing up a little bit, by learning to serve God’s children. Greatest Mom, I love you!

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