Continuing the lives of abandoned children

At her rare age, Mrs. Mai still sticks to making rice paper to make a living. Although life is somewhat difficult, she and her daughter are still willing to open their arms to welcome and raise abandoned newborn babies, because she understands that every living creature is a miracle and kindness is the hand that supports that miracle. She gives children the chance to live and to be loved.

As the French doctor Albert Schweitzer once said: "Compassion, in its deepest sense, is respecting and preserving life." Mrs. Mai acted on that saying sincerely, with a compassionate heart to do things that seemed beyond her ability.

Originated from a chance...

Her family lives in a small, run-down house, carrying the breath of time, and the job of making rice paper does not bring in much income. Besides doing the traditional job, circumstances do not allow her to do anything more important.

In 2013, Ms. Dung - Mrs. Mai's daughter - while doing paperwork for a relative at the hospital, accidentally met a newborn baby boy but was rejected. Feeling both sympathetic and confused, she immediately called her family to ask for their opinion. Partly hesitant, but the family finally agreed to take the baby home to raise. So Mrs. Mai's small house echoed with the cries of children. A small life was protected in the loving arms of Mrs. Mai and her daughter. Despite her old age, she still persevered with her daughter to take care of her from drop of milk to every meal.

Mrs. Mai and her two children were raised by the temple.

PHOTO: PROVIDED BY THE AUTHOR

Journey of love

Every day, she started her work at dawn. At the first crow of the rooster signaling the arrival of a new day, she lit the stove to grind flour and prepare everything. for her cake coating work.

She kept working, occasionally looking after the baby. In the afternoon, she stopped by the homes of new mothers to ask for more milk for her baby. Day after day, her life was filled with the cries and laughter of children.

The journey of a child growing up, learning to talk, laughing, then learning to walk and run. When she reached school age, Mrs. Mai saved every penny to buy her grandchild a school bag and notebooks to start school. She took her grandchild to school, taught her to be polite and to call her "grandparents" and "grandchildren", and considered the child as her own flesh and blood. Her gestures, eyes, and smiles towards her grandchild always exuded boundless love. Her love could only come from kindness!

Later, because she wanted her grandchild to have better conditions to study, Mrs. Mai sent her grandchild to the temple. Her heart ached with longing for her grandchild to be away from her, but she had to suppress it because she understood that this was the way for her grandchild to have a bright future, to study and grow up like any other child.

The journey of love between Mai and her mother did not stop there. In 2025, thanks to the support of the temple, Mai and her mother continued to adopt abandoned children in front of the temple gate. All she did was to give the unfortunate children a chance to see the sunlight.

In her old age, she still diligently sows seeds of love, so that society will have one more citizen who can study, grow up, and work like everyone else.

Uncle Ho once taught: "If it is beneficial to the people and the country, no matter how small, try to do it." Mrs. Mai has done just that.

Despite the many difficulties in life, she still maintains an optimistic spirit and a warm, tolerant heart. A testament to the fact that every human being is born with the right to live and be loved. Her actions not only give people the opportunity to see the light but also spread deep humanity to the community

Just open your arms and give love to see the magic of kindness that can change fate and light up rays of hope for a happier life.