One day, Mai visited her grandmother, looking sad because she had just gone through a stressful and tiring final exam. She told her grandmother about the difficult test, the pressure of studying, and her worries about the future. Her grandmother listened to Mai, nodding gently, as if understanding her granddaughter's feelings. When Mai finished, her grandmother began to tell her about the difficulties she had experienced in her life, about the times she failed and then rose again.
She emphasized that it was her perseverance, effort and belief in herself that helped her overcome. Every word she said contained warmth and encouragement. Mai felt relieved, her sadness gradually disappeared. Another time, Mai visited her grandmother in an excited mood. She had just won a prize in an environmental painting competition. She told her grandmother about the preparation process for the competition, the difficulties she had overcome and the joy of winning the prize.
Grandma listened to Mai attentively and when she finished, she hugged her tightly with her eyes shining with pride and love. There were times when Mai had little to tell, but Grandma talked a lot. She told fairy tales about the triumph of evil over good, about love in the family. She recalled memories of her childhood, about her loved ones. Her voice was warm, making Mai listen with rapt attention. Through such stories, the little girl realized that genuine understanding and sympathy, from the attitude of listening attentively to the words of comfort, consolation, and sharing, will help people a lot.
Nearly 2 years later, when Mai had grown up and gone to college, she visited her grandmother less and less often, and each time she visited her grandmother, it was much quicker. But her grandmother still welcomed Mai with a warm smile, while her eyes were much more dim. Until one day, her grandmother passed away, Mai hesitantly saw on her grandmother's bed the tiny cloth doll she had sewn for her grandmother's birthday.
