Once, a professor held a test on his students. The professor started with the following question, “Now,1 you are going to cut trees on a hill. One of the trees has a big 2 while the other's small. Which will you cut?” The question got a quick 3, “Of course the big one! No need to4 .”

    The professor5, “The big tree is a poplar（白杨）6seen everywhere, while the small one is a Korean pine. Consider again?” A second7brought students more sense: a Korean pine is much more8than the poplar, so they changed their decision. “9 we'll cut the pine. The poplar isn't worth our10.”  Smile still11on the professor's face. “But the pine's trunk is less12than the poplar.” Rather puzzled, they became13, then said, “While, we'll cut the poplar.” The professor gave more detail. “14the poplar is straight, the trunk became empty within. Then what's your choice?”

    Finally one of the students lost his15and said, “Professor, you have asked a series of questions leading us to change our answers16. What do you want to 17 after all?”

    The professor's smile18. He said, “Why none of you ask me for what purpose to cut the tree? Though my questions 19all the way, they are decided by one thing: your20to take the action. If it aims at making handicraft articles you may cut the pine; if you just want to have some firewood, you'd better cut the poplar.”

    One summer,when I was little,my dad built me a lemonade stand（柠檬水摊位）.On sunny days I'd1the stand outside the local car wash with a cooler and my little black safe（保险箱）.I didn't get many customers2I always had fun.

    One3I did have was an elderly gentlemen who4across the street from the car wash.He would come every day and5a glass of lemonade for his wife.Even though I only625 cents,he always paid7with a $1 Sacagawea coin.So I built up quite a collection by the end of that8!

    Now,as a college student,I make it a9to stop at as10lemonade stands as I can,always paying11than the kids charge me.This has been going on for12three years now.But this week,I didn't have any13with me when I stopped at a little girl's stand.I14around in my car frantically（疯狂地）and finally opened up one of my boxes.I opened it up and sure enough,there were my Sacagawea coins.I almost shut the lid（盖子）again because they15so much to me,but then I realized that that was16why I had to pay with the coin.When I gave that17girl the shiny gold coin,I said "You should keep this one,they don't make them anymore!".And her18lit up.As I drove away,I saw her running to her sister to show her the19and I knew that I had made her just as20as I was when I was a little girl.

    I'm exhausted after a day's housework. “Sometimes I just want to do something1 than all of this…”, I tell my husband Tony, who sits beside me in2, weighing his words. Finally, he says, “What you're doing feels really small, but it doesn't mean that it is.” His words reminds me of the 3 that had happened on the driveway earlier that morning.

    The kids lined up their scooters (滑板车) for a friendly4. I launched the action with a wave of my hand and stepped back to watch the race. Wheels rolled. Kids cheered 5. But then, a sharp cry ended the 6.

    My 10-year-old daughter fell down on the ground,7 by a group of broken scooter parts. Blood leaked from an obvious cut in her knee, and tears 8 in her blue eyes.

    “What happened?” I asked as I ran to her side.

    “I don't know…” Hannah said as she 9 the scooter. “My scooter was just missing one little piece…”

    She dropped her head in 10. “Something fell off my scooter right before the race began, but it was a small thing, so I didn't think it was 11.”

    As I lifted Hannah to her feet, her little brother began 12 the scattered parts in a bucket.

With a smile, he presented the pieces to his sister and 13, “I guess a small thing was really a big deal after all.”

    “Who dares to 14 the day of small things…” When we prepared to 15 an old house, one small brick matters. Like the children of Judah, we, too, have a choice. We can 16 the significance of our lives by the size of our 17, or we can trust God to use our 18 offerings for his great glory.

    As for me, I think I'll ask God to renew my love for this 19 life that 1 live, because there's a 20scooter in my garage that reminds me of my son's declaration.

    When I was a kid, I kept using a bike with training wheels. And I didn't1much, so, of course, I didn't learn how to2. One day I observed that my younger sister was getting closer to3 how to get rid of the assistance than I was. I couldn't let her4 me! Like an out­of­control mad man, I grabbed(抓住) my bike, 5the training wheels, pushed it out, and pedaled(踩踏板) all over the neighborhood. I tried to stay near the6 as close as I could, so when I fell, I'd7 crash onto the lawn(草坪) instead of the street. After many short­lived8, I finally learned how to balance!

    The process seemed9, since I was afraid of falling. I10 the fear which held me back and gathered the11 instead. I tried my best to fall as much as I might have to, to12 getting hurt, and to quickly get back on the bike and try again. There might be some pain and13, and if so, I'd get hurt and bleed and keep going. It took me probably less than an hour to master the basic skill.

    What14 pushed me to set aside the fear and take action? Nothing but the feeling that I was15. My sister could ride without the training wheels while I couldn't. This feeling of 16 gave me a much needed kick. Using such pressure to motivate(激励) progress is 17. Go take action. Make the attempt. Fall. Get hurt. Get up and try again18 the very moment you create the19 results. Everything can be as 20 as riding a bike.

    The moon had gone behind a cloud and there weren't many stars in the sky. As I took a glance(一瞥)at my neighbor's house, I saw a flame (火焰)in his 1. I thought he was having a midnight fast food so I went back to my2.

    Soon, there was a 3 smell in the air and I guessed something was wrong. 4, I jumped out of bed and went downstairs to 5. I saw fire coming out of my neighbour's kitchen. Right away, I 6"Fire! Fire!" But there was no one nearby to 7 my shouts for help.

    I 8into my house, called the Fire Department and went back to my neighbour's house. I rang the doorbell, hit on the door and 9 my neighbour's name but there was no 10. I managed to 11 the house and rescued a cat and a rabbit.

    I tried to throw water through the kitchen window 12 it was no use; the fire was too strong. 13, a fire engine arrived and soon the firemen put out the fire. They arrived just 14 as the fire was going to 15 to the other rooms in the house.

    When my neighbor came back, he was 16 because his kitchen was burnt down, but he thanked me for calling the Fire Department and for saving his 17. He wanted to give me some money in return but I did not 18 it.

    Weeks later, my neighbor repaired and restored his kitchen. He 19 me to see his new kitchen and there he gave me a medal(奖章) that he had 20 ordered from a factory. It made me feel very happy.

    When my oldest son was in high school, he planned to 1 a Christian contemporary concert with the youth group from our church. To my 2, Aaron invited me to go along. I 3 accepted; however, by the time the date of the concert arrived, my youngest son had been ill, and I was 4 about him. I hesitated (犹豫). Then my husband 5 me to attend the concert, promising he would take care of our youngest.

    Finally, the 6 was made. Aaron was sixteen years old. How many 7 would I have to do something fun with him 8 he went away to college? And how many youths actually would 9 their mothers to attend a concert with them that was clearly for teens? I would not miss this opportunity.

    At the concert, I 10 with Aaron in the third row, putting cotton in my ears to block out the 11, ear­splitting music of the first performer. I stood when the kids stood, clapped when they 12, and never let anyone know how 13 I was to feel the floor shaking beneath my feet. Aaron and his friends were 14 at my enthusiasm (激情).

    By the time we left the concert, my ears were ringing, but it quickly passed. 15 did my son's teenage years. 16 he was in college and away from home. I missed him more than I could say. Whenever I felt 17, I would think back to the concert we attended and be thankful once again that I didn't 18 an opportunity to spend time with my son.

    Aaron is now grown and has a family of his own, but he often calls just to 19 and tell me about his day. I drop everything and 20 the moment.