Society

The story of the Vu Lan season: From love to filial piety.

Diep Thanh • August 15, 2024 13:33

The more difficult the circumstances, the more filial piety is tested. Having overcome these challenges, many believe that happiness lies in a life that begins with love and ends with filial devotion.

The more difficult the circumstances, the more filial piety is tested. Having overcome these challenges, many believe that happiness lies in a life that begins with love and ends with filial devotion.

1.

Huân's parents were very young and had three children together. Before being hospitalized and completely losing his mobility, Huân was the healthiest and most intelligent child in the family. I don't remember exactly what disease Huân had, only that his parents took him to various places for treatment. After many moments of despair, hope, and disappointment, Huân's parents had to accept maintaining their son's life using machines in the intensive care unit of the Intensive Care and Toxicology Department at Nghe An Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital.

In this intensive care unit, family members are only allowed to visit their child three times a day, for approximately 30 minutes each time.

People whispered that in cases requiring long-term maintenance treatment, there was little hope of recovery, and most patients had lost consciousness. But Huân was different; his body had lost its ability to move and react, but his awareness remained as sharp as any other 6-year-old child – he knew pain, sadness, joy, and sorrow...

To be with their son, Huân's parents rented a tiny, dilapidated room near the hospital, taking turns caring for him. I witnessed many of their emotions during this journey: Heartbreak when visiting hours ended, having to avoid the gaze of those searching for their son's babbling mouth; tearful happiness when they were allowed to take their son out of the sterile room and feed him; whispering to him for hours, patiently trying to understand his feelings through his eyes; and then falling silent when the doctors announced he needed to be put back on a ventilator…

"The most painful thing is that Huân is very lucid, and because he is lucid, he has to endure the pain and loneliness without his parents by his side. I once longed for so much and was willing to sacrifice everything to bear all of his pain. Now, I only wish that he will always feel how much his parents love him," Huân's mother once confided.

2.

Also at Nghe An Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital, I met a couple who had been caring for their two children with cerebral palsy for 12 years – 12 long years without a single peaceful night's sleep, 12 years without daring to go far from home, 12 years without allowing themselves to rest or feel tired.

I also met a man who gave up all his fame and a bright future to become a full-time father, changing his child's diapers 6-8 times a day, feeding his child spoonfuls of rice, and teaching his child to read and write.

Or consider a young mother who spends her days selling groceries at the hospital gate and sleeps alone in the hallway at night, never giving up hope that her 8-month-old child will wake up one day…

It's not difficult to find stories about the great sacrifices of parents. Their parental instincts drive them to persevere in loving and hoping, even when miracles don't happen. Perhaps this is also the first joy most people receive upon being born: Life begins with the love of their parents.

3.

Among thousands of patients, Ms. Van was remembered by the doctors and nurses at Nghe An Oncology Hospital because of her extremely severe condition. When she was admitted, her breast cancer had metastasized to the bones, making treatment very difficult. Things were even more challenging as she was a single mother whose income depended entirely on a late-night food stall on the sidewalk of Phong Dinh Cang Street (Vinh City).

During her time in the hospital, her 18-year-old daughter and 9-year-old son became her greatest "medicine," taking meticulous care of her. After each treatment, the two understanding children continued to be diligent "employees" at their mother's late-night eatery; the older sister made rice noodles, and the younger brother cleared tables and served food.

Visitors who once saw Ms. Van with her bald head, thin body, and sunken eyes are now amazed to see her miraculously overcome her serious illness. People say she is strong and resilient, but she knows that her true strength comes from the filial devotion of her two children.

"

Because of me, both children were "forced to grow up" prematurely, having to do things that children their age didn't want to do. My eldest daughter asked to postpone her studies, while my younger son helped with housework and tried his best to excel in school to make me happy. As long as they knew what made their mother happy, they would quietly do everything they could to achieve it. Life's ups and downs took many things from me, but it gave me a priceless gift: obedient children.

Ms. Vân (Vinh City)

4.

Having worked as a nurse for many years, my friend has witnessed many touching stories of filial piety. She recounted, "The most admirable are the elderly people who come to care for their parents at an age that is 'rarely seen these days'."

There was a man, 70 years old this year, whose health was failing, but he insisted on personally taking care of his bedridden mother, feeding her porridge, emptying her bedpan, washing her clothes, bathing her... He always respectfully asked for his mother's opinion and wishes before doing anything. Before bedtime, he would always hug his mother and whisper to her for a long time. When his mother passed away, he cried like a child. Perhaps it's always like that; in front of our parents, no matter what age we are, we will always be children…”

5.

Not long ago, when writing an article about the family of a Hero of the People's Armed Forces...Phan Van TrinhI was particularly impressed with the three daughters-in-law in his family. Although not truly wealthy, they could have easily suggested to their husbands that they move out and live separately for a more comfortable and independent life. However, they chose to stay together, caring for their elderly mother-in-law and their ailing father-in-law, creating a happy home for four families and fifteen members.

"

I don't think our choice is different. We received love and protection from our parents, and now we reciprocate with respect and love; it's a normal thing anyone can do.

Ms. Vu Thi Duyen – the eldest daughter-in-law of Mr. Trinh's family (Hung Binh Ward, Vinh City)

In everyone's eyes, Mr. Trinh's family is a rare role model, a remarkable story. But when sharing about their family, his children consider it normal, even commonplace.

Looking back on her life and the days of extreme hardship she went through, Mrs. Vu Thi Chuyen - Mr. Trinh's wife - shared: "For me, happiness is living in peace."filial pietyof one's children. And perhaps for everyone, in the final years of life, what greater happiness could there be...?