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.
那是感恩节的前一天---孩子的父亲在几个月前离开了我们,这将是我和三个孩子在没有他们父亲陪伴下度过的第一个感恩节.现在两个大的孩子患了重感冒,而且医生还要求最大的那个孩子必须卧床休息一周。
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.
这是个寒冷,灰暗的日子,窗外还飘着细雨.我四处忙碌着要照看好每个孩子:测量体温,喂食,换尿布我感到越来越疲惫.而且给孩子们喝的东西也马上要彻底地用完了.但是当我打开钱包,所能找到的只有2.5美元左右--可我还得靠这点钱支撑到月底啊。就在这时电话铃突然响了起来.
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. 电话是我们以前教堂里的秘书打来的,她说他们一直在惦记着我们，教友們还有一些東西要送给我们.我告诉她我正要出去给孩子们买些喝的东西,在我去市场的途中会顺便到教堂去一下.
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.
我赶到教堂时正好要到午饭时间了。在门口我遇到了教堂的秘书她递给我一个别致的礼品信封."我们经常想起你和孩子们,"她说,"并且在心中为你们祈祷.我们爱你们."我打开信封,看到里面有两张面值是20美元的食品店购物券.我被深深的感动了,不禁失声痛哭.
"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.
"太谢谢你们了!"说着,我们拥抱了一下."请向教堂转达我们的爱和感激."接着我便驱车到离家不远的一个商店里去买孩子们急需的一些东西.
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."
我买了14块多一点的东西,在收银台我把一张礼品券递给了收银员.她接了之后,便转过身了去好长一段时间.我想可能是什幺地方 出了差错.终于我忍不住說到:"这张礼券包含了真诚的祝福.是我们以前所在的教会送给我的,因为知道我是个量入为出的单身母亲."
The cashier then turned around, with tears in her loving eyes, and replied, "Honey, that's wonderful! Do you have a turkey?"
于是那个收银员转回了身,充满爱心的眼中盈着泪花:"亲爱的,好极了!你买了火鸡吗?"
"No. It's okay because my children are sick anyway." "没有.不过没关系反正孩子们病着呢."
She then asked, "Do you have anything else for Thanksgiving dinner?"
她又接着问到,"你买了其它感恩节的食品吗?"
Again I replied, "No." 我依然回答说:"没有."
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."
把礼品券中剩余的钱找给我之后,她看着我说到,"亲爱的,我现在不能确切告诉你为什幺,但是我希望你再进去买一只火鸡,酸果蔓沙司,番瓜派或是其它你需要的感恩节食品."
I was shocked, and humbled to tears. "Are you sure?" I asked. 我的心不禁一颤,流下了自卑的泪水. "一定要这样吗?"我问到.
"Yes! Get whatever you want. And get some Gatorade for the kids."
"是!买所有你想要的东西.再给孩子们买些给他力(一种饮料)."
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.
当我再次返回去拿东西的时候觉得很尴尬,但我还是选了一只新鲜的火鸡,一些山药和土豆,还有孩子们的饮料.接着把购物车推到了先前的那个收银员跟前.在我往柜台上拿东西的时候,她还是用那双含着泪水的眼睛温和地看了我一下说到.
"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.
"现在我可以告诉你了.今天早上我祈祷我能够在今天帮助一些人,而你正好在此之列."她从柜台下面拿出了钱包取了20块钱出来.她替我付了账接着又把剩下的零钱递给我.我又一次感动地落泪了.
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."
那个可爱的收银员接着说,"我是个基督徒.如果您有什幺需要的 话可以给我打电话."她用双手捧起我的头在我的面颊上吻了一下说:"上帝保佑你,亲爱的."
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.
当我向车走去的时候,我内心充满了对陌生人爱心的深深感激，意识到上帝是爱我的家人的,他通过这个陌生人和我的教友们来展示他的爱.
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.
那年的感恩节,孩子们本该是去父亲那儿过的,但是由于患了流感,他们留在家里和我一起度过了一个非同寻常的感恩节.孩子们精神一下好了许多,吃着可口的食物我们也都体味到了上帝的慷慨仁慈-和社会的关爱.我们的心中真正地充满了感激.
[感恩节的故事]