高中英语一生必读的英语经典美文第46篇真实的高贵素材

高中必背40篇英语短文以下是40篇高中英语必背短文，这些短文有助于提高英语阅读和写作能力：1. The Love of Beauty 爱美2. The Happy Door 快乐之门3. The True Meaning of Life 人生的真谛4. The First Snow 初雪5. The Most Beautiful Heart 最美丽的心灵6. The Sound of the Wind 风之声7. The Tablecloth 桌布8. The Old Man and the Sea 老人与海9. The Boy Who Cried Wolf 喊狼的孩子10. The Story of an Eyewitness 目击者的故事11. The Meaning of Tears 泪水的意义12. The Power of Words 语言的力量13. The Secret of Success 成功的秘诀14. The Magic of Smiles 微笑的魔力15. The Gifts of Life 生命的礼物16. The First Snowfall 第一场雪17. The Value of Time 时间的重要性18. The Difference between Dreams and Reality 梦想与现实的差异19. The Importance of Communication 沟通的重要性20. The Power of Persistence 坚持的力量21. The True Meaning of Friendship 友情的真谛22. The Joy of Giving 给予的快乐23. The Art of Forgiveness 宽恕的艺术24. The Power of Belief 信仰的力量25. The Beauty of Imperfection 不完美的美26. The Key to Happiness 幸福的钥匙27. The Importance of Family 家庭的重要性28. The Power of Dreams 梦想的力量29. The Value of Work 工作的重要性30. The Importance of Relationships 关系的重要性31. The Importance of Fitness 健康的重要性32. The Importance of Reading 阅读的重要性33. The Beauty of Nature 大自然的美丽34. The Power of Creativity 创造力的力量35. The Importance of Emotional Intelligence 情商的重要性36. The Value of Rest and Relaxation 休息和放松的价值37. The Importance of Setting Goals 设置目标的重要性38. The Difference between Success and Failure 成功与失败的差异39. The Joy of Simple Things 简单事物的快乐40. The Power of Optimism 乐观的力量。

1惟独你不可取代As a teenager，I felt I was always letting people down. I was rebellious1 out－side，but I wanted to be liked inside.Once I left home to hitch-hike2 to California with my friend Penelope. The trip wasn't easy，and there were many times I didn't feel safe. One situation in particular kept me grateful to still be alive. When I returned home，I was different，not so outwardly sure of myself.I was happy to be home. But then I noticed that Penelope，who was staying with us，was wearing my clothes. And my family seemed to like her better than me. I wondered if I would be missed if I weren't there. I told my mom，and she explained that though Penelope was a lovely girl，no one could replace me. I pointed out，"Ｓhe is more patient and is neater than I have ever been." My mom said these were wonderful qualities，but I was the only person who could fill my role. She made me realize that even with my faults-and there were many－I was a loved member of the family who couldn't be replaced.I became a searcher，wanting to find out who I was and what made me unique. My view of myself was changing. I wanted a solid base to start from. I started to resist3 pressure to act in ways that I didn't like any more，and I was delighted by who I really was. I came to feel much more sure that no one can ever take my place.Each of us holds a unique place in the world. You are special，no matter what others say or what you may think. So forget about being replaced.You can't be.当我还是个10几岁的少年的时候，觉得自己总是让人失望。

高中英语经典诵读短文美文高中英语短文改错是一项考查高中学生多方面英语语言知识，学科语言多种技能的综合性高考题型。

本文是店铺整理的高中英语经典诵读短文，欢迎阅读。

篇1：高中英语经典诵读短文The Duties of a StudentEvery youth has to make the best use of his school days. As future masters of society, students must get prepared for a strenuous life. In other words, it is their lot to face life’s hardships. One who is bodily weak cannot hope to have great success. It is very important, therefore, for students to fully develop their physical prowess by taking regular exercise.To render themselves really useful, students are expected to specialize in some areas of study. Their ambition should be to know everything about something than to know something about everything. The twenty-first century has no place for those who have no special knowledge or training.【注释】① strenuous ['strenjuəs] adj. 奋发的;紧张的;费劲的;艰苦的② lot n. 命运;份额;(口)很多a lot of︳lots of;(商品等的)一批，某一类的人③ prowess ['prauis] n. 英勇;勇猛;杰出的才能④ render vt. 使…成为;以…回报(+for);归还(+back);给予(+to);表示⑤ specialize vi. 专攻，专门研究(+in) vt. 使专门化，使特殊化【译文】学生的责任每个青年人都必须充分利用他学生时代的大好时光。

