As I held my father's hands one night, I couldn't help but notice their calluses (老茧) and roughness. His hands tell the story of his life as a1, including all his struggles.

    One summer, I remember, a drought (旱灾) hit Ontario, turning it into a2desert. On one of those hot mornings I was picking sweet corn with my dad to fill the last3from the grocery shore. Fifty dozen was all we needed, which4took twenty minutes. That morning, however, the process didn't5quickly. After forty minutes of aimlessly walking in the field, we6needed twenty dozen. I was completely frustrated and7. Dropping the basket heavily, I declared, “If the store wants its last twenty dozen, they can pick it themselves!” Dad8“Just think, my little girl, only ten dozen left for each of us and then we're9. ” Such is Dad—whatever problem he10he never gives up.

    11the disastrous effects of the drought were felt all over our country. It was a challenging time for everyone,12Dad remained optimistic. He13to be grateful for other things like good health and food on our plates. Only then did I truly begin to14Dad and his faith guided us through the hard times.

    Dad is also a living example of real15From dawn to dark, he works countless hours to16our family. He always puts our happiness17his own, and never fails to cheer me on at my sports games18his exhaustion after long days. His loving and selfless nature has inspired me to become more sympathetic and19, putting others first.

    Dad, the life20I have learned from you will stay with me forever. You are my father, teacher, friend and, most importantly, my hero.

    On a recent sunny, dry fall morning, I found the last outdoor table at my favorite café. Reading 1 I nibbled my breakfast, I was enjoying the feeling of the cool breeze and the warm sun when a table next to me 2. A woman who had been standing nearby, 3 waiting for a seat, stepped toward the table. But from the other 4, straight from the parking lot, came a man who got to the table first.

    The woman, with a 5 on her face, explained that she'd been 6 that table for several minutes and had been on her way over. The man, also smiling but 7, told her she was out of 8; he had happened upon the table first. "You snooze, you lose!" he said cheerfully.

    She stood off to the side, clearly disappointed, and 9 her friend with the frustrating news. I sat at my table, 10 the scene, when suddenly it occurred to me—I had a(n) 11 here to be kind.

    I stood up and 12 her over to my table. Quietly, I told her I had seen what had happened, and I was happy to give her my table. I was only going to be there a few more minutes 13, so I was happy for her and her friend to have the 14.

    "But where will you sit?" she asked. I was almost done eating, I said, and I would find a seat at the counter 15. She thanked me and beamed as she 16 for her friend to sit down.

    Thinking about it as I finished up, I realized that whether or not the woman had fair 17 to the table was unimportant. The emotion of the situation—the look of hurt on her face—had 18 me, and I had the ability to do something about it.

    That isn't always the case with every feeling, situation, or injustice we 19 unexpectedly in our days. But as the early 20th century writer Orison Swett Marden once said, "Don't wait for extraordinary opportunities. 20 common occasions and make them great."

    I just hope that woman's morning at the café was great. I know mine was.

    Frederick Albert is not a name you will find in a history book. It is,1, the name of a German farmer who was such a hero in Reynoldsburg, Ohio during the Great Depression that people there2 him a lot. He was also my great-grandfather.

    Although my great-grandfather died before I was born, he has had a 3 influence on my life. I always hear stories about his4. My favorite one that my mother has often told me brings 5 to my eyes as I'm so moved.

In 1935, my great-grandfather planted watermelons for extra money. To cut6, he always saved the seeds for the next season. While 7 supplies at the feed store(饲料店) one fall morning, my great-grandfather learned of a young girl who was ill with kidney(肾) disease. Her mother had 8 from a local amateur doctor that watermelon seeds could be crushed(压碎) into tea to help 9 her daughter, she 10 my great-grandfather and asked if she could have some of his watermelon seeds. Without hesitation, my great-grandfather gave all his watermelon seeds to the mother — he was such a(n)11 man.

    Unfortunately, all the watermelon tea in the world could not 12 the child and with winter's first snowfall, she died. The girl's mother remained 13 to my great-grandfather and his family. News of the child's death spread, and so did the story of my great-grandfather's 14 and kindness. Many local farmers 15 him with free watermelon seeds.

