That summer,Luke had been my closest companion for five years.We get lots of1in our area during the summer season.Many forests are badly2by fire each year.That hot summer,not far from our shelter,a forest3 fire.It was July,and there had been a heat wave going on for three days.Luke rushed toward the forest where the fire was sending out a4heat.There was no longer any hope at that moment to wait for Luke to come back to the5. In fact,I was waiting for firefighters to tell me that he had6in the forest.Suddenly,a fireman burst into my office and7me that my log Luke had succeeded in saving four kittens who had been8by the flames.According to the fireman,Luke seized the kittens,one by one moving them to a9place.

    I immediately10the fireman to the forest to pick up the rescued kittens.11we got to the scene of the incident,we saw that Luke was not there.Then we heard the12of a dog barking in the forest.I13the barks as Luke's.The fireman followed the14of the dog until they found him barking loudly by the side of an injured fireman who was lying on the ground and15waiting for rescue.

    Thanks to Luke,four kittens and a fireman were saved.That day,I was very proud of Luke for his two heroic 16.Luke showed much compassion（同情心）for both animals like him and for a human being who was trying to put out the fire with his colleagues.Truth to be told,my17was immeasurable.

    I paid a visit to the fireman in his house accompanied by my lovely Luke.What a18scene it was when the fireman hugged Luke tightly to his chest!"One thousand thanks,Luke,for saving my life,"the fireman said.

    This true story of love and compassion shows us that pets are loving,caring and compassionate.We should love and19them.Little animals can do20things for humans.

    We talk about the persistence(坚持不懈) needed to make our dream come true today. Just think of Wilbur and Orville Wright. Their 1certainly didn't happen overnight!

    Wilbur was 12 years old and Orville 8 when their father brought home a2. It was a rubber3made in France. They4it so much that they played with it until it broke. Immediately, they began5copies. They were hooked on aviation(飞行器制造)! In 1900, as young men, having built their first glider(滑翔机), they decided to 6it out at Kitty Hawk on Kill Devil Hills. The place7consistent strong winds, and the somewhat cushioning effects of sand. That first flight was unsuccessful,8it didn't stop them. After several more tries, on December 17, 1903, with a much9plane, they risked their lives to drive it in the wind. They10flying the world's first powered airplane. Beginning at 10:35 a.m. that day, Orville11it 120 feet in about 12 seconds. At 12:00, Wilbur flew it 852 feet in 59 seconds! Johnny Moore, one of five men who12them that morning (in charge of dragging the plane across the sand for positioning), ran to the village of Kitty Hawk13, “They've made it!” This was the 14of aviation! At this time, Wilbur was 36 and Orville 32. Roughly 24 years had passed15their father gave them that toy!

    If you have a16, work at it. If it doesn't turn out as17, don't give up! Try again! Who wants to live and say somewhere, “If only” or “What if?”18what you want and accomplish it. Don't ever give up!19in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more20than unsuccessful men with talent. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts(流浪汉). Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent(无所不能的).

    It is a story that happened several years ago but it has always stayed with me since then. On my way back home from work every day, there was 1 a homeless man standing by the road. His 2 had a sparkle and they were what struck me the most about him. His eyes, I thought, 3 the man in general. He always waved at every 4, and he was smiling and even dancing sometimes. It seemed that he was always 5.

Every day after work I would 6 to gather any spare change to give to him 7 I saw him. I'd quickly 8 my car window and give him the coins. 9 the red light would be on for a minute and we would ask each other about our day. His 10 would be always the same, "I'm blessed!"

    It amazed me that even in his situation of being 11 he was so positive, and his answer would always12 me of my happiness.

    Then one day I 13 my job. How could I continue my life? I was 14 on my way home. I didn't remember to look for my spare change and keep it 15 like I usually did.

When I saw the homeless man that day, he set his eyes on me while still 16 and waving at others. When I was waiting for the red light to 17, the man walked to my car and said with a big smile, "Today I will 18 you a dollar." He then reached into his pocket and pulled out a dollar bill. I was moved and burst into tears.