1惟独你不可取代1As a tee nage, I felt I was always lett ing people dow n. I was rebellious out —side, but I wan ted to be liked in side.Once I left home to hitch-hike to California with my frie nd Pen elope. The trip was n 'easy, and there were many times Idid n 'feel safe. One situation in particular kept me grateful to still be alive. When I returned home, I was different, not so outwardly sure of myself.I was happy to be home. But the n I no ticed that Pen elope who was stay ing with us, was weari ng my clothes. And my family seemed to like her better than me. I wondered if I would be missed if I weren'tthere. I told my mom , and she explained that though Pen elope was a lovely girl, no one could replace me. I poin ted out, "S he is more patie nt and is n eater tha n I have ever been. My mom said these were wonderful qualities, but I was the only person who could fill my role. She made me realize that even with my faults—and there were man—I was a loved member of the family who couldn 'be replaced.1 became a searcher wanting to find out who I was and what made me uni que. My view of myself was cha ngin g. I wan ted a solid base to start from. I started to resis3 pressure to act in ways that Ididn 'lik t any more, and I was delighted by who I really was. I came to feel much more sure that no one can ever take my place.Each of us holds a unique place in the world. You are special no matter what others say or what you may think. So forget about being replaced. You car f t be.当我还是个10几岁的少年的时候，觉得自己总是让人失望。

高中优秀经典英语美文摘抄学生通过大量的经典美文阅读能够开阔自己的视野,通过经典的美文阅读可以增加文化积淀和思想内涵,通过经典美文导读可以陶冶情操,提高素养。

小编精心收集了高中优秀经典英语美文，供大家欣赏学习! 高中优秀经典英语美文：吉米·卡特诺贝尔和平奖获奖演说Your Majesties, Members of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,It is with a deep sense of gratitude that I accept this prize.I am grateful to my wife Rosalynn, to my colleagues at the Carter Center,and to many others who continue to seek an end to violence and suffering throughout the world.Most Nobel laureates have carried out our work in safety,but there are others who have acted with great personal courage.None has provided more vivid reminders of the dangers of peacemaking than two of my friends,Anwar Sadat and Yitzak Rabin, who gave their lives for the cause of peace in the Middle East.Like these two heroes, my first chosen career was in the military,as a submarine officer. My shipmates andI realized that we had to be ready to fight if combat was forced upon us,and we were prepared to give our lives to defend our nation and its principles.At the same time, we always prayed fervently that our readiness would ensure that there would be no war.Later, as President and as Commander in Chief of our armed forces,I was one of those who bore the soberingresponsibility of maintaining global stability during the height of the Cold War,as the world’s two superpowers confronted each other.The world has changed greatly since I left the White House.Now there is only one superpower, with unprecedentedmilitary and economic strength.The coming budget for American armaments will be greater than those of the next fifteen nations combined,and there are troops from the United States in many countries throughout the world.But instead of entering a millennium of peace, the world is now,in many ways, a more dangerous place.The greater ease of travel and communication has not been matched by equal understanding and mutual respect.There is a plethora of civil wars, within which an overwhelming portion of the casualties are unarmed civilians who have no ability to defend themselves. And recent appalling acts of terrorism have reminded us that no nations,even superpowers, are invulnerable.It is clear that global challenges must be met with an emphasis on peace, in harmony with others,with strong alliances and international consensus. Imperfect as it may be,there is no doubt that this can best be done through the United Nations.We must remember that today there are at least eight nuclear powers on earth,and three of them are threatening to their neighbors in areas of great international tension.For powerful countries to adopt a principle of preventive war may well set an examplethat can have catastrophic consequences.If we accept the premise that the United Nations is the best avenue for the maintenance of peace, then thecarefully considered decisions of the United Nations Security Council must be enforced. All too often, thealternative has proven to be uncontrollable violence and expanding spheres of hostility.(节选) 尊敬的国王夫妇、挪威诺贝尔和平奖委员会委员、大使阁下、女士们、先生们：我怀着一种深挚的感激之情接受这一奖项。

