春天的一份承諾中英版美文

　　春天的一份承諾

　　Early in the spring， about a month before my grandpa's stroke， I began walking for an hour every afternoon． Some days I would walk four blocks south to see Grandma and Grandpa． At eighty－six， Grandpa was still quite a gardener， so I always watched for his earliest blooms and each new wave of spring flowers．

　　早春時節，大約在爺爺中風前的一個月，我開始每天下午散步一個小時。有些日子，我會步行向南穿過四個街區去看望爺爺奶奶。八十六歲的爺爺仍然是一個杰出的花匠，因此我總是觀察著他最早盛開的花，以及一片又一片春的花海。

　　I was especially interested in flowers that year because I was planning to landscape my own yard and I was eager to get Grandpa's advice． I thought I knew pretty much what I wanted — a yard full of bushes and plants that would bloom from May till November．

　　那年，我打算把自己的小院美化一下，因此對花特別感興趣，期望能夠得到爺爺的指導。我以為自己知道究竟需要什么——滿院子花草樹木，從五月一直開到十一月。

　　It was right after the first rush of purple violets in the lawns and the sudden blaze of forsythia that spring that Grandpa had a stroke． It left him without speech and with no movement on his left side． The whole family rallied to Grandpa． We all spent many hours by his side． Some days his eyes were eloquent — laughing at our reported mishaps， listening alertly， revealing painful awareness of his inability to care for himself． There were days， too， when he slept most of the time， overcome with the weight of his approaching death．

　　那年春天，就是在草坪里第一叢紫羅蘭和突然盛開的鮮艷連翹出現后，爺爺得了中風。他嘴巴不能說話了，身體的左半部分也不能動。家里所有人都來看望爺爺，我們都花了大量的時間陪在他身邊。有幾天，他眼睛很有神——笑我們所匯報來的不幸，聽我們說話也很機警，并說他不能料理自己心里感覺很痛苦。有時候，他一整天都出在睡眠的狀態，而且體重也有所增加，隨時可能有生命危險。

　　As the months passed， I watched the growing earth with Grandpa's eyes． Each time I was with him， I gave him a garden report． He listened， gripping my hand with the sure strength and calm he had always had． But he could not answer my questions． The new flowers would blaze， peak， fade， and die before I knew their names．

　　隨著時間的推移，幾個月過去了。我像爺爺一樣望著地上長出來的東西。每次我和他在一起，我都要向他匯報一下花園的情況。他一邊聽著，一邊用平靜地用他一貫的力量緊握著我的手。然而，他無法回答我的問題。因此，很多花朵綻放、憔悴、凋謝和死亡，我甚至都不知道他們的名字。

　　Grandpa's illness held him through the spring and on， week by week， through summer． I began spending hours at the local nursery， studying and choosing seeds and plants． It gave me special joy to buy plants I had seen in Grandpa's garden and give them humble starts in my own garden． I discovered Sweet William， which I had admired for years in Grandpa's garden without knowing its name． And I planted it in his honor．

　　從春季開始，爺爺就一直受疾病的折磨，一直持續到夏季。我開始料理當地的苗圃，研究選擇種子和植株。我買了些曾在爺爺的花園里見過的樹木，盡心盡力地種在了我自己的花園里，這給我帶來很特別的快樂。我在爺爺的花園里發現了我喜歡多年的美洲石竹，以前一直不知道它的名字，現在我以爺爺的名譽栽下了它。

　　As I waited and watched in the garden and by Grandpa's side， some quiet truths emerged． I realized that Grandpa loved flowers that were always bloom； he kept a full bed of roses in his garden． But I noticed that Grandpa left plenty of room for the brief highlights． Not every nook of his garden wasconstantly in bloom． There was always a treasured surprise tucked somewhere．

　　當我守護在爺爺身邊的時候，一些真理靜靜地涌現。我知道爺爺深愛著那些繁盛的花草；在他的花園里，他種了一苗圃的玫瑰。不過，我也發現爺爺留了很多空地方，只為了能夠讓光線照進來。花園里并不是每個角落都經常有花開放，但總有一個接一個的驚喜從某個地方冒出來。

　　I came to see， too， that Grandpa's garden mirrored his life． He was a hard worker who understood the law of the harvest． But along with his hard work， Grandpa knew how to enjoy each season， each change． We often teased him about his life history． He had written two paragraphs summarizing fifty years of work， and a full nine pages about every trip and vacation he'd ever taken．

　　我也發現爺爺的花園是他一生的真實寫照。他是一個勤勞的工人，他理解收獲的規律。但是說起他的辛勤勞動，他又是一個知道如何享受四季和變化的人，我們經常拿他的過去開玩笑。他寫了兩段文字概述了他五十年的工作。其中，足足有九頁文字記載的是他的每次旅行和假期。

　　In July， Grandpa worsened． One hot afternoon arrived when no one else was at his bedside． He was glad to have me there， and reached out his hand to pull me close．

