Editor’s note: After attending the in-person Sunday service in a Shaanxi Church on July 19, Brother Tian asked me to take a walk with him. Then he shared his grandmother’s tough experience and her joy after following Jesus in her later years.
Below is the story of Tian’s grandmother:
Born in 1920, my grandmother Hu Huizhen passed away at the end of January 1998, aged 78. Her happiest period was the 18 years after becoming a Christian at the age of 60.
Born into a family of five children in Hujia Village, Yanta District, Xi’an, at the age of seven or eight she had her feet bound. Growing up in a poor family, she was uneducated and illiterate. Though not able to read, she was smart and spoke clearly. Since she began to believe in the Lord at 60, I did not see her without her Bible. It was amazing that she could hear the whole Bible and recite verses. Whoever she met, she would share the great love of Christ and the blessings and joy of her faith with them.
As a boy, I recognized her resilience: she wore a cotton button-up blouse, trousers which functioned as leg wrappings, and a pair of small cotton shoes. They were all made by her. Although she couldn’t walk well, there was a power and toughness in her. I subtly learned from my father that she lived a life of frustration that was unimaginable and complicated.
When my grandmother was 17, she married my grandfather, who lived five kilometers away from her parents’ house, after being introduced to him by a match-maker. Five years later, my grandfather, who was always out on business, died of tuberculosis, leaving three sons. She became a young widow. My father was only several months old. Confronted with the pressure from feudal customs that she had to remarry, she chose to raise the three children all by herself.
She said that she often gleaned the ears of corns in the fields of her relatives when the harvest was finished so she could feed her children.
The poor family was despised. They did not know where the next meal would come from. Before the founding of the PRC, she often carried her children to hide when the Japanese bombers would come.
She could make clothes, shoe soles, and home-cooked meals. Before 1949, she sewed shoes for the Communist soldiers through the night. She was in charge of a production team (a unit of the socialist agricultural economy during the early period of the PRC) and cooked in a rural big canteen.
In her later years, she walked into a church and was baptized. Then at 7:30 in the morning, she walked about 600 meters with clean clothes, carrying a cloth bag with the Bible inside. Wearing reading glasses with a small pencil, she arrived at Hanzhong Church in Shaanxi. There she read the Bible, prayed, and sang hymns with other elderly people her own age. On the road home, they talked and laughed together. The joy on her face lasted for days.
Being single for the rest of her life, she had joy amid difficulties. Before converting to Christianity, she loved watching Qinqiang, one of the folk Chinese operas, and sang the tunes, but when she became a Christian, she stopped singing them and adapted their melody into hymns. In my memory, my grandmother rejoiced no matter hard the days were.
Her hands were always busy. After she started going to church, she learned how to read. Once she had time, she would sit at the door and struggle to read the Bible, wearing reading glasses. She asked me to be her reading teacher. Certainly, I gained much in return from helping her. She told me Bible stories she had heard from the school and taught me to sing some songs.
In 1991, our family moved to Baoji, a prefecture-level city in western Shaanxi. She moved with us, too. Later she was ill with cataract and cerebral thrombosis. Enduring the pain caused by the loss of eyesight, she would use her time to recite Bible passages. I was working away from home and not always around her. But I would read some Bible passages for her when I returned home. Every time, a rare smile was reflected on her face.
As her cataracts got worse and worse, she was also not able to walk due to a fall from her bed. Knowing her Christian faith, my family members who took care of her in turns would read the Bible for her, whether she was conscious or not. It was the only moment when the woman who was severely tortured by pain smiled.
In the last two years, I visited her several times. But she realized that her Bible, which had accompanied her for more than ten years, was missing. When she was conscious, she would urge me to find it for her. So I went to many bookstores to buy a portion of the Bible, but I couldn’t find any. I had to buy a book that looked similar to the Bible. I read the book to please her, but when she was aware of what was happening around her, she would deny that was the Bible.
When she was dying, I held her swollen hand, shedding tears. I said to her, “Grandma you will get better. You will be okay. I will miss you forever...” She said with all her might, “Sheng...sheng...jing” (the Chinese word for the Bible). I handed over the “fake” Bible to her. She held it in her hands then left us in a smile.