高中生经典英语美文摘抄大全高中生经典英语美文：在去天堂之前I recently came up with a to do list before going to heaven (or elsewhere if I am not so lucky) and that involves saying goodbye to certain people and getting rid of loose ends. No, I am not contemplating(注视，冥想) death or planning to die. You see it doesn t take planning in order to think ahead; I am just concerned about what if it were to happen and I had left things up in the air.If I were to go earlier than later, I would just as well make sure that any material belongings would be divided among family and friends. It sounds vain but I could not bear thinking of leaving an apartment full of odd pieces of furniture, computers, books and artwork without them being destined for someone else. I could wonder how those items would be appreciated but should that be my concern when we all have different tastes? The best thing is to donate these material goods to the best possible recipient.I could wonder too how long my spirit would linger around watching my material world dissipate after I had been stripped of any earthly attachment. I would also wonder if I would one of those confused souls unsure of where to go without a body to inhabit. How strange.I would probably open up to all my friends and family, not that it ever mattered while I was alive but at least let them admire me for being honest about myself even though it was at the last moment. Then again I don t think there are any secrets to mention from someone who has been a loner for a good part of his life and liked his own company.I would want to pay back any debts if there were some and apologize to anyone that I had forgotten along the way.An autobiography(自传) has not occurred to me yet but it might turn out as an interesting book. Even though others might also debunk(揭穿) it.How about a going away party. There are going away parties for people going into the service and never coming home. Wouldn t being at the end of my life be like going into some ethereal(天上的) service? After all I must have been around for some reasonI would visit places that I hadn t seen so far. Obviously I would have to be in good enough health to at least get to the foothills of the Himalayas!I would open up a death parlor, something that the dying would love to pamper themselves before taking off like a special comforter they might like to be draped in. Naturally my kin will have to be in on this since I would not be around to snicker at some purchase choices!I would do some outlandish things, nothing to risk my life of course but just something that may get some people to think.I would empty my bank account and spend whatever I could. There is no point in donating further funds to companies that have been deviously(绕道地) charging me my whole life.高中生经典英语美文：Home on the WayPeople need homes: children assume their parents place as home; boarders call school home on weekdays; married couples work together to build new homes; and travelers have no place to call home , at least for a few nights.So how about people who have to travel for extended periods of time? Don t they have the right to a home? Of course they do.Some regular travelers take their own belongings: like bed sheets, pillowcases(枕头套) and family photos to make them feel like home no matter where they are; some stay for long periods in the same hotel and as a result become very familiar with service and attendants; others may simply put some flowers by the hotel window to make things more homely. Furthermore, driving a camping car during one s travels and sleeping in the vehicle at night is just like home only mobile!And how about maintaining relationships while in transit? Some keep contact with their friends via internet; some send letters and postcards, or even photos; others may just call and say hi, just to let their friends know that they re still alive and well. People find ways to keep in touch. Making friends on the way helps travelers feel more or less at home. Backpackers in youth hostels may become very good friends, even closer than siblings.Nowadays, fewer people are working in their local towns, so how do they develop a sense of belonging? Whenever we step out of our local boundaries, there is always another home waiting to be found. Wherever we are, with just a little bit of effort and imagination, we can make the place we stay home .高中生经典英语美文：Be Together,Alive or NotBe together, alive or not, for there rests your dream so quietDream of continuing a lifeThe sky s lost its beauty, but still you wait to stand up after try and tryWherever you are, I ll spare no expense to find youMiracles are made by veins of mankindAnd right engraved in(铭刻) my blood is your cryBe together, alive or not, and I m awaiting news about you as seconds tick byBelieve in your strong lifeYou re out of my sight, but never out of my mindWherever you are, I ll spare no expense to find youMiracles are made by veins of mankindFor we join hands and make roads to your homesiteBe together, alive or not, for that makes silence heardworldwideFeel the pain but never cryLove is your legend and after the storm rainbows will rise Wherever you are, I ll spare no expense to find youMiracles are made by veins of mankindAnd your faint hope is all my drive。

高中生英语美文40篇以下是一些适合高中生阅读的英语美文，希望对你有帮助。

1. The Power of Words2. The Importance of Education3. The Value of Friendship4. The Beauty of Nature5. The Art of Forgiveness6. The Impact of Technology7. The Joy of Giving8. The Benefits of Exercise9. The Significance of Dreams10. The Dangers of Social Media11. The Magic of Books12. The Role of Music in Our Lives13. The Power of Positive Thinking14. The Influence of Role Models15. The Strength of Resilience16. The Courage to Stand Up for What's Right17. The Importance of Critical Thinking18. The Beauty of Diversity19. The Lessons of Failure20. The Rewards of Hard Work21. The Power of Perseverance22. The Impact of Climate Change23. The Role of Art in Society24. The Value of Volunteering25. The Importance of Time Management26. The Benefits of Traveling27. The Virtues of Honesty28. The Beauty of Simplicity29. The Significance of Family30. The Role of Faith in Our Lives31. The Power of Compassion32. The Impact of Media on Society33. The Benefits of a Healthy Lifestyle34. The Importance of Gratitude35. The Joy of Learning36. The Significance of Cultural Exchange37. The Role of Youth in Shaping the Future38. The Importance of Mental Health39. The Value of Self-reflection40. The Power of Love and Kindness希望这些美文可以帮助你提高英语阅读能力，同时也能给你一些积极向上的思考和启发。

