第四章 有一种真情叫关爱（5）（2/2）
《世界上最温情的故事》作者：吴文智 2017-04-14 12:57
side of the road.
Through my working hard, things started to change for me. I became responsible enough to have a home with a backyard for my daughter, and plenty of food, and I started to pull myself out of debt. One day we saw a homeless person with the sign “Will work for food.” I passed by. My daughter commented, “Mommy, you used to always give to those people in need. But now ...” I replied, “Honey, they just use that money for alcohol or other bad things.” She didn’t respond. But when I said that, I didn’t feel right.
Three days later, I was driving to pick up my daughter from school. A man was standing on the corner with the appearance of worries, and suddenly something deep inside me said, “Just help the guy.” So I rolled down my window, and he ran over with enthusiasm. He said, “Kind lady, I only need 77 cents.” I reached into my pocket and found that I didn’t take my purse. And then I embarrassedly spread out my hands to show that I was in no position to help him. But when he turned away, I called to him, “Wait moment!” I found in my ashtray there sat three quarters and two pennies. Oddly enough, it was the very 77 cents.
My skin was prickling as I saw this. I scooped it up and gave it to him. He burst out with joy and tears in his eyes, “Wow, you just made it possible for me to see my mom for Christmas! Thank you so much! I haven’t visited my mother for three years. The bus is leaving in 20 minutes!I have to go now.”
It was the moment that I’ll never forget. I think that man won’t forget it either, but I was the one who got the best gift in life—GIVING. It also strikes me that nothing is a coincidence, and every giving has meaning, although it is the humble 77 cents.
我在新墨西哥州的爱伯克奇城居住，许多无家可归的人都聚集在市区，特别是在高校区。出于对他们不幸的同情，我过去常会给他们很多钱。然而，随着时间的流逝，我也沦为他们中的一员。离婚后，身为单身母亲的我无家可归，没有收入，还要还一大笔债。我变得很吝啬，不再给街头的流浪者们一分钱。
在我的努力下，生活有所好转。我已经能为女儿买带后院的房子，为她提供丰盛的饭菜，而且债务也渐渐还清。一天，我们看到一个流浪汉，胸前挂着这样的牌子：“请给我点吃的吧。”我漠然地走过。女儿感叹道：“妈妈，您以前总会帮助他们，可是现在怎么……”我回答说：“亲爱的，他们只会用那些钱去喝酒或干坏事。”女儿默不作声。但我觉得自己不应该那么说。
Through my working hard, things started to change for me. I became responsible enough to have a home with a backyard for my daughter, and plenty of food, and I started to pull myself out of debt. One day we saw a homeless person with the sign “Will work for food.” I passed by. My daughter commented, “Mommy, you used to always give to those people in need. But now ...” I replied, “Honey, they just use that money for alcohol or other bad things.” She didn’t respond. But when I said that, I didn’t feel right.
Three days later, I was driving to pick up my daughter from school. A man was standing on the corner with the appearance of worries, and suddenly something deep inside me said, “Just help the guy.” So I rolled down my window, and he ran over with enthusiasm. He said, “Kind lady, I only need 77 cents.” I reached into my pocket and found that I didn’t take my purse. And then I embarrassedly spread out my hands to show that I was in no position to help him. But when he turned away, I called to him, “Wait moment!” I found in my ashtray there sat three quarters and two pennies. Oddly enough, it was the very 77 cents.
My skin was prickling as I saw this. I scooped it up and gave it to him. He burst out with joy and tears in his eyes, “Wow, you just made it possible for me to see my mom for Christmas! Thank you so much! I haven’t visited my mother for three years. The bus is leaving in 20 minutes!I have to go now.”
It was the moment that I’ll never forget. I think that man won’t forget it either, but I was the one who got the best gift in life—GIVING. It also strikes me that nothing is a coincidence, and every giving has meaning, although it is the humble 77 cents.
我在新墨西哥州的爱伯克奇城居住，许多无家可归的人都聚集在市区，特别是在高校区。出于对他们不幸的同情，我过去常会给他们很多钱。然而，随着时间的流逝，我也沦为他们中的一员。离婚后，身为单身母亲的我无家可归，没有收入，还要还一大笔债。我变得很吝啬，不再给街头的流浪者们一分钱。
在我的努力下，生活有所好转。我已经能为女儿买带后院的房子，为她提供丰盛的饭菜，而且债务也渐渐还清。一天，我们看到一个流浪汉，胸前挂着这样的牌子：“请给我点吃的吧。”我漠然地走过。女儿感叹道：“妈妈，您以前总会帮助他们，可是现在怎么……”我回答说：“亲爱的，他们只会用那些钱去喝酒或干坏事。”女儿默不作声。但我觉得自己不应该那么说。