Robby was 11 when he took his first piano lesson.I1 students begin at an earlier age,2 I explained to Robby.Robby said it had always been his mother's dream to hear him play the piano.So I took him as a student.

    Much3Robby tried,he4 the sense of tone and basic rhythm.But be dutifully reviewed his lessons.

    Over the months he tried and tried,and he'd always say,“My mom's going to hear me play someday.”But it seemed5.He just did not have any inborn ability.

    Then one day Robby stopped coming.I was glad,as he was a bad6for my teaching!I 7he had decided to pursue something else.

    Several weeks later,my students were to have a recital（演奏会）.To my surprise,Robby came,asking to play in the recital.

    “It is for 8 pupils,but you dropped.”

    “My mom was sick.But I have been practicing.I've just got to play!”he insisted and I agreed.

    The night for the recital came.I put Robby up just in the program9I was to come up and thank all the students and play a finishing piece.I thought I could save his poor performance through my "curtain closer".

    The recital10well.Robby came up on stage.His clothes were wrinkled and his hair looked dirty.“How could his Mom...?”I thought.

    Robby began and it was Mozart's work.I was not prepared for what I heard next.His fingers even11 on the keys.After six and a half minutes he ended and people were all on their feet in wild12.

    13and in tears I ran up and put my arms around Robby in joy."I've never heard you play like that,Robby! How did you do it?"

    Through the microphone Robby explained:"Well,Miss Hondorf,remember I told you my mom was sick?Well...14she had cancer and15this morning.And well...She was born deaf,so tonight was the 16 time she ever heard me play.I wanted to make it 17."

    There wasn't a 18eye that evening.I thought to myself how much 19 my life had been for taking Robby as my pupil.However,he was the teacher,for it is he that showed me the meaning of20and love and believing in oneself.

    It was a cold autumn morning a few years ago. I was driving along the mountain roads slower than usual trying to take in all the1colors. It was so beautiful. It was a day made for2Yet, part of me still felt3and insignificant in the middle of all of this heaven-sent beauty.

    As I rounded a curve(弯曲处), I4saw an old man hurrying along the side of the road. As soon as he saw me, he raised his thumb, hoping for a5. I braked and pulled over to the side of the road. I6the door and the white haired man got in with a smile. He was hoping to7to the local post office and8have tie to catch a bus. As I drove along, we laughed and talked about what a9day it was. Then just as I 10to drop him off, he turned to me and said “Thanks son. You were heaven-sent.”

    I 11away with a smile on my face and a12in my heart. I wasn't sure 13I had been “heaven-sent” for him but he 14had been “heaven-sent” for me. He had15me that I too was an important part of God's 16and that I should enjoy taking my place in it.

    In God's eyes, none of us is small. None of us is 17  All of us are heaven-sent. We are here to help each other. We are here to18our love and our kindness. We are here to make this world a better 19more beautiful place. May you always 20your place in God's glorious creation.

    Make the Most of What You Have Got

    For Nick Vujicic, life was going to be difficult from the day he was born. When Nick arrived into this world, he1everyone. He was not like the other babies and it was2obvious to his parents and to the doctors in the hospital.

    There was no3or answers for his condition. Nick was born without any limbs, that is, he was born without any arms or legs. But despite (尽管) being physically4, he was mentally5and the rest of his body was functioning fine.

    6he had loving parents, Nick would find school hard as he would often be looked down upon by the other children and at the age of 10, he considered 7 his life by drowning (淹死) himself in a bathtub (浴缸). These dark thoughts were8by his negative attitude to being disabled and at the time, he thought that he would never be able to do9by himself, that he would never have a job and that he would always have to10on his parents for help.

    However, with his own efforts, things totally change when he becomes an adult. Nick is now a successful public speaker and is famous for his encouraging 11 which focus on life with a disability, hope and finding meaning in life worldwide. He12so many people with the story of his life, how he has 13 so many difficulties and most importantly how he is happy every day.

    Despite having no arms or legs, Nick lives14, even finding ways to do almost something15like brushing his teeth on his own and swimming. He has to work harder than a full bodied person and he achieves his goals.

    At the first impression, you may look at Nick and feel16. You may feel sad that this man has no arms or legs and you might feel his17and upset that he could find everyday situations difficult. But we should18Nick, as he is extremely positive and he gets on with life. He19 every day and makes the best of what he has: a positive attitude, a creative mind and a powerful 20. He also has a very kind and very beautiful wife and they are truly happy and in love.

    After lunch, without permission from parents, the two boys set off to explore the part of the beach which lay beyond the headland(陆岬). They had persuaded their young sister to 1 saying that the long walk would be too 2 for her. Once they had got in the headland, the beach reached away endlessly before them. It was like 3 a new world. There were damp, dark caves to 4 there were many 5 among the rocks, full of sea lives. Here and there along the beach were those 6objects, washed up and 7by the tide.(潮汐)

    The afternoon passed 8The sun was already 9 when the boys reluctantly (恋恋不舍)10to make their 11 homewards. But long before they reached the headland, they could see that tide had come in so sudden that they were now 12from either end of the beach. Their only chance of 13was to find a way up the cliff(悬崖) nearby.

    They soon find a narrow path 14the cliff top. But half way up their path was15by a large rock which they could not climb 16. The two boys had to17at the top of their voices,18 that someone might19over the top of the rock. Finally came their father and two policemen.20 of them climbed down a rope which was lowered over the rock. The boys were then pulled to safety, and thus saved from spending a terrible night on the cliff.

    Many years ago, I owned a service station and roadhouse（路边小店）on the main road between Melbourne and Adelaide.

    One very cold, wet night at about 3:30 a.m., there was a1on the front door of our house. A young man, wet from2to toe, explained that he had 3out of petrol about 30 km up the road. He had left his pregnant（怀孕的）wife and his two children4at the car and said that he would hitchhike（搭便车）back.

    Once I had5a can with petrol, I took him back to his car where his two-year-old and four-year-old children were both 6saying that they were cold. Once the car had started, I suggested that he7me back.

    Before leaving, I had turned the heater 8in the roadhouse, so that when we went in, it was nice and9While the little ones played and ran 10I prepared bread and butter for the children, and hot chocolate for the11.

    It was about 5 a.m. before they 12.The young fellow asked me how much he 13me and I told him that the petrol pump（加油泵）had14$15. He offered to pay “call-out fee”, but I wouldn't accept it.

    About a month later, I received a 15from Interstate, a large bus company that we had been trying to16to stop of at our roadhouse for a long time. It17out that the young fellow I had helped was its general manager, the most 18person in the company.

    In his letter, he thanked me again and 19me that, from then on, all their buses would stop at my service station. In this 20a little bit of kindness was rewarded with a huge amount of benefits.

    Two years ago, my husband bought me a bicycle. If you live in a town, it is often faster than a car and you don't have to 1 about parking. You can 2it anywhere. As it has a seat at the back and a basket at the front, I can take my small daughter to school, to the library, shopping, 3in fact.

    I use it most in summer when the weather is warm and dry. It can be very unpleasant in winter when it is cold and the rain is 4 down. It can also be very 5. You must, of course, be careful on a bicycle. Accidents are not the only problem, though. One day I went shopping and came back to 6 my front wheel was missing. It was a long 7to bicycle shop! Now I have three strong locks.

    My husband uses my bicycle sometimes for short journeys. He says it is better than waiting for a bus. He still uses his 8for longer journeys, but I think that all this sitting down is making him 9 and lazy. On my bicycle I get a lot of 10 and fresh air, and this makes me feel a lot younger.