必读的优秀英文经典美文篇一：英语经典美文：真实的高贵Truenobility真实的高贵Inacalmseaeverymanisapilot.在风平浪静的大海上,每个人都是领航员。

butallsunshinewithoutshade,allpleasurewithoutpain,isnotlifeatall.Takethel otofthehappiest-itisatangledyarn.bereavementsandblessings,onefollowing another,makeussadandblessedbyturns.evendeathitselfmakeslifemorelovin g.mencomeclosesttotheirtrueselvesinthesobermomentsoflife,undertheshad owsofsorrowandloss.但只有阳光没有阴影,只有快乐没有痛苦,根本不是真正的生活.就拿最幸福的人来说,他的生活也是一团缠结在一起的乱麻。

痛苦与幸福交替出现,使得我们一会悲伤一会高兴。

甚至死亡本身都使得生命更加可爱。

在人生清醒的时刻,在悲伤与失落的阴影之下,人们与真实的自我最为接近。

Intheaffairsoflifeorofbusiness,itisnotintellectthattellssomuchascharacter,n otbrainssomuchasheart,notgeniussomuchasself-control,patience,anddiscip line,regulatedbyjudgment.在生活和事业的种种事务之中，性格比才智更能指导我们，心灵比头脑更能引导我们，而由判断获得的克制、耐心和教养比天分更能让我们受益。

Ihavealwaysbelievedthatthemanwhohasbeguntolivemoreseriouslywithinb eginstolivemoresimplywithout.Inanageofextravaganceandwaste,IwishIco uldshowtotheworldhowfewtherealwantsofhumanityare.我一向认为，内心生活开始更为严谨的人，他的外在生活也会变得更为简朴。

