it was the day before thanksgiving – the first one my three
children and i would be spending without their father, who had
left several months before. now the two older children were
very sick with the flu, and the eldest had just been
prescribed bed rest for a week.
那是感恩節的前一天---孩子的父親在幾個月前離開了我們,這將是我和三個孩子在沒有他們父親陪伴下度過的第一個感恩節.現在兩個大的孩子患了重感冒,而且醫生還要求最大的那個孩子必須臥床休息一周。
it was a cool, gray day outside, and a light rain was falling.
i grew wearier as i scurried around, trying to care for each
child: thermometers, juice, diapers. and i was fast running
out of liquids for the children. but when i checked my purse,
all i found was about $2.50 – and this was supposed to last me
until the end of the month. that's when i heard the phone
ring.
這是個寒冷,灰暗的日子,窗外還飄著細雨.我四處忙碌著要照看好每個孩子:測量體溫,餵食,換尿布我感到越來越疲憊.而且給孩子們喝的東西也馬上要徹底地用完了.但是當我打開錢包,所能找到的只有2.5美元左右--可我還得靠這點錢支撐到月底啊。就在這時電話鈴突然響了起來.
it was the secretary from our former church, and she told me
that they had been thinking about us and had something to give
us from the congregation. i told her that i was going out to
pick up some more juice and soup for the children, and i would
drop by the church on my way to the market.
電話是我們以前教堂里的秘書打來的,她說他們一直在惦記著我們，教友們還有一些東西要送給我們.我告訴她我正要出去給孩子們買些喝的東西,在我去市場的途中會順便到教堂去一下.
i arrived at the church just before lunch. the church
secretary met me at the door and handed me a special gift
envelope. "we think of you and the kids often," she said, "and
you are in our hearts and prayers. we love you." when i opened
the envelope, i found two grocery certificates inside. each
was worth $20. i was so touched and moved, i broke down and
cried.
我趕到教堂時正好要到午飯時間了。在門口我遇到了教堂的秘書她遞給我一個別致的禮品信封."我們經常想起你和孩子們,"她說,"並且在心中為你們祈禱.我們愛你們."我打開信封,看到裡面有兩張面值是20美元的食品店購物券.我被深深的感動了,不禁失聲痛哭.
"thank you very much," i said, as we hugged each other.
"please give our love and thanks to the church." then i drove
to a store near our home and purchased some much-needed items
for the children.
"太謝謝你們了!"說著,我們擁抱了一下."請向教堂轉達我們的愛和感激."接著我便驅車到離家不遠的一個商店裡去買孩子們急需的一些東西.
at the check-out counter i had a little over $14.00 worth of
groceries, and i handed the cashier one of the gift
certificates. she took it, then turned her back for what
seemed like a very long time. i thought something might be
wrong. finally i said, "this gift certificate is a real
blessing. our former church gave it to our family, knowing i'm
a single patent trying to make ends meet."
我買了14塊多一點的東西,在收銀台我把一張禮品券遞給了收銀員.她接了之後,便轉過身了去好長一段時間.我想可能是什麼地方
出了差錯.終於我忍不住說到:"這張禮券包含了真誠的祝福.是我們以前所在的教會送給我的,因為知道我是個量入為出的單身母親."
the cashier then turned around, with tears in her loving eyes,
and replied, "honey, that's wonderful! do you have a turkey?"
於是那個收銀員轉回了身,充滿愛心的眼中盈著淚花:"親愛的,好極了!你買了火雞嗎?"
"no. it's okay because my children are sick anyway."
"沒有.不過沒關係反正孩子們病著呢."
she then asked, "do you have anything else for thanksgiving
dinner?"
她又接著問到,"你買了其它感恩節的食品嗎?"
again i replied, "no." 我依然回答說:"沒有."
after handing me the change from the certificate, she looked
at my face and said, "honey, i can't tell you exactly why
right now, but i want you to go back into the store and buy a
turkey, cranberry sauce, pumpkin pie or anything else you need
for a thanksgiving dinner."
把禮品券中剩餘的錢找給我之後,她看著我說到,"親愛的,我現在不能確切告訴你為什麼,但是我希望你再進去買一隻火雞,酸果蔓沙司,番瓜派或是其它你需要的感恩節食品."
i was shocked, and humbled to tears. "are you sure?" i asked.
我的心不禁一顫,流下了自卑的淚水. "一定要這樣嗎?"我問到.
"yes! get whatever you want. and get some gatorade for the
kids."
"是!買所有你想要的東西.再給孩子們買些給他力(一種飲料)."
i felt awkward as i went back to do more shopping, but i
selected a fresh turkey, a few yams and potatoes, and some
juices for the children. then i wheeled the shopping cart up
to the same cashier as before. as i placed my groceries on the
counter, she looked at me once more with giant tears in her
kind eyes and began to speak.
當我再次返回去拿東西的時候覺得很尷尬,但我還是選了一隻新鮮的火雞,一些山藥和土豆,還有孩子們的飲料.接著把購物車推到了先前的那個收銀員跟前.在我往櫃檯上拿東西的時候,她還是用那雙含著淚水的眼睛溫和地看了我一下說到.
"now i can tell you. this morning i prayed that i could help
someone today, and you walked through my line." she reached
under the counter for her purse and took out a $20 bill. she
paid for my groceries and then handed me the change. once more
i was moved to tears.
"現在我可以告訴你了.今天早上我祈禱我能夠在今天幫助一些人,而你正好在此之列."她從櫃檯下面拿出了錢包取了20塊錢出來.她替我付了賬接著又把剩下的零錢遞給我.我又一次感動地落淚了.
the sweet cashier then said, "i am a christian. here is my
phone number if you ever need anything." she then took my head
in her hands, kissed my cheek and said, "god bless you,
honey."
那個可愛的收銀員接著說,"我是個基督徒.如果您有什麼需要的
話可以給我打電話."她用雙手捧起我的頭在我的面頰上吻了一下說:"上帝保佑你,親愛的."
as i walked to my car, i was overwhelmed by this stranger's
love and by the realization that god loves my family too, and
shows us his love through this stranger's and my church's kind
deeds.
當我向車走去的時候,我內心充滿了對陌生人愛心的深深感激，意識到上帝是愛我的家人的,他通過這個陌生人和我的教友們來展示他的愛.
the children were supposed to have spent thanksgiving with
their father that year, but because of the flu they were home
with me, for a very special thanksgiving day. they were
feeling better, and we all ate the goodness of the lord's
bounty – and our community's love. our hearts were truly
filled with thanks.