My Dad: The Fortunate or Unfortunate?

My Dad: Fortunate or Unfortunate?

By Thanh Vu

My dad was born in a small village in Northern Vietnam, surrounded by vast, lush green rice fields. It was the kind of village where everyone knew each other, and life followed the rhythms of the rice seasons. In this place, where simplicity and hardship coexisted, my dad's story began—a story that resonates with themes of God's protection and providence, much like the stories in the Bible.

My dad was the youngest child in a small Catholic family with two older sisters. His mother was the light of his life, bringing warmth and love to the whole family. Every evening, she would gather the children to pray the Rosary, their voices joining together in devotion. To my dad, these moments were sacred—times when he felt closest to God and to his mother, wrapped in her love and the gentle rhythm of prayer. But when he was only six years old, his life changed dramatically—his mother passed away, leaving a void that seemed impossible to fill. It was a grief akin to the loss and longing of the Israelites in the wilderness after they lost Moses' leadership.

After a while, his father struggled to raise his children alone and felt overwhelmed by the burden. In an attempt to bring stability to the family, his father remarried. Unfortunately, this new chapter brought even more suffering to my dad. His stepmother treated him cruelly; her heart was hardened towards him, much like Pharaoh's heart toward the Israelites. My dad felt abandoned and treated as a servant rather than a son. He was forced to work as a buffalo herder for wealthy families in the village, his childhood stolen by the burdens of adult responsibilities. During the day, he toiled under the hot sun, herding buffaloes through the fields. At night, his stepmother sent him to the riverbank to fish. His life was one of endless hardship, reminiscent of the harsh slavery endured by the Israelites in Egypt.

My dad had only one set of old, worn-out clothes that he wore for every task. When fishing, he would strip off his clothes to keep them dry, knowing that if he returned home with wet clothes, he would be beaten. Yet, even in these difficult times, God's protection was present. Like Joseph, who was sold into slavery by his brothers and then rose to power in Egypt, my dad held onto his faith, believing that God had not abandoned him.

One night, something miraculous happened. As my dad lay shivering on the riverbank, exhausted from the day's toil, he had a vivid dream. His birth mother appeared to him, her spirit seeming to transcend time and space, filled with love and justice. In the dream, she returned to the house, her face fierce and determined. She grabbed his stepmother by the hair and tied her to the bedpost, punishing her for all her cruelty. This dream gave my dad a sense of justice and reassurance that God saw his suffering and would ultimately protect him.

The Church teaches that the saints in heaven intercede for us. In Catholic tradition, my dad believed that his mother, though no longer with him on earth, was still watching over him. He felt her prayers and protection, as if she were a guardian angel guiding him through his trials. This belief became a source of strength, reminding him that he was never truly alone, even in the darkest moments.

Amid these personal hardships, the political landscape in Vietnam was also changing. The country was under French colonial rule, and rebellion was growing everywhere. Groups were rising up against the French, fighting for independence, and the atmosphere in the village became increasingly tense. One night, communist forces attacked the village, capturing my dad to use as a human shield in their fight against the French. He was just a young man, recently married with two small children, terrified and helpless, but somehow, he managed to escape. It was as if God had parted the sea of chaos before him, just as He had parted the Red Sea for Moses and the Israelites. My dad ran through the night, his heart pounding with fear, but he felt God's presence guiding him to safety.