高中英语必读美文50篇(名师精选优美范文，提高英语语感，值得下载打印)1During summer vacations, I would volunteer at the vet’s, so I’d seen a lot of dogs. Minnie was by far the funniest-looking dog I’d ever seen. Thin curly hair barely covered her sausage-shaped body. Her bugged-out eyes always seemed surprised. And her tail looked like a rat’s tail.She was brought to the vet to be put to sleep because her owners didn’t want her anymore. I thought Minnie had a sweet personality, though. "No one should judge her by her looks," I thought. So the vet spayed her and gave her the necessary shots. Finally, I advertised Minnie in the local paper: "Funny-looking dog, well behaved, needs loving family."When a young man called, I warned him that Minnie was strange looking. The boy on the phone told me that his grandfather’s sixteen-year-old dog had just died. They wanted Minnie no matter what. I gave Minnie a good bath and fluffed up what was left of her scraggly hair. Then we waited for them to arrive.At last, an old car drove up in front of the vet’s. Two kids raced to the door. They scooped Minnie into their arms and rushed her out to their grandfather, who was waiting in the car. I hurried behind them to see his reaction to Minnie.Inside the car, the grandfather cradled Minnie in his arms and stroked her soft hair. She licked his face. Her rattail wagged around so quickly that it looked like it might fly off her body. It was love at first lick."She’s perfect!" the old man exclaimed.I was thankful that Minnie had found the good home that she deserved.That’s when I saw that the grandfather’s eyes were a milky white color - he was blind.2Tomorrow was his girlfriend’s birthday and the young man was having a difficult time deciding on a present for her. She already had more clothes than she knew what to do with them, so he couldn’t get any kind of apparel. She never ate sweets, so candy was out of the question. What then? He had a very special reason for wanting to impress her with just the right gift; tomorrow he was going to make an offer of marriage to her.He finally decided on perfume . All girls liked perfume. That raised another problem, however. What kind did she prefer? He couldn’t ask her, because that would ruin the surprise.At last the young man hit upon a brilliant idea. That afternoon, pretending to take his girl-friend’s fox terrier, little dog. Together, the young man and the dog went directly to the perfume counter of the town’s biggest department store. Good! There was a large array of perfume. He beckoned a clerk, instructing her to open a large number of bottles and wave the stoppers under the dog’s nose.Nestled in the young man’s arms, the terrier began to be restless and bored as this seemingly pointless game went on. Then Fritz suddenly became frisky, wiggling in the yo ung man’s arms and barking excitedly, as the clerk waved one stopper under his nose.“I’ll take that one,” said the young man to the clerk. The price was high; but it was worth it, he thought.“My favorite perfume!” said the delighted girl the next evening as she unwrapped the package. “How did you know?” she asked, dabbing some perfume behind each ear.“Intuition, I guess,” said the young man, deciding that it wasn’t exactly wrong to tell a lie under the circumstances. One day, after they were married, he would admit that his intuition had really been a little dog named Fritz.3My parents were in a huge argument, and I was really upset about it. I didn’t know who I should talk with about how I was feeling. So I asked Mom to allow me to stay the night at m y best friend’s house. Though I knew I wouldn’t tell her about my parents’ situation, I was looking forward to getting out of the house. I was in the middle of packing up my things when suddenly the power went out in the neighborhood. Mom came to tell me that I should stay with my grandpa until the power came back on.I was really disappointed because I felt that we did not have much to talk about. But I knew he would be frightened alone in the dark. I went to his room and told him that I’d stay with him un til the power was restored. He was quite happy and said, “Great opportunity.”“What is?” I asked.“To talk, you and I,” he said. “To hold a private little meeting about what we’re going to do with your mom and dad, and what we’re going to do with ourselves now that we’re in the situation we are in.”“But we can’t do anything about it, Grandpa,” I said, surprised that here was someone with whom I could share my feelings and someone who was in the same “boat” as I wasAnd that’s how the most unbelievable frie ndship between my grandfather and me started. Sitting there in the dark, we talked about our feeling and fears of life---from how fast things change, to how they sometimesdon’t change fast enough. That night, because the power went out, I found a new frie nd, with whom I could safely talk about all my fears and pains, whatever they may be.Suddenly, the lights all came back on. “Well,” he said, “ I guess that means you’ll want to go now. I really like our talk. I hope the power will go out every few nights!”4I really love my job because I enjoy working with small children and like the challenges and awards from the job. I also think my work is important. There was a time when I thought I would never have that sort of career.I wasn’t an excellent student because I didn’t do much schoolwork. In my final term I started thinking what I might do and found I didn’t have much to offer. I just accepted that I wasn’t the type to have a career.I then found myself a job, looking after two little girls. It wasn’t to o bad at first. But the problems began when I agreed to live in, so that I would be there if my boss had to go out for business in the evening. We agreed that if I had to work extra hours one week, she’d give me time off the next. But unfortunately, it did n’t often work out. I was getting extremely tired and fed up, because I had too many late nights and early mornings with the children.One Sunday, I was in the park with the children, and met Megan who used to go to school with me. I told her about my situation. She suggested that I should do a course and get a qualification if I wanted to work with children. I