美文賞析:這個聖誕節因我而美麗
It was a few days before Christmas many years ago and it looked like it would be a lean one for my family.
多年前，在聖誕節前的那幾天，我意識到對於我們家來說，這將會是一個緊巴巴的聖誕節。
The saw mill that I was working at had laid a lot of us off while machinery was being repaired so we didn’t have much money.
我工作的木材加工廠當時正在維修機器，於是我們當中很多被臨時停僱，因此我們當時沒有什麼錢。
My wife and I had scrimped and saved to buy our young children some toys, but an unexpected car repair had taken most of our cash. We decided then that we could only afford to get one small gift for each of our children.
我和妻子過得節儉，把餘下來的錢準備給年幼的孩子們買禮物。但是突如其來的汽車修理花費了我們大部分現金，於是我們不得不承認剩下的錢只夠給每個孩子買一個小禮物。
We arrived at the store and walked down the parking lot past people loading gifts into their cars. I envied them a bit, because it sure didn’t feel like Christmas to me.
我們到了商店，經過停車場的時候，看見人們在把禮物裝進自己的車裏。我有點嫉妒他們，因爲我並不覺得自己是在過聖誕節。
We hurried into the store past the Salvation army bell ringer with our heads down. I had always enjoyed putting something in his kettle before but wasn’t sure if I could afford to this time.
我們急急忙忙走進商店，在經過救世軍敲鐘人的時候，我們低下了頭。（以往）我都會在他的小壺裏放上些東西，但是我不確定這次我還能不能付得起。
We searched all through the store hoping to find one thing each of our small children would like. Thankfully, we were able to get them each someone sweet. We headed for the checkout, bought the toys, and were amazed that we even had a few dollars left over.
我們把商店找了個底朝天，希望能夠給我們每一個年幼的孩子都買一個小禮物。謝天謝地，我們的錢能給每個孩子都買點稱心的禮物。我們走向收銀臺，把玩具結賬，然後驚喜地發現，還多了幾塊錢。
As we walked out of the store into the brisk, Winter air I stopped and dropped those dollars into the bell ringer’s kettle. I didn’t have a dime left but that didn’t matter. Suddenly, it felt like Christmas.
我們走出商店，感受到了冬天清冽的風，在救世軍敲鐘人那裏停了下來，將找零的幾塊錢放進了他的小壺中。（現在）我一分錢都沒有了，但是我突然感覺到了聖誕節來了。
I think the wonderful actress, Dale Evans put it best when she said: “Christmas is love in action. Every time we love, every time we give it’s Christmas.” It doesn’t have to be a gift of money either. When we give our time, it’s Christmas. When we share our smile, it’s Christmas. When we give others our kindness and compassion, it’s Christmas. When we do anything at any time to help another, it’s Christmas.
在我看來，女演員Dale Evan把聖誕節的意義闡釋得最好，“聖誕精神在於滿懷着愛的行動，每當我們去關愛、去施予，就體現了聖誕精神。”它並不需要你花錢買禮物。每當我們願意爲別人花時間（做公益），那就是聖誕節；每當我們用笑容（感染周圍），那就是聖誕節；每當我們對別人親切友善、熱情滿滿，那就是聖誕節。無論何時，無論以何種方式，每當我們幫助別人，那就是聖誕節。
May you do all you can to make it Christmas every day of the year and every day of your life here. May you always share God’s light through the love you give and the life you live.
願你們在一生中每一年中的每一天，都帶着聖誕精神。願你們用自己的愛與人生來傳揚上帝的光輝。