For many years I regretted that I failed to give her a Bible. I often remembered her difficulties before she became a Christian and the joy after believing in the Lord. I wondered how could I make up for that.
One day I was passing by a hospital, the familiar sound of a church bell reached me. Following voices, I found that church. At that time, a sound came to me again, “Sheng...sheng...jing.” On that day, I stepped into a church for the first time in my life. I also bought a real Bible. Later, I became a Christian. My actions brought comfort and granted the last wish of my grandmother who is in heaven.
- Translated by Karen Luo
2020年盛夏七月三伏的一个主日，在教堂做完主日礼拜后，坐在身旁的田弟兄对笔者说，咱俩去渭河堤散步吧，我要给你说说我的奶奶信主前后的故事。我说好啊。于是，在这个夏雨濛濛的上午，笔者与田弟兄搭着雨伞散步于渭水河畔，在一个雨雾缭绕、仙境般的河畔仿古亭子里，田弟兄给笔者详细讲述了他的奶奶坎坷人生经历，重点叙述他的奶奶晚年信主后的喜乐。听的笔者很是感动，为田弟兄有这样的一位好奶奶而自豪，也为田弟兄在他的奶奶引领下信了主而高兴。下面就为大家转述这位田弟兄和他奶奶的见证故事吧……
田弟兄说今年是他奶奶胡慧针诞辰100周年，说她奶奶生于上世纪1920年，寿终安息主怀于1998年1月底春节前，终年78岁。又说他奶奶感到最幸福时光是在60岁信主后的18个春夏秋冬。尽管奶奶离开他而去已经是22个年头了，但与奶奶在一起的美好光阴难以忘怀，奶奶讲的圣经故事经常魂牵梦绕，奶奶为他教唱的赞美诗歌至今在耳旁美好的响起。是奶奶伴随着他在童年的快乐成长，那些至今在脑海里难以忘怀的点点滴滴的温馨往事，时时会在他心中升起无尽的思念和对与奶奶在一块儿度过快乐童年的向往。
据我的父亲讲，奶奶出生在西安雁塔区胡家庄，弟兄姐妹5个，三女二儿，她排行老二，因家里受上千年封建社会三从四德影响，奶奶在7、8岁时被裹胁着包了脚，成了“三寸金莲”。由于家境贫寒，奶奶从未上过一天学堂，是个正儿八经的文盲。奶奶虽然一字不识，但奶奶聪明过人，说话清晰，奶奶在60岁那年信了主，一本圣经从不离手。奇妙的是，奶奶在花甲之年还能通篇读圣经和背诵圣经经文。逢人讲基督的大爱，逢人讲耶稣基督带给她的祝福和喜乐。她在晚年，真正活出了耶稣基督的好模样。
奶奶人缘极好，我儿时对奶奶的印象是：身上穿的自己缝制的清布斜开口布扣上衣和绑腿的裤子，干活的时候，迈着脚上自己千针做的三寸小脚棉布鞋，虽然脚步蹒跚，但充满力量和不倒的顽强。头上顶着一块手帕，略有白发的银丝，脑后别着多年的发卡，梳理光滑而露出发根的一头银发，显的是那么干净、整洁、利索。
从父亲口中，我隐隐约约知道，奶奶的一生坎坷，是常人难以想象和一言难尽的。奶奶在17岁那年，以媒妁之言嫁到离家5公里外的甘家寨我爷家。22岁那年，也就是在公历1943年，连我父亲都未见过的爷爷，因忙于外出生意，多次受凉积淀，终得肺结核不治早年夭折，留下三个不懂事的我大伯、二伯和我爸，奶奶成了一位年轻的寡妇。
我父亲排行是最后的老三，那时仅仅几个月大，奶奶顶着封建社会三从四德的压力，辛勤劳作，辛苦带着三个孩子。也听奶奶讲过，那时为了生计，常到麦收后的亲戚家地里捡些麦穗来弥补全家口粮不足。家里太穷，常常被别人瞧不起，吃了上顿没下顿；旧中国又是兵荒马乱的时代，日本飞机经常来轰炸，奶奶带着不懂事的孩子躲避着天灾人祸，顽强向前生存着。