didn’t think I would be accepted because I didn’t take many exams in school. She persuaded me to phone the local college and they were really helpful. My experience counted for a lot and I got on a part-time course. I had to leave my job with the family, and got work helping out at a kindergarten.Now I’ve got a full-time job there. I shall always be thankful to Megan. I wish I had known earlier that you could have a career, even if you aren’t top of the class at school.Each of us fails from time to time. If we are wise, we accept these failures as a necessary part of the learning process.5Donnie was a shy, nervous perfectionist. His fear of failure kept him from classroom games that other children played with joyous excitement. He seldom answered questions -- he might be wrong. Written assignments, especially math, reduced him to nail-biting frustration. He seldom finished his work because he repeatedly checked with me to be sure he hadn't made a mistake.Then one morning we were working math problems at the chalkboard. Pleased with their progress, I left the children with Mary Anne，my student teacher, and went for art materials. When I returned, Donniewas in tears. He'd missed the third problem. Anne looked at me in despair. Suddenly her face brightened. She reached the drawer we shared for some pencils."See these pencils, Donnie?" she said, kneeling beside him and gently lifting the tear-stained face from his arms. "They belong to Mrs. Lindstrom and me. See how the erasers are worn? That's because we make mistakes too. Lots of them. But we erase the mistakes and try again. That's what you must learn to do, too." She kissed him and stood up. "Here," she said, "I'll leave one of these pencils on your desk so you'll remember that everybody makes mistakes, even teachers." Donnie looked up with love in his eyes and just a glimmer of a smile -- the first I'd seen on his face that year.The pencil became Donnie's prized possession. That, together with Mary Anne's frequent encouragement and unfailing praise for even Donnie's small successes, gradually persuaded him that it's all right to make mistakes -- as long as you erase them and try again.6A little boy wanted to meet God. He knew it was a long trip to where God lived, so he packed his suitcase with potato chips and root beer and started his journey.When he stopped by in a park, he met an old woman. He was about to take a drink from his root beer when he noticed that the old lady looked hungry, so he offered her some chips. She gratefully accepted it and smiled at him.Her smile was so pretty that the boy wanted to see it again, so he offered her a root beer. Again, she smiled at him. The boy was delighted! They sat there all afternoon eating and smiling, but they never said a word.As twilight approached, the boy realized that he got to go back home. When the boy opened the door, his mother was surprised by the look of joy on his face. She asked him,"What did you do today that made you so happy?""I had lunch with God. You know what? She's got the most beautiful smile I've ever seen!"Meanwhile, the old woman, also radiant with joy, returned to her home. Her son was stunned by the look of peace on her face and he asked,"Mother, what did you do today that made you so happy?""I ate potato chips in the park with God. You know, he's much younger than I expected."Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around. People come into our lives for a reason, a season, or a lifetime. Embrace all equally!7A few weeks ago, I followed a friend into an art-supply store. I found him picking out tubes of water-color paint, which surprised me because he’s not an artist.“I signed up for a water-color class, and it starts next week,” he said sheepishly. “I don’t really have time for it, but it was on my list o f 50 things to do before I die, so I went for it.” This sounds interesting, “What else is on the list﹖” I asked him.“All kinds of things,” he said. “Every few months I look at the list and decide what to focus on next. Before I had the list, I regretted a lot about what I was missing in my life. Now I just do stuff.”“Can I see your list sometime﹖” I ask ed.“I don’t know,” he said. “It reveals a lot about me. Write your own list, and you’ll see what I mean.”So that night I did just that, and he was right. The list revealed a whole lot about what was important to me. It also revealed how hopelessly behind I am at getting to the things I really want.Just writing the list helped me sort through some of my priorities. I filled up the first 20 blanks quickly, but then began to think carefully. Eventually I added items I’ve thought about for years, dreams I’ve carried with me since I was young, and things that I was longing for when I first heard about them.I have a cousin who has accomplished an amazing string of interesting things. She told me the key was preparing the ground so that life could work in myst erious ways. “If you want your ship to come in, you must build a dock,” she said.Thanks to my list, I’m working on some big docks.8Last night was the last game for my eight-year-old son’s soccer team. It was the final quarter. The score was two to one, my son’s team in the lead. Parents surrounded the playground, offering encouragement.With less than ten seconds remaining, the ball suddenly rolled in front of my son’s teammate, Mickey. With shouts of “Kick it!” echoing across the playground, Mickey tur ned around and gave it everything he had. All around me the crowd erupted. Mickey had scored!Then there was silence. Mickey had scored all right, but in the wrong goal, ending the game in a tie. For a moment there was a total hush. You see, Mickey has Down syndrome（唐氏综合症）and for him there is no such thing as a wrong goal. All goals were celebrated by a joyous hug from Mickey. He had even been known to hug the opposing players when they scored.The silence was finally broken when Mickey, his face filled with joy, hugged my son tightly and shouted,“I scored! I scored. Everybody won! Everybody won!” For a moment I held my breath, not surehow my son would react. I need not have worried. I watched, through tears, as my son threw up his hand in the classic high-five salute and started chanting, “Way to go Mickey! Way to go Mickey!” Within moments both teams surrounded Mickey, joining in the chant and congratulating him on his goal.Later that night, when my daughter asked who had won, I smiled as I replied, “It w as a tie. Everybody won.”9Life whispers in your soul and speaks to your heart. Sometimes，when you don't have the time to listen... Life throws a brick at your head.A young and successful CEO was traveling down a neighborhood street， going a bit too fast in his new Jaguar. As his car passed，one child appeared，and a brick smashed into the Jag's side door. He slammed on the brakes and spun the Jag back to the spot from where the brick had been thrown.He jumped out of the car，grabbed the kid and pushed him up against a parked car， shouting，"What was that all about and what the hell are you doing? That's a new car and that brick you threw gonna cost a lot. Why did you do it?"