Bonnie's Miracle

    My sister Bonnie and her husband Bob owned their own flower shop.But flowers were becoming1at more and more local stores and through the Internet2their business was not as good as it had been three years earlier when they3it.For about a year,Bonnie and Bob discussed4they should do.They debated selling.They talked about5it into a gift shop or maybe a bookstore.But there just wasn't enough6or people around the area to7the business.

    Feeling helpless,Bonnie began8praying and asking God for answers.She9"God,give me a sign telling us what You want us to do.Call me on the10she said,"and show me what to do."

    Soon the phone rang.A young woman was asking how much they wanted for the11.My husband and I never take the road beside12shop,"she said,"but we were driving by yesterday and saw the 'For Sale' sign in the13.

    Puzzled,Bonnie replied,"There isn't a sign in the window.My husband and I have been discussing whether or not we should sell,but haven't reached a14"But I saw the sign!"the young lady15insisted."My husband saw it too.It was blue and white in the16picture window17the road.

    It18that the sign was the reflection（反射）of a house's poster put up19to the window on the other side of the road.Anyhow,within two weeks,the young lady and her husband20the flower shop at a handsome price.

    People from every corner flooded into the streets that Christmas Eve. "Frosty the Snowman," and "Jingle Bells" 1 in stores; on the pavements, the street singers performed happily. Everyone, was 2 by someone else, delighted and cheerful. I was alone.

    As one of 8 kids of a Brazilian family, brought up in America's crowded apartment, I'd spent several years searching for aloneness. Now, 3, at 27, a college student after the 4 with my girlfriend, every cell inside me wanted to be alone, 5 not at Christmas. My family had 6 to Brazil and my friends were 7 with their own lives. Dusk was approaching, and the fact that I had to return to my 8 home made me sad. Lights from windows blinked, and I hoped someone would 9 from one of those homes to invite me inside with a Christmas tree decorated with shiny fake snow and 10presents.

    At a market, I felt more 11 when people were buying lots of goods, which 12 the gifts we received as children in my mind. I missed my family and wanted to cry for wanting to be alone and for having achieved it.

    Outside the church , a manger (小耶稣) had been set 13. I stood with others watching the scene, some of them 14 themselves, praying. As I walked home, I realized that leaving Brazil was still a 15experience as I struggled with whatI had become in 15 years in America. I'd mourned the 16, but for the first time, I recognized what I'd gained. I was independent, 17 and healthy. My life was still ahead, full of18.

    Sometimes the best gift is the one that you give yourself. That Christmas, I gave myself 19 for what I'd obtained up to now and promise to go forward. It is the best gift I've ever got, the one that I most 20.

    As she walked round the large shop, Edith realized how difficult it was to choose a suitable Christmas 1for her father.

    She 2that he were as easy to please as her mother, who was 3satisfied with perfume(香水). 4, shopping at this time of the year was a most 5job. People 6on your feet, pushed you with their shoulders and almost 7 you over in their hurry in order to 8 something cheap ahead of you.

    Partly to have a rest, Edith paused in front of a counter, where some beautiful ties were on 9. "They are 10silk," the shop assistant told her with a smile trying to 11her to buy one. But Edith knew from past 12that her choice of ties hardly ever pleased her father.

    She moved on slowly and then, quite by chance, 13where a small crowd of men had gathered round a counter. She found some fine pipes on sale and the 14were very beautiful. Edith did not hesitate for long, although her father 15 smoked a pipe once in a while, she believed this was 16 to please him.

    When she got home, with her small but 17present hidden in her handbag, it was time for supper and her parents were already 18table. Her mother was in great 19. "Your father has at last decided to stop smoking," she told her daughter happily. Edith was so 20that she could not say a single word.

    You may be surprised to see “making sure children never suffer” as a mistake.  The following 1may help you understand how rescuing children from all suffering2weakness.

    A little boy felt sorry for a butterfly3 to emerge from its chrysalis(蛹). He decided to4the butterfly. So he peeled (剥开) the chrysalis open for the butterfly. The little boy was so5to watch the butterfly spread its wings and fly off into the sky.  Then he was horrified6he watched the butterfly fall to the ground and die because it did not have the muscle7to keep flying. In fact, the butterfly's struggle to8the chrysalis helps the butterfly become stronger.

Like the little boy, 9too often want to protect their children from struggle in the10of love. They don't realize that their children need to struggle, to experience11. To deal with disappointment, and to solve their own problems. Only in this way can children12their emotional strength, become 13and develop the skills necessary for the even bigger struggles they will meet throughout their lives. Children experiencing sufferings can14the ups and downs of life.

    However, it isn't helpful either in this case when parents15lectures(训斥), blame and shame to what the child is experiencing. Mothers 16to say, “Stop crying and acting like a spoiled boy. You can't always get what you want.” These17words should be avoided.

    Instead, parents can offer loving support. You can say, “Don't lose18. Be brave! You will succeed if you try again. ” Then comes the tough part-no19and no lectures. Simply allow him to discover that he can get over his disappointment and20what he can do to get what he wants in the future.

    When I was 13 years old, I stopped speaking. I'm still not exactly sure 1. I think I felt that words got me into trouble. The boys in my class were always 2 me, telling me to shut up. One day, I 3 into uncontrollable sobs behind the sports hall.

    So throughout my 4, I was silent dealing with the wider world only in whispers and shrugs. My isolation(孤立）led to indescribable 5 that nothing could relieve. I couldn't 6 or socialize. Then, at 15, a psychologist saw 7 in me She said I was in intelligent but 8, and needed to change schools for a fresh start.

    My parents sent me to a different comprehensive. I knew no one and I had the chance to 9 myself. Cheered by the psychologist's 10 in me, I worked hard and became a swot(刻苦学习的人). As a result, my parents were 11. Finally at 20, I was referred to a psychiatrist and he diagnosed me with a mild form of autism(自闭症). It was such a(n) 12 to know what was happening that I cried on the bus on the way home.

    It took a further five years to 13 again, a decision that was as much a surprise to me as it was to everyone else. I 14 myself hard, becoming more confident. Gradually, I 15 my speech. I definitely get more than usual pleasure from the use of 16. It's still such a fresh experience for me 17 different words—ones that can sound so complex, and carry so much 18.

    When I think of what I have 19, I feel like crying, but I don't 20it up anymore. Instead, I enjoy talking about it.

    From the time each of my children started school, I packed their lunches. And in each lunch, I1a note. Often written on a napkin (餐巾), it might be a thank-you for2moment, a reminder of something we were happily expecting, or a bit of3for the coming test or sporting event.

    In early grade school they4their notes. But as children grow older they become self-conscious (有自我意识) and5he reached high school, my older son, Marc, informed me he no longer6my daily notes. Telling him that he no longer needed to7them but I still needed to write them. I8until the day he graduated.

    Six years after high school graduation, Marc called and asked if he could move9for a couple of months. He had spent those years well, graduating from college,10two interships (实习) in Washington, D.C., and11, becoming a technical assistant in Sacramento.12short vacation visits, however, he had lived away from home. With his younger sister leaving for college, I was13happy to have Marc back. Since I was14making lunch for his younger brother, I15one for Marc, too. Imagine my16when I got a call from my 24-year-old son,17his lunch.

    "Did I do something18? Don't you love me19, Mom?" were just a few of the questions he threw at me as I20asked him what was wrong.

    "My note, mom," he answered. "Where's my note?"