美文賞析:來自內心的禮物
The hardest arithmetic to master is that which enables us to count our blessings.- Eric Hoffer
世界上最難的算術題是如何清點我們的祝福。
According to legend, a young man while roaming the desert came across a spring of delicious crystal-clear water. The water was so sweet, he filled his leather canteen so he could bring some back to a tribal elder who had been his teacher.
據傳說，一個年輕的男子在漫遊沙漠途中看到一泉如水晶般清澈而可口的水。水的味道非常甜美，於是他灌滿了他的皮水壺，這樣就可以帶一些回去，送給曾經是他老師的部落長老。
After a four-day journey he presented the water to the old man who took a deep drink, smiled warmly and thanked his student lavishly for the sweet water. The young man returned to his village with a happy heart.
經過四天的旅程，他把水呈獻給老人。老人深飲一口，和藹地笑了笑，並深切感激學生贈予他甜美的水。年輕人懷着愉快的心情回到了村莊。
Later, the teacher let another student taste the water. He spat it out, saying it was awful. It apparently had become stale because of the old leather container.
後來，老師讓他的另一個學生品嚐水。學生吐了出來，說水太難喝了。它顯然已經因爲陳舊的皮革容器而變得不再新鮮。
The student challenged his teacher: "Master, the water was foul. Why did you pretend to like it?"
學生質疑他的老師：“師父，水是臭的，你爲什麼要假裝喜歡它？”
The teacher replied, "You only tasted the water. I tasted the gift. The water was simply the container for an act of loving-kindness and nothing could be sweeter."
老師回答說，“你只品嚐了水的味道，我卻是在品嚐禮物的味道。水僅僅是裝載善與愛之行爲的容器，而沒有什麼東西比善與愛更甜美了。”
I think we understand this lesson best when we receive innocent gifts of love from young children. Whether it's a ceramic tray or a macaroni bracelet, the natural and proper response is appreciation and expressed thankfulness because we love the idea within the gift.
我認爲當我們從天真的孩子們那裏收到愛的禮物時，能夠最透徹地明白這個道理。無論它是一個陶瓷托盤或通心粉手鐲，我們自然而恰當的反應是欣賞，並表示感激，因爲我們喜歡禮物所包含的心意。
Gratitude doesn't always come naturally. Unfortunately, most children and many adults value only the thing given rather than the feeling embodied in it. We should remind ourselves and teach our children about the beauty and purity of feelings and expressions of gratitude. After all, gifts from the heart are really gifts of the heart.
感恩並不總是自然而來的。不幸的是，大多數兒童和成人只看重被贈予的東西本身，而不是它體現的情誼。我們應該提醒自己，並教導我們的孩子，感情和對感激之情的表達是美麗而純潔的。畢竟，發自內心給與的禮物纔是真正的禮物。