“Please，mister，please，I'm sorry. I didn't know what else to do!” pleaded the youngst er.“It's my brother,” he said. “He rolled off the curb and fell out of his wheelchair and I can't lift him up.” Sobbing，the boy asked the executive， "Would you please help me get him back into his wheelchair? He's hurt and he's too heavy for me.”Moved beyond words， the driver lifted the young man back into the wheelchair and took out his handkerchief and wiped the scrapes and cuts，checking to see that everything was going to be okay."Thank you，sir. And God bless you，" the grateful child said to him. The man then watched the little boy push his brother to the sidewalk toward their home.It was a long walk back to his Jaguar... a long，slow walk. He never did repair the side door. He kept the dent to remind him not to go through life so fast that someone has to throw a brick at you to get your attention.10Many say their most painful moments are saying good-bye to those they love. After watching Cheryl, my daughter-in-law, through the six long months her mother suffered towards death, I think the most painful moments can be in the waiting to say good-bye.Cheryl made the two-hour trip over and over to be with her mother. They spent the long afternoons praying, soothing, comforting, and retelling their shared memories.As her mother‘s pai n intensified and more medication was needed to ease her into sedation, Cheryl sat for hours of silent vigil by her mother‘s bed.Each time she kissed her mother before leaving, her mother would tear up and say, "I‘m sorry you drove so far and sat f or so long and I didn‘t even wake up to talk with you."Cheryl would tell her not to worry, it didn‘t matter, still her mother felt she had let her down and apologized at each good-bye until the day Cheryl found a way to give her mother the same reassurance her mother had given to her so many times."Mom, do you remember when I made the high school basketball team?" Cheryl‘s mother nodded. "You‘d drive so far and sit for so long and I never even left the bench to play. You waited for me after every game and each time I felt bad and apologized to you for wasting your time." Cheryl gently took her mother‘s hand."Do you remember what you would say to me?""I would say I didn‘t come to see you play, I came to see you.""And you meant those words, didn‘t you.""Yes, I really did.""Well, now I say the same words to you. I didn‘t come to see you talk, I came to see you."Her mother understood and smiled as she floated back into sleep.Their afternoons together passed quietly into days, weeks, and months. Their love filled the spaces between their words. To the last day they ministered to each other in the stillness, love given and received just by seeing each other.A love so strong that, even in this deepened silence that followed their last good-bye, Cheryl can still hear her mother‘s love.11One day, a poor boy who was trying to pay his way through school by selling goods door to door found that he only had one dime left. He was hungry so he decided to beg for a meal at the next house.However, he lost his nerve when a lovely young woman opened the door. Instead of a meal he asked for a drink of water. She thought he looked hungry so she brought him a large glass of milk. He drank it slowly, and then asked, “How much do I owe you?”“You owe me nothing,” she replied. “Mother has taught me never to accept pay for a kindness.” As Howard Kelly left that house, he not only felt stronger physically, but it also increased his faith. He was about to give up and quit before this point.Years later the young woman became critically ill. The local doctors were baffled. They finally sent her to the big city, where specialists can be called in to study her rare disease. Dr. Howard Kelly, now famous, heard the name of the town she came from, a strange light filled his eyes. Immediately, he rose and went down through the hospital hall into her room. He recognized her at once. He went back to the consultation room and determined to do his best to save her life.After a long struggle, the battle was won. However, when the bill was sent to her room, she was afraid to open it because she was positive that it would take the rest of her life to pay it off. Finally she looked, and the note on the side caught her attention.“Paid in full with a glass of milk.”Tears of joy flooded her eyes as she prayed silently: “Thank You, God. Your love has spread through human hearts and hands.”12Today we buried our 20-year-old son. He was killed instantly in a motorcycle accident on Friday night. How I wish I had known when I talked to him last that it would be the last time. If I had only known I would have said, "Jim, I love you and I‘m so very proud of you."I would have taken the time to count the many blessings he brought to the lives of the many who loved him. I would have taken time to appreciate his beautiful smile, the sound of his laughter, his genuine love of people.When you put all the good attributes on the scale and you try to balance all the irritating traits such as the radio which was always too loud, the haircut that wasn‘t to our liking, the dirty socks under the bed, etc., the irritations don‘t amount to much.I won‘t get another chance to tell my son all I would have wanted