    In my eyes, my great-grandfather is a real hero 16 he followed his heart and did what was best for others. Although he was a poor man monetarily(在金钱上)， he was17 in the love he gave to others and the 18 he received.

    Whenever I find myself in19 or confusing situations, I will remember his story. I smile with 20 when I follow his wisdom.

    When Lyndsay and Matthew took home their newborn twins a few days after Christmas 2016, they knew that baby William's days would be short. 1 he looked perfect and healthy, he had a severe heart defect, 2 in the womb.

    “It was one of the 3 days of my life when we found out that we would lose our son 4 months still left in my pregnancy, but because at that time we were able to 5 ourselves,” said Lyndsay. “My husband and I both have a strong 6 in God and through prayer, we felt God's love, peace, and 7.” She said that the love and help from family and friends have been 8 in their journey.

    One friend made a special 9. Knowing how important it was to document his short life, a family friend 10 to a Toledo photographer she followed on Facebook.

    “The days with both of our babies at home together were 11,” said Lyndsay. “We tried our best to focus on enjoying the time together and creating 12. We were able to do this and felt like God blessed us with the time to get to know our son.”

    And although Lyndsay13 hesitated to do a photo shoot, now she says she's so glad she did.

    “The photos are going to be even more important as time goes on,” said Brentlinger.“ I can14 on our time with our whole family together and remember our newborn son with the15 big eyes. His twin sister, Reagan, will be able to see the love and special 16 they shared together.”

    What 17 Brown, the photographer were the parents and the strength and love they displayed during the shoot.

    “The parents were extremely strong,” Brown said. “They 18 acted and treated both babies like nothing was wrong. So that 19 my heart watching them. We sort of lost it in the very end... Then the tears just started 20.”

    William is a gift for his twin sister, his parents and everybody. Surrounded by love, life is eternal.

    One night, when I was eight, my mother gently asked me a question I would never forget. "Sweetie, my company wants to 1 me but needs me to work in Brazil. This is like your teacher telling you that you've done 2 and allowing you to skip a grade, but you'll have to 3 your friends. Would you say yes to your teacher?" She gave me a hug and asked me to think about it. I was puzzled. The question kept me 4 for the rest of the night. I had said "yes" but for the first time, I realized the 5 decisions adults had to make.

    For almost four years, my mother would 6 us from Brazil every day. Every evening I'd 7 wait for the phone to ring and then tell her every detail of my day. A phone call, however, could never replace her 8 and it was difficult not to feel lonely at times.

    During my fourth-grade Christmas break, we flew to Rio to visit her. Looking at her large 9  apartment, I became 10 how lonely my mother must have been in Brazil herself. It was then that I started to appreciate the tough choices she had to make on 11 family and work. 12  difficult decisions, she used to tell me, you wouldn't know whether you made the right choice, but you could always make the best out of the situation, with passion and a 13 attitude.

    Back home, I 14 myself that what my mother could do, I could, too. If she 15 to live in Rio all by herself, I, too, could learn to be 16. I learnt how to take care of myself and set high but achievable17.

    My mother is now back with us. But I will never forget what the 18 has really taught me. Sacrifices 19 in the end. The separation between us has proved to be 20 for me.

Last week I went shopping in the supermarket. I got to the front of the 1 and put my groceries through the checkout. I was about to pay, when I 2 that I didn't have my bankcard with me. I 3.Then I remembered I left it at home when I 4 something online. All I had was $30 in notes and some coins in my wallet. I was short 5 at least $25, and I needed to buy most of the items.

I started to 6 to the checkout lady. "I'm sorry, I stop the queue. Can I put these things back, and then think I'll 7 these. Oh, no, need that."

An Irish lady was 8 behind me, next in the queue. "Excuse me, Dear," she said. "Oh, I'm so sorry," I replied, "I'm 9 you up." "Of course not. I know 10 you feel. This happens to all of us at some point. Now please use my 11 to pay the bill and you can be on your way."

I was astonished by her kindness, 12 even. No matter how I insisted otherwise, she was 13 to help me. Afterwards I asked for her telephone number to 14 and pay her back. "No," she said, "rather pay it forward. You may do a good deed for the next person in need."

By helping others, can we start chain 15 of positive feeling and charity that can benefit our whole society?