　　七月，爺爺的病情惡化了。有一天下午天氣很炎熱，沒有人在爺爺身邊。只有我在，他很高興，就伸出他的手把我抱得緊緊的。

　　I told Grandpa what I had learned — that few flowers last from April to November． Some of the most beautiful bloom for only a month at most． To really enjoy a garden， you have to plant corners and drifts and rows of flowers that will bloom and grace the garden， each in its own season．

　　我把我所學到的告訴了爺爺——很少有花能從五月開到十一月，絕大多部分花最多開一個月。為了真正達到欣賞花園的目的.，你必須在每個角落都種上花，叢叢花兒開放，把花園裝扮得非常漂亮，每個角落都有四季。

　　His eyes listened to every word． Then， another discovery： "If I want a garden like yours， Grandpa， I'm going to have to work．"His grin laughed at me， and his eyes teased me．

　　他用眼睛認真地傾聽著我的每句話，另一個發現是：“爺爺，如果我想要我的花園像你的花園話，我必須去工作?！彼麑χ倚Γ┏隽搜例X，眼神也在嬉笑我。

　　"Grandpa， in your life right now the chrysanthemums are in bloom． Chrysanthemums and roses．"Tears clouded both our eyes． Neither of us feared this last flower of fall， but the wait for spring seems longest in November． We knew how much we would miss each other．

　　“爺爺，現在菊花正在開放，菊花和玫瑰花都在開放。”我們倆的眼里都盈滿了淚花，我們都不害怕最后一朵花凋謝，但在十一月等待春天未免有點太長了，我們都知道我們會非常想念對方的。

　　Sitting there， I suddenly felt that the best gift I could give Grandpa would be to give voice to the testimony inside both of us． He had never spoken of his testimony to me， but it was such a part of his life that I had never questioned if Grandpa knew． I knew he knew．

　　我坐在那里，突然感到我能給爺爺的最好禮物是說出我們之間的承諾。他從來沒有對我說起他的承諾，但我從來沒有質疑過的就是他人生中的這一部分，如果爺爺知道的話。我知道他所知道的。

　　"Grandpa，"I began — and his grip tightened as if he knew what I was going to say — "I want you to know that I have a testimony． I know the Savior lives． I bear witness to you that Joseph Smith is a prophet． I love the Restoration and joy in it．"The steadiness in Grandpa's eyes told how much he felt it too． "I bear witness that President Kimball is a prophet． I know the Book of Mormon is true， Grandpa． Every part of mebears this witness．"

　　“爺爺，”我開始說——他嘴唇緊閉，好像知道我要說什么似的——“我想要你知道我有一個承諾。我知道救世主是存在的，我向你作證約瑟夫?史密斯是個預言家。我愛王政復辟時代，也很希望能加入它?！睜敔攬远ǖ难凵褚哺嬖V了我他也有如此強烈的感受。“我向你作證金博爾總統是一個預言家。爺爺，我知道《魔門經》是真的，我拿整個人來向你作證?！?/p>

　　"Grandpa，"I added quietly， "I know our Father in Heaven loves you．"Unbidden， unexpected， the Spirit bore comforting， poignant testimony to me of our Father's love for my humble， quiet Grandpa．

　　爺爺，”我語氣平和地又說了一句，“我知道我們的上帝是愛你的。”我爺爺地位卑微，但人很平和，我不假思索地意外地想到這種精神給我帶來了上帝對爺爺的熱愛。

　　A tangible sense of Heavenly Father's compassionate awareness of Grandpa's suffering surrounded us and held us． It was so personal and powerful that no words were left to me — only tears of gratitude and humility， tears of comfort．

　　上帝對爺爺所遭受的苦難表示了很大的同情，這種意識一直環繞和支持著我們。這種自我意識是如此有力，以至我無法用語言將其描述——只有感恩和謙恭，還有安慰的淚水。

　　Grandpa and I wept together．

　　爺爺和我都流下了眼淚。

　　It was the end of August when Grandpa died， the end of summer． As we were choosing flowers from the florist for Grandpa's funeral， I slipped away to Grandpa's garden and walked with my memories of columbine and Sweet William． Only the tall lavender and white phlox were in bloom now， and some baby's breath in another corner．

　　八月底，也是夏季即將過去的時候，爺爺還是走了。當大家在花店為爺爺的葬禮選擇葬花時，我悄悄地離開來到爺爺的花園。走在花園里，回憶著那些耬斗菜和美洲石竹，現在只有熏衣草和白色夾竹桃在開花，另一個角落里還開放著一些滿天星。

　　On impulse， I cut the prettiest strands of phlox and baby's breath and made one more arrangement for the funeral． When they saw it， friends and family all smiled to see Grandpa's flowers there． We all felt how much Grandpa would have liked that．

　　一時心血來潮，我把最漂亮的幾束夾竹桃和滿天星剪了下來，給爺爺葬禮增添了一份裝扮?？吹竭@些花的時候，親友們都因為看到爺爺的花而露出微笑。我們都知道爺爺一定會很喜歡那些花兒的。

