那天是感恩节前一天------也是第一次我和我的三个孩子没有在他们的父亲的陪伴下度过，他早在几个月前就走了。两个年长的孩子此时高烧发得很是厉害，而且最年长那个孩子已经卧床休养一个礼拜了。
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.
外面天气寒冷，天色灰暗而且还下着小雨。为了照顾到每一个孩子：体温计、果汁、尿布，我忙得团团转，感觉越来越累。给孩子们留着的饮料已经所剩无几。但当我去查看我的钱包的时候，我只找到了2.5美元------而且这点钱只够我维持到月底。正是在这个时候我听到电话铃响了。
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.
这是我们的前教区秘书打来的，她说他们都很想念我们而且教会有礼物要赠送给我们。我告诉她我正要打算去给孩子们买些果汁和汤，而且我会在去商店的路上顺道去下教堂。
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.
我刚好在午餐前赶到教堂。教堂秘书和我在门前相遇并递给我一封特殊的信。“我们经常想到你和你的孩子，”她说，“你在我们的心里和祝福中。”当我打开信封，我发现里面有两张杂货店礼品券。每张都要值20美元。我被深深地打动情不自禁地哭了出来。
“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.
“真是太感谢你了，”在我们拥抱的当儿我说到。“请把我们的爱和感谢转达给教堂。”然后我驶向在我家附近的商店，给孩子们买了些最需要的东西。
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 my family, knowing I’m a single parent trying to make ends meet.“
我买了将近14美元的食品，我把其中一张礼券递给收银员。她接过去以后转身看了很长一段时间。我想可能事情有点不太对劲。最后我说，“这张礼券是一份真诚的祝福。我们的前教会知道我是一个入不敷出的单亲家长就把这份礼券送给了我们全家。”
The cashier then turned around, with tears in her loving eyes, and replied, “Honey, that’s wonderful! Do you have a turkey?”
那天是感恩节前一天------也是第一次我和我的三个孩子没有在他们的父亲的陪伴下度过，他早在几个月前就走了。两个年长的孩子此时高烧发得很是厉害，而且最年长那个孩子已经卧床休养一个礼拜了。
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.
外面天气寒冷，天色灰暗而且还下着小雨。为了照顾到每一个孩子：体温计、果汁、尿布，我忙得团团转，感觉越来越累。给孩子们留着的饮料已经所剩无几。但当我去查看我的钱包的时候，我只找到了2.5美元------而且这点钱只够我维持到月底。正是在这个时候我听到电话铃响了。
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.
这是我们的前教区秘书打来的，她说他们都很想念我们而且教会有礼物要赠送给我们。我告诉她我正要打算去给孩子们买些果汁和汤，而且我会在去商店的路上顺道去下教堂。
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.
我刚好在午餐前赶到教堂。教堂秘书和我在门前相遇并递给我一封特殊的信。“我们经常想到你和你的孩子，”她说，“你在我们的心里和祝福中。”当我打开信封，我发现里面有两张杂货店礼品券。每张都要值20美元。我被深深地打动情不自禁地哭了出来。
“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.
“真是太感谢你了，”在我们拥抱的当儿我说到。“请把我们的爱和感谢转达给教堂。”然后我驶向在我家附近的商店，给孩子们买了些最需要的东西。
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 my family, knowing I’m a single parent trying to make ends meet.“
我买了将近14美元的食品，我把其中一张礼券递给收银员。她接过去以后转身看了很长一段时间。我想可能事情有点不太对劲。最后我说，“这张礼券是一份真诚的祝福。我们的前教会知道我是一个入不敷出的单亲家长就把这份礼券送给了我们全家。”
The cashier then turned around, with tears in her loving eyes, and replied, “Honey, that’s wonderful! Do you have a turkey?”