My mother used to ask me what is the most important part of the body. Through the years I would guess at what I thought was the correct answer.
從前我母親經(jīng)常問我,身體最重要的部位是什么。許多年來,我一直以為自己所想的是正確答案。
When I was younger, I thought sound was very important to us as humans, so I said, "My ears, Mommy."
當(dāng)我很小的時候,我認(rèn)為對人類而言,聲音很重要,因此回答:“媽咪,是耳朵。”
She said, "No. Many people are deaf. But you keep thinking about it and I will ask you again soon."
她說:“不對,有許多人是聾人。但是你繼續(xù)想,不久我會再問你。”
Several years passed before she asked me again. Since making my first attempt, I had contemplated the correct answer. So this time I told her, "Mommy, sight is very important to everybody, so it must be our eyes."
當(dāng)她再度問我時,已經(jīng)是好幾年后了。自從第一次回答之后,我就一直仔細(xì)的思考正確答案。所以這次我對她說:“媽咪,視覺對每個人都很重要,所以應(yīng)該是我們的眼睛。”
She looked at me and told me, "You are learning fast, but the answer is not correct because there are many people who are blind."
她看著我,對我說:“你學(xué)的很快,但還是不對,因為有許多人是盲人。”
Over the years, Mother asked me a couple more times and always her answer was, "No, but you are getting smarter every year, my child."
往后的年日里她又問了我?guī)状?,但她總是回答?ldquo;不對,可是孩子啊,你每年都有進(jìn)步喔。”
Then last year, my Grandpa died. Everybody was hurt. Everybody was crying. My Mom looked at me when it was our turn to say our final good-bye to Grandpa. She asked me, "Do you know the most important body part yet, my dear?"
去年我祖父去世,每個人都很傷心,大家都哭了。輪到我們向爺爺做最后的告別時,媽媽看著我,問我:“寶貝,你知道身體最重要的部位了嗎?”
I was shocked when she asked me this now. I always thought this was a game between her and me. She saw the confusion on my face and told me, "This question is very important. It shows that you have really lived your life." I saw her eyes well up with tears. She said, "My dear, the most important body part is your shoulder."
她在這時候問我這個問題,令我嚇了一大跳。我一直以為這只是我和她之間的游戲。她看我一臉迷惑的樣子,對我說:“這問題很重要,它是你真正理解生活的標(biāo)志。”我看她眼睛里充盈著淚水,她說:“寶貝,最重要的部位是你的肩膀。”
I asked, "Is it because it holds up your head?"
我問:“是因為它能支撐腦袋嗎?”
She replied, "No, it is because it can hold the head of a friend or loved one when they cry. Everybody needs a shoulder to cry on sometime in life, my dear. I only hope that you have enough love and friends that you will have a shoulder to cry on when you need it."
她回答說:“不,是因為讓我們的朋友、我們所愛的人哭泣的時候,它可以給予依靠。寶貝,每個人在一生中都會有需要一個可以靠著哭泣的肩膀的時候。我只是希望當(dāng)你需要時,會有足夠的愛人和朋友,給你一個可倚靠哭泣的肩膀。”
Then and there I knew the most important body part is not a selfish one. It is sympathetic to the pain of others.
從那時起,我知道身體最重要的部位不是利己的部位,而是對別人的痛苦能感同身受的部位。