那时候的奶奶虽然还没有信主，也不知道耶稣是谁，但奶奶天生就像神赐给智慧和力量的孩子。自幼年凭着自己聪明好学和坚强毅力，在过去的岁月里，尤其是解放前的兵荒马乱，解放前后的艰难生计，她都能应对自如。她会做衣服、会纳鞋底、还能做可口的农村家常饭菜。她为解放战争前线连夜做鞋拥军，曾经当过生产队负责人，也曾经为村里大食堂做过饭。
到现在，我都特别佩服奶奶的适应社会能力是如此之强，她的一生，都是为了盼望更好的生活，为三个孩子及后代付出更多；孩子大了些，为了交学费有点收入，也熏陶孩子的生意头脑，她曾经让伯伯和爸爸批发糖果去卖，割些野菜去离家不远的西安五味十字盐店街附近卖，帮别人捡麦穗挣点工钱。
奶奶在60多岁的那年，她走进了基督教堂，受洗成了一名基督徒。记得在那个年月里，每到礼拜天主日的早上7:30，奶奶都会穿的干干净净，挎着装着圣经的小布包，带着使用多年的老花镜和小铅笔，迈着摇晃却刚毅的“三寸金莲”，步行大约600多米的路程，来到汉中市基督教堂作礼拜。在那里，她和许多像她这样的同龄的爷爷、奶奶，一块儿读圣经，一块儿祷告，一块儿唱赞美诗歌。回家的路上说说笑笑，回家后满脸的喜乐能高兴好多天。
听父亲说，当年村子周围的人劝奶奶改嫁，但奶奶担心孩子们受委屈，她终生再未改嫁。虽然她终究还是孤单单一个人，但奶奶艰难中非常喜乐。信主前经常去听秦腔“李延贵卖水”、“花亭相会”这样老戏文，寻找空闲时间的自作自乐。信主后，奶奶在家不再唱老戏文了，而改成哼唱着从教堂新学来的一首首赞美诗歌。在我的记忆里，无论多艰难的日子，都被奶奶靠着主过的喜喜乐乐！
奶奶是个闲不住的人，尤其是在她信主后，靠着心里的那位神，得胜的在生活中学习，在生活中忙忙碌碌。自她到教堂去真正认识了真神后，更是奇妙的学会了认字、读圣经，还能整段整章的背颂经文。通过读圣经、背颂圣经，奶奶自个儿给自己摘掉了文盲帽子。
记得在那个时候，奶奶只要一有空闲时间，就会带着老花镜，坐在门口借着屋外的光线、吃力的读圣经。记得有一次，我问奶奶你不认字，怎么看的懂啊！她说：“不认字的人多，可以请会认字的教嘛……你教我这个字读什么。”奶奶当场就抓我给她当老师，教圣经中不认识的字。当然，我也得到了丰厚的回报。这时候的奶奶会给我讲从教会听来的圣经故事，也会教我几句赞美诗歌。
我真佩服奶奶的毅力，她的扫盲就是从认字读圣经开始的。在教堂她会让那些文化人教她，在家里会抓着我来教她，没有人教的时候，她会一个人在那里死记硬背。说起来，我真有点对不住奶奶，那时候我还小，没有一点耐心，给奶奶教不了几个字就跑出去玩了。但很奇怪，没过上几天，奶奶甚至能通篇背下整个圣经某一段。要知道那圣经读本里面，有许多字都是繁体字啊，有些字我都不会认，真惊讶奶奶是怎么学会的。
1991年我们家搬到宝鸡市，奶奶也随我们一起住。晚年奶奶得了白内障和脑部血栓，她克服看不清东西带来的无奈和苦恼，仍然在坚持读背圣经，有时候得费很大的劲才能读完，也累的她直冒汗。那时我在外地工作，不常常在她身边。但每次回家后，都会去为奶奶读一段圣经。每当这时，奶奶会露出少有的笑容。
奶奶的白内障越来越严重，使她渐渐看不清东西。家里本想给她住院做手术，但听父亲讲：医生说奶奶年龄大了，又有脑部血栓，做手术风险较大。后来，一次奶奶下床时摔了一跤，更是加重了她的病情。虽然住进市医院做了手术，摔断的骨头连上了，但腿变形了，再也无法下地自如活动了。家人都知道奶奶信主，不管谁在奶奶身边伺候，都会自觉不自觉的为奶奶读圣经。只有在这个时候，被病痛折磨的奶奶，会停止因病疼而痛的哼哼声，转而露出喜乐的微笑。
1996年病重的奶奶，由父亲送回养她的西安老家甘家寨，家里请了专职照顾她的医护。在最后的两年期间，我曾多次去奶奶家用心伺候她老人家，为她包饺子，喂着她喝稀饭……原来伴随她十多年的圣经，不知道被谁拿走了。见到奶奶，在她清醒的时候，非要我给她把圣经找回来。我当时也在想，奶奶晚年信主18年，应该带上她的心爱信仰走向天堂。于是，我跑了周围很多书店，想给奶奶买本《圣经》，但始终没有买到，只好在西安钟楼书店为他买了一本外表非常类似圣经的书。回去后给他念，想让她在病痛中心情得到愉快。
