Thanks for everything
In our life, we have rarely expressed our gratitude to the one who’d lived those years with us. In fact, we don’t have to wait for anniversaries to thank the ones closet to usthe ones so easily overlooked. If I have learned anything about giving thanks, it is this: give it now! while your feeling of appreciation is alive and sincere, act on it. Saying thanks is such an easy way to add to the world’s happiness.
Saying thanks not only brightens someone else’s world, it brightens yours. If you’re feeling left out, unloved or unappreciated, try reaching out to others. It may be just the medicine you need.
Of course, there are times when you can’t express gratitude immediately. In that case don’t let embarrassment sink you into silence-speak up the first time you have the chance.
Once a young minister, Mark Brian, was sent to a remote parish of Kwakiutl Indians in British Columbia. The Indians, he had been told, did not have a word for thank you. But Brian soon found that these people had exceptional generosity. Instead of saying thanks, it is their custom to return every favor with a favor of their own, and every kindness with an equal or superior kindness. They do their thanks.
I wonder if we had no words in our vocabulary for thank you, would we do a better job of communicating our gratitude? Would we be more responsive, more sensitive, more caring?
Thankfulness sets in motion a chain reaction that transforms people all around usincluding ourselves. For no one ever misunderstands the melody of a grateful heart. Its message is universal; its lyrics transcend all earthly barriers; its music touches the heavens.
《谁是你的守护天使》
Once upon a time there was a child ready to be born. So one day he asked God, "They tell me you are sending me to earth tomorrow but how am I going to live there being so small and helpless?"
God replied," Among the many angels, I chose one for you. She will be waiting for you and will take care of you."
But the child wasn't sure he really wanted to go. "But tell me, here in Heaven, I don't do anything else but sing and smile, that's enough for me to be happy."
"Your angel will sing for you and will also smile for you every day. And you will feel your angel's love and be happy."
"And how am I going to be able to understand when people talk to me, "the child continued, "if I don't know the language that men talk?"
God patted him on the head and said, "Your angel will tell you the most beautiful and sweet words you will ever hear, and with much patience and care, your angel will teach you how to speak."
"And what am I going to do when I want to talk to you?"
But God had an answer for that question too."Your angel will place your hands together and will teach you how to pray."
"I've heard that on earth there are bad men, who will protect me?"
"Your angel will defend you even if it means risking her life!"
"But I will always be sad because I will not see you anymore,"the child continued warily.
God smiled on the young one. "Your angel will always talk to you about me and will teach you the way for you to come back to me, even though I will always be next to you."
At that moment there was much peace in Heaven, but voices from earth could already be heard. The child knew he had to start on his journey very soon. He asked God one more question, softly,"Oh God, if I am about to leave now, please tell me my angel's name."
God touched the child on the shoulder and answered,"Your angel's name is not hard to remember. You will simply call her Mommy."
Love Is Everything
The winter cold hung in the air like a frozen dinosaur trying to thaw from his glacier and walk across the earth. Breath iced like a tiny morning mist upon a meandering river. The sounds of the city rising and spilling into silence as the night began to claim its citizens for sleep.
Blowing on gloved hands that seemed to have little effect on cold hands that ached with chill. Long hours hanging pressed clothes, pulling tickets and ringing up the customers. The last of the packaged hot chocolate gone and only the longing need for home and a pot pie to warm her.
It was payday and she cashed her check. Two Santas and one Salvation Army captain and she was minus ten dollars but what did it matter? She had a place to sleep, something decent to eat, and she had Drew.
Drew with his kindness, his caring and his humor to lighten her day. Thanksgiving was nigh and they were collecting early for the hungry and the children that would have no Christmas without them. She was so much more lucky than most of them but perhaps not as lucky as those that scurried in the Wednesday night sleet, shopping early before the pickings became slim. Life was not always easy but sometimes it could always be safe.
She had Drew, and Smat, the ugly little terrier that nobody wanted. She had comfort and warmth in the apartment. She had dinner for tomorrow thawing in the small turkey and the little Thanksgiving bonus from her boss.
But most of all, she had love. It was the most important of all.
冬天的寒冷在空气中纠缠不去，就象被冰冻的恐龙想要从冰河里解冻出来走到地上一样。呵气就象蜿蜒的河面上微薄的晨雾，城市的喧嚣升起又归于沉静，夜晚开始宣布它的臣民应该入睡了。
往带着手套的手上呵气好像也没有什么效果，冻僵的手冷得发痛。工作的那几个小时很漫长，熨平的衣服要挂起来，标签要拆下来，还要给顾客打电话。最后一个盒装的热巧克力喝完了，只渴望着回家，吃一块热馅饼来暖和一下。
今天是发薪日，她把支票兑换成了现金。路遇两个圣诞老人和一个救世军领队，她的钱减少了十元，但这又怎样呢?她有地方睡觉，有像样的东西吃，而且她还有德鲁。
德鲁的`亲切、爱心和幽默总能照亮她的每一天。感恩节近了，他们早早地开始为那些饥饿的人筹款，孩子们过圣诞节也少不了他们。她要比这些人幸运得多，当然可能比不上那些在周三雪夜赶着去购物的人，他们要早早把东西买好以免货物变少而无法挑选。生活并不总是很容易，但总是很安全。
她有德鲁，还有那条丑得没人要的小猎狗斯迈特;她有公寓里的舒适和温暖;她有明天的晚餐(小火鸡正在解冻着呢);她还有老板给的一小笔感恩节奖金。
而且她还有爱，这是所有事情中最重要的。