　　The October after Grandpa's death， I planted tulip and daffodil bulbs， snowdrops， crocuses， and bluebells． Each bulb was a comfort to me， a love sent to Grandpa， a promise of spring．

　　在爺爺去世后的十月，我種了一些郁金香、水仙、雪花蓮、番紅花及藍鈴花。每一個花苞對我來說都是一種安慰，都是給爺爺的一份愛，都是春天的一份承諾。

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　　A Parable of a Child

　　A Parable of a Child

　　一個孩子的寓言

　　by Steve Goodier 李 瑾 譯

　　父母說：“我有一個孩子，他/她將來會成為一名……”

　　孩子說：“我是你們的孩子，我將來會成為一名……”

　　省略號的內容由你決定！教育與經驗之間是有區別的。教育就是從閱讀文字所得到的，而經驗是從不閱讀而得到的?？匆粋€故事，你就會明白“偉大的學習來自于教育和經驗的結合”。

　　一名青年教師夢見天使出現在他面前，對他說：“你將會有一個孩子，他/她將來會成為一名世界領袖。你得讓她意識到自己的智慧，增長自信心，開發她果斷不失細膩，虛心而又堅韌的性格特質，你會如何為她做準備呢？”

　　夢醒時，青年教師一身冷汗。他從沒經歷過這種事情。照夢中所說的，他現在或將來的學生之中的任何一個人都有可能有成為他夢中聽到的那個人物。他準備好了要去幫助他們實現每一個志向嗎？他默默想：“既然知道了某一個學生會成為那個人物，那么我的教學方式該怎么改變一下呢？”一步一步地，他已經開始暗自籌劃了。

　　這名學生不僅需要有經歷，而且需要有人指導。他的教學方式改變了。對他而言，每一個走過他教室的年輕人都有可能成為未來的世界領袖。他看這些學生時，不是看他們曾經是什么樣子，而是看他們將來可能成為什么樣子。他以一種平和的心態期盼學生發揮最大的潛力。他在教育學生時，仿佛世界的未來完全掌握在他的教導中。

　　多年以后，他所認識的一名女子成為舉世矚目的人物。這時他才悟出，她就是那晚夢中天使所說的那個女孩。只是，她不是他的學生，而是他的女兒。在女兒一生所遇到的老師之中，他是最棒的。

　　我聽過這樣一句話：“孩子是我們給自己無法預見的某個時間、某個地點所發送出去的活信息?！笨蛇@并不僅僅是一則有關一個無名教師的寓言，而是有關你我的寓言——不論我們是為人父母，還是為人師表。而這個故事——我們的故事，其實是這樣開始的：

　　“你將有一個孩子，他/她將來會成為一名……”你來填完這個句子吧，如果不填“世界領袖”，那么“絕世好爸”也行；再要不“優秀教師”？“妙手神醫”？“不按常理出牌的問題克星”？“鼓舞人心的藝術家”？或是“慷慨無私的慈善家”？

　　你會在何地、如何遇見這個孩子，那是一個謎。可是，你要相信，一個孩子的將來很有可能就取決于你給他/她所造成的影響；也要相信，孩子會出人頭地的。對你來說，任何孩子都是不平凡的，你也因此脫胎換骨。

　　A young school teacher had a dream that an angel appeared to him and said, “You will be given a child who will grow up to become a world leader. How will you prepare her so that she will realize her intelligence, grow in confidence, develop both her assertiveness and sensitivity, be open-minded, yet strong in character？”

　　The young teacher awoke in a cold sweat. It had never occurred to him before——any ONE of his present or future students could be the person described in his dream. Was he preparing them to rise to ANY POSITION to which they may aspire？ He thought, “How might my teaching change if I KNEW that one of my students were this person？” He gradually began to formulate a plan in his mind.

　　This student would need experience as well as instruction. His teaching changed. Every young person who walked through his classroom became, for him, a future world leader. He saw each one, not as they were, but as they could be. He expected the best from his students, yet tempered it with compassion. He taught each one as if the future of the world depended on his instruction.

　　After many years, a woman he knew rose to a position of world prominence. He realized that she must surely have been the girl described in his dream. Only she was not one of his students, but rather his daughter. For of all the various teachers in her life, her father was the best.

　　I’ve heard it said that “Children are living messages we send to a time and place we will never see.” But this isn’t simply a parable about an unnamed school teacher. It is a parable about you and me——whether or not we are parents or even teachers. And the story, OUR story, actually begins like this:

　　“You will be given a child who will grow up to become…” You finish the sentence. If not a world leader, then a superb father？ An excellent teacher？ A gifted healer？ An innovative problem solver？ An inspiring artist？ A generous philanthropist？

　　Where and how you will encounter this child is a mystery. But believe that one child’s future may depend upon influence only you can provide, and something remarkable will happen. For no young person will ever be ordinary to you again. And you will never be the same.

　　·父親節的由來（一）