没想到，奶奶半昏半迷时还可应付，但她偶尔神智清楚时，会一口咬定说那不是她原来常常读圣经的内容。但愿她老人家在天之灵容忍不争气的孙子，没有尽到奶奶最后最需要的一点点孝心。在奶奶在最后弥留之际，我握住奶奶已经肿胀的手，情不自禁的哭泣：“奶奶你会好的，你会好的，我会永远想念你的。”奶奶最后用尽全身力气对我说“圣……圣……经。”我忙拿过那本自己买的假冒圣经，递在奶奶手中。奶奶怀抱那本“圣经”书，微笑着离开了我们。奶奶终于走完了她生命的最后时刻，去了没有痛苦的天堂。这一天，也是我最难忘的一天（1998年的元月23日），奶奶享年78岁。
奶奶去世后，我为在奶奶离世时没有送给她一本真正的圣经而悔恨多年。后来的多年中，我经常想起奶奶，想起奶奶信主前的艰辛和信主后的喜乐。也在想，如何才能弥补奶奶离世时的遗憾。直到有一天，我路过市区一所医院时，听到了不远处传来熟悉的悠悠教堂钟声，寻声而去，是一所教堂。此时此刻，仿佛阳光拨开了我头顶的乌云，耳边再次想起了奶奶临终时的呼唤：“圣……圣……圣经。”也就是这一天，我第一次踏进了教堂的大门，也终于买到了一本真正的圣经。再后来，我信了主，成了一名基督徒。我也用自己实际行动，告慰了在天堂奶奶的最后心愿！
见证故事讲完了，田弟兄已是泪流满面，笔者听的心里酸楚连连。天上雨丝不断，渭水咽瀛东去。望着渐渐慢步离去的田弟兄，伴着雨声、水声，心里对着他喊：田弟兄，你信了主，就是送给了你奶奶100岁的一本鲜活的“圣经”啊！
http://www.gospeltimes.cn/article/index/id/53056
奶奶临终前对《圣经》的呼唤 带领我迈进了教堂/七位基督徒与圣经的感人见证故事（上篇)
Editor’s note: After attending the in-person Sunday service in a Shaanxi Church on July 19, Brother Tian asked me to take a walk with him. Then he shared his grandmother’s tough experience and her joy after following Jesus in her later years.
Below is the story of Tian’s grandmother:
Born in 1920, my grandmother Hu Huizhen passed away at the end of January 1998, aged 78. Her happiest period was the 18 years after becoming a Christian at the age of 60.
Born into a family of five children in Hujia Village, Yanta District, Xi’an, at the age of seven or eight she had her feet bound. Growing up in a poor family, she was uneducated and illiterate. Though not able to read, she was smart and spoke clearly. Since she began to believe in the Lord at 60, I did not see her without her Bible. It was amazing that she could hear the whole Bible and recite verses. Whoever she met, she would share the great love of Christ and the blessings and joy of her faith with them.
