It was a very cold Thursday. When I observed the1falling onto my car, I really began to wonder if I was going to2it on time. Of course I must, because I have no3

    About two weeks ago, what my4Ellen had talked about was her Christmas concert to be held in her school and some rumors about it. “Mom, Rachel was5to sing alone, but she's not! Linda will replace her to do it.” “Mom, you won't believe it,6Lexie's whole family is coming to the concert, even from another7” Making a long way out of state to see third graders sing Christmas carols seemed to be a pretty big deal(待遇) for her.

    When I sat in traffic, I thought about all the school8I had attended alone. Ellen never mentioned it, but I wonder9she felt about me being the only one who ever came to her events. My own family lived out of town, and her father and his family10quite succeeded in fitting those things into their schedules, I11if it bothered her.

    At eight o'clock the12was scheduled to begin. With only a few minutes to13 I found myself running: first, through the snow-drifted parking lot, then through the school passage. I entered the14hall and found a vacant seat near the front. From her place onstage, Ellen saw me15for the chair, and she smiled. I was16enough to hear the loud conversation of the children onstage.

    “Look, Ellen, there is my uncle and my cousin. They came all the way from West Virginia. I can't believe my whole family is here!” Ellen17at Lexie and said, “My whole family is here, too! Look, there she is!” Ellen gave me a big smile. I smiled back at her, never once18the melting snow dripping off my head. It19occurred to me that while we tried to teach our children all about20 they actually taught us what life was all about.

    One Sunday, I drove my wife to work. On my1she asked me to do some shopping at the local shopping centre. Outside I noticed a(n)2guy. He sat on the floor with a small cup asking for3and a little dog at his side, keeping4.

    The shoppers walked past5him on such a very cold day without any mercy. I6my pockets.￡1.5 was all the change I had and I7it in his cup and said to him to treat himself8I left him, I thought to myself: Is that really a treat? Leave this guy in the cold and9throw him￡1.5!I knew this wasn't10.

    I collected my shopping and as I made my way back, I thought what I could do to help this guy. So I went into a bakery and bought some11for him. But what about his12? Again, I went to a shop, grabbing some doggy chocolate treats.

    Coming13 I sat down, introduced myself and gave him the food. He was14and couldn't believe it, but he kept shaking my hand and 15me. Then I left. As I returned my car, I16The guy was eating his food and filling a bowl of water for his dog.

    Christmas is about17and helping others.18everything you have, for example, the rich food in your fridge over the Christmas period and your sofa. On the contrary, this guy had19of these. I've helped him for a day or two and hope that you may spare a thought next time you see someone on the20.

    A group of children would gather frequently at each other's homes. They1what was happening in their lives. Their friendship was beautiful to see, and surprising thoughts flowed from these2minds.

    The mother of one of the children would occasionally join their3and tell them stories. When she spoke of her “jewel box”, her most4possession, she sent their5soaring.

    She emphasized that the jewel box was so6that its contents could never be stolen! Of course, the children's minds were 7with dazzling pictures of diamonds, jewels, pearls, and other priceless items. They daydreamed of her being an heiress(继承人) of a8family, even though her simple life did not9vast material wealth.

    One day the children asked her what was in the jewel box. Looking at the children's 10 upturned faces, she11at each child, and then12them to gather around her and sit on the grass. “Let me tell you a wonderful13 she whispered, “The jewel box is not a14box!”

    The children's eyes were big with15. The mother continued, “In reality, it is a16box of your heart. And everyone has one! Its17are the feelings of love, joy, peace, gratitude, and faith. It is an inner experience, and the treasure of knowing which18with you forever.”

    The children asked many questions that day. Most of them never19the story of the jewel box, and appreciated it more as they20adulthood.

In 2017, I was diagnosed (诊断) with Type 1 diabetes (糖尿病). And then I was told that I couldn't drive for a few weeks until my blood sugar levels had1 . 

Driving was a2 very soon after diagnosis for me. I needed to get to the chemist's shop for my diabetes medicine and get to hospital appointments, but at first couldn't, for having been told not to drive. I didn't want to be a3 , having to ask for lifts all the time. 

I found it really4 to be unable to drive, but things settled down after that and seemed to be5 for a while. 6 , to my surprise, I had severe hypoglycemia (低血糖) last year and wasn't able to7 it myself. I called an ambulance and was taken to8 , where I saw doctors and nurses I didn't know as none of them were connected to the diabetes team who usually cared for me. That's where my9 began. They advised me not to drive on the basis of this disease. They told me to call the Driver and Vehicle Licencing Agency (DVLA) and10 what they'd told me to them. This led to my licence being canceled. 

I couldn't11 all that had happened. It seemed12 . I needed answers and13 , so I phoned the Diabetes UK Helpline number I got from their website. They14 I was right in thinking that the DVLA shouldn't have15 my licence based on this hypoglycemia, according to the law. With their help, the DVLA sent me a letter admitting making a mistake. I got it back in six weeks.

Shayden, 11 years old, approached his neighbor's house and asked for using the family's front door security camera to shoot a video. Shayden's going to the Rays' house was 1 by his strong need for new friends. He expressed his 2 for companionship in the video, 3 seeking out native children around 11 or 12.

However, when his neighbor Brennan Ray 4 some kids nearby, Shayden explained that he felt he was 5 by them as they always stopped him entering their activities. After their brief 6 , Brennan was moved by Shayden's desire and decided to 7 the video online to reach out to Shayden and help him gain 8 .

Shayden had difficulties establishing connections with others due to many kinds of mental illness. In the comments, Brennan highlighted the importance of having conversations with others in 9 the challenges they may be facing. He described Shayden as a well-mannered, 10 , and brave young man and 11 the online community to help Shayden find new friends. "I figured I could post it, and some 12 people would see it and help me contact them," he said. However, the video was beyond his expectations, receiving nearly 70 million 13 and gaining widespread attention.

After Shayden's recent 14 to the Rays' house and getting the 15 support from countless compassionate (富有同情心的) individuals, Shayden now feels a sense of 16 . His seeking of companionship has already made him 17 new friendships and even connected him with people worldwide. Brennan's action has 18 support for Shayden, and conveyed a powerful message of 19 . He stresses the necessity of giving everyone a chance, as one can hardly 20 the internal battles the other people may face.