    That day, I 19 that no matter what material things are taken from you, 20 can take away your choice to be joyful. So every time I'm faced with challenges, I think of the homeless man's valuable lesson and remember that I am blessed.

    I'd been proud that I'd never lost my cellphone until my husband Jack got a call one evening.

    We went to visit a friend in hospital last year. When Jack's 1 rang, it was my mother calling from my 2. She asked if I had 3 my mobile. I checked (检查) my purse. It was 4!

I used Jack's phone to call my number. Then a boy, whom I'll call Rhys, 5 it. "I have found your phone!" he said, excitedly. "I have been trying to find you, but 6 it was getting late, I decided to leave." He gave me the address of a 7 near his home.

    Later that evening, I went to 8 him there. I didn't dare to go 9, worrying this was some cheater (骗子). So Jack came along. After 10 10 km, we got to the coffee shop which Rhys 11.

My 12 were gone. Rhys was just a young boy. "How did you 13 my mum? " I asked. He 14 that when he found my mobile by roadside(路边), he started calling people in my list of contacts (联系人). But all they 15 was my mobile phone number——which didn't 16. He'd called many names, starting with the letter A. Finally he got Adam, one of my friends, who 17 my house.

    I was 18 to get my phone back with all the contacts, messages and photos I could have lost forever. I was so 19 to Rhys and offered (提供) him some money, but he 20.

    As we drove back, we praised Rhys for his honesty.

    My mother and I started our morning by rushing into the local grocery store. I waited in line at the Starbucks counter while she 1 around to pick up a few things.

    As I was 2 there I noticed an elderly woman, wearing layers（层）3 layers of old torn clothing, moving behind me in line.

    She had a few toiletries（化妆品）and seemed to want the Starbucks cashier to 4 since our queue was shorter than the grocery store queues were.

    At some point I became 5 of her moving closer behind me — it was 6 than I was comfortable with! I instinctively（本能地）7 a hand over my purse and drew it closer to me. My fear and imagination raced creating wild 8 about this homeless woman who might try to 9 from me.

    Then it was my 10 to order. As the cashier rang up my total, I discovered I was 37 cents 11. I called to my mother but she was hard of hearing. She asked me to 12 what I said but she still couldn't 13 me out.

    At that point, a long grey arm, with 14 in its sleeves, 15 over from behind me. She laid 37 cents out on the counter, saying, "Here. We all need some 16 sometimes."

    I was 17 ! Here was a woman who clearly had very little to 18 and in great need herself. I had judged her 19 and she had reached out, voluntarily, to help me!

    What an amazing gift and lesson this woman gave me about 20 others. Thank you, God!

    Mott hoped to find a lady on an Iowa community Facebook page, but she didn't even know her name. All she knew is that the 1 woman looked to be in her 30s, had purple hair and was 2 gentle and compassionate.

    At 10:25 am on Black Friday Mott was busy shopping 3she received a(n) 4 phone call, which came in from the nursing home where her mom lived. The nurse on the phone 5 her that her mom passed away. Mott just kind of 6, kneeling down and starting to cry uncontrollably.

    The lady came across Mott and, instead of passing by, she 7 and asked what was wrong. Then she kept Mott in a tight 8 until Mott was able to regain enough senses to get back on her feet. She even 9 Mott to the checkout line and asked if any shoppers had enough Christmas spirit to let the sad woman 10 in line. The lines immediately parted to let her 11. Mott, still 12, didn't think to ask the lady her name after paying her bill.

    In recent days, Mott's 13 to the woman had been a comfort so much that she longed to thank her 14. So she reached out and hoped people would help her find the lady.

    Stephanie, 42, realized that Mott had been looking for her. The most 15 thing she could think to do was to attend Mott's mother's 16. Once Mott 17 her, the two strangers-turned-friends wrapped each other in another big hug, tears running down. The family and other mourners 18 , probably feeling what I felt: It was reassuring to see such a warm, visible sign that the 19 meetings and random acts of kindness we often take for granted sometimes 20 a big difference.