As a boy, I recognized her resilience: she wore a cotton button-up blouse, trousers which functioned as leg wrappings, and a pair of small cotton shoes. They were all made by her. Although she couldn’t walk well, there was a power and toughness in her. I subtly learned from my father that she lived a life of frustration that was unimaginable and complicated.
When my grandmother was 17, she married my grandfather, who lived five kilometers away from her parents’ house, after being introduced to him by a match-maker. Five years later, my grandfather, who was always out on business, died of tuberculosis, leaving three sons. She became a young widow. My father was only several months old. Confronted with the pressure from feudal customs that she had to remarry, she chose to raise the three children all by herself.
She said that she often gleaned the ears of corns in the fields of her relatives when the harvest was finished so she could feed her children.
The poor family was despised. They did not know where the next meal would come from. Before the founding of the PRC, she often carried her children to hide when the Japanese bombers would come.
She could make clothes, shoe soles, and home-cooked meals. Before 1949, she sewed shoes for the Communist soldiers through the night. She was in charge of a production team (a unit of the socialist agricultural economy during the early period of the PRC) and cooked in a rural big canteen.
In her later years, she walked into a church and was baptized. Then at 7:30 in the morning, she walked about 600 meters with clean clothes, carrying a cloth bag with the Bible inside. Wearing reading glasses with a small pencil, she arrived at Hanzhong Church in Shaanxi. There she read the Bible, prayed, and sang hymns with other elderly people her own age. On the road home, they talked and laughed together. The joy on her face lasted for days.
Being single for the rest of her life, she had joy amid difficulties. Before converting to Christianity, she loved watching Qinqiang, one of the folk Chinese operas, and sang the tunes, but when she became a Christian, she stopped singing them and adapted their melody into hymns. In my memory, my grandmother rejoiced no matter hard the days were.
Her hands were always busy. After she started going to church, she learned how to read. Once she had time, she would sit at the door and struggle to read the Bible, wearing reading glasses. She asked me to be her reading teacher. Certainly, I gained much in return from helping her. She told me Bible stories she had heard from the school and taught me to sing some songs.
In 1991, our family moved to Baoji, a prefecture-level city in western Shaanxi. She moved with us, too. Later she was ill with cataract and cerebral thrombosis. Enduring the pain caused by the loss of eyesight, she would use her time to recite Bible passages. I was working away from home and not always around her. But I would read some Bible passages for her when I returned home. Every time, a rare smile was reflected on her face.
As her cataracts got worse and worse, she was also not able to walk due to a fall from her bed. Knowing her Christian faith, my family members who took care of her in turns would read the Bible for her, whether she was conscious or not. It was the only moment when the woman who was severely tortured by pain smiled.
In the last two years, I visited her several times. But she realized that her Bible, which had accompanied her for more than ten years, was missing. When she was conscious, she would urge me to find it for her. So I went to many bookstores to buy a portion of the Bible, but I couldn’t find any. I had to buy a book that looked similar to the Bible. I read the book to please her, but when she was aware of what was happening around her, she would deny that was the Bible.
When she was dying, I held her swollen hand, shedding tears. I said to her, “Grandma you will get better. You will be okay. I will miss you forever...” She said with all her might, “Sheng...sheng...jing” (the Chinese word for the Bible). I handed over the “fake” Bible to her. She held it in her hands then left us in a smile.
For many years I regretted that I failed to give her a Bible. I often remembered her difficulties before she became a Christian and the joy after believing in the Lord. I wondered how could I make up for that.
One day I was passing by a hospital, the familiar sound of a church bell reached me. Following voices, I found that church. At that time, a sound came to me again, “Sheng...sheng...jing.” On that day, I stepped into a church for the first time in my life. I also bought a real Bible. Later, I became a Christian. My actions brought comfort and granted the last wish of my grandmother who is in heaven.
- Translated by Karen Luo
Grandmother’s Love for the Bible Guided Me to the Church