him to he ar, but, other parents, you do have a chance. Tell your young people what you would want them to hear if you knew it would be your last conversation. The last time I talked to Jim was the day he died. He called me to say, "Hi, Mom! I just called to say I love you. Got to go to work. Bye." He gave me something to treasure forever.If there is any purpose at all to Jim‘s death, maybe it is to make others appreciate more of life and to have people, especially families, take the time to let each other know just how much we care.You may never have another chance. Do it today!13A friend of mine named Paul received an automobile from his brother as a Christmas present. On Christmas Eve when Paul came out of his office, a street urchin was walking around the shiny new car, admiring it. "Is this your car, Mister?" he asked.Paul nodded. "My brother gave it to me for Christmas." The boy was astounded. "You mean your brother gave it to you and it didn't cost you nothing? Boy, I wish..." He hesitated.Of course Paul knew what he was going to wish for. He was going to wish he had a brother like that. But what the lad said jarred Paul all the way down to his heels."I wish," the boy went on, "that I could be a brother like that."Paul looked at the boy in astonishment, then impulsively he added, "Would you like to take a ride in my automobile?""Oh yes, I'd love that."After a short ride, the boy turned and with his eyes aglow, said, "Mister, would you mind driving in front of my house?"Paul smiled a little. He thought he knew what the lad wanted. He wanted to show his neighbors that he could ride home in a big automobile. But Paul was wrong again. "Will you stop where those two steps are?" the boy asked.He ran up the steps. Then in a little while Paul heard him coming back, but he was not coming fast. He was carrying his little crippled brother. He sat him down on the bottom step, then sort of squeezed up against him and pointed to the car."There she is, Buddy, just like I told you upstairs. His brother gave it to him for Christmas and it didn't cost him a cent. And some day I'm gonna give you one just like it... then you can see for yourself all the pretty things in the Christmas windows that I've been trying to tell you about."Paul got out and lifted the lad to the front seat of his car. The shining-eyed older brother climbed in beside him and the three of them began a memorable holiday ride.That Christmas Eve, Paul learned what Jesus meant when he had said, "It is more blessed to give..."14A man came home from work late, tired and irritated, to find his 5-year old son waiting for him at the door.“Daddy, please tell me, how much do you make an hour?” pleaded the little boy.“If you must know, I make $20 an hour.”“Oh,” the little boy replied, with his head down. Looking up, he said, “Daddy, may I please borrow $10?”The father was furious, “If the only reason you asked that is so you can borrow some money to buy a silly toy or some other nonsense, then you march yourself straight to your room and go to bed. Think about why you are being so selfish.”The little boy quietly went to his room and shut the door. The man sat down and started to get even angrier about the little boy's questions. How dare he ask such questions only to get some money? After about an hour or so, the man had calmed down, and started to think: Maybe there was something he really needed to buy with that $10 and he really didn't ask for money very often.“I've been thinking, maybe I was too hard on you earlier,” said the man, “It's been a long day and I took out my aggravation on you. Here's the $10 you asked for.”The little boy sat straight up, smiling. “Oh, thank you daddy!” He yelled. Then, reaching under his pillow he pulled out some crumpled up bills. The man, seeing that the boy already had money, started to get angry again. The little boy slowly counted out his money, then looked up at his father.“Daddy, I have $20 now. Can I buy an hour of your time? Please come home early tomorrow. I would like to have dinner with you.”15“Don't ever save anything for a special occasion. Every day you're alive is a special occasion.”I'm still thinking about these words, and they've changed my life. I'm reading more and dusting less. I'm sitting on the deck and admiring the view without fussing about the weeds in the garden. I'm spending more time with my family and friends and less time in committee meetings. Whenever possible, life should be a pattern of experience to enojy, not endure. I'm trying to recognize these moments now and cherish them."Someday" and "one of these days" are losing their significance in my vocabulary. If it's worth seeing or hearing or doing, I want to see and hear and do it now. It's those little things left undone that would make me angry if I knew that my hours were limited. Angry because I put off seeing good friends whom I was going to get in touch with-someday. Angry because I hadn't written certain letters that I intended to write--one of these days. Angry and sorry that I didn't tell my husband and daughter often enough how much I truly love them.I'm trying very hard not to put off, hold back, or save anything that would add laughter and shine to our lives.And every morning when I open my eyes, I tell myself that it is special. Every day, every minute, every breath truly is ... a gift from God.16My friend Gayle has been "living" with cancer for four years and it is progressively getting worse. During a conversation with another friend, Gayle expressed that one of her childhood wishes was to have a red Radio Flyer wagon. As a child she never received one because she believed that if you told your birthday wish it wouldn't come true. I was at an ice cream stand one day and in the window was a miniature red Radio Flyer wagon that could be won in a weekly drawing. Every time you make a purchase you could fill out a ticket for a chance to win. After several weeks and many ice cream cones, I didn't win.I got up the courage to ask the person in charge if I could buy one. I went to the window and as I began to tell my story, I could feel my throat tighten and my eyes overflowed with tears. Somehow I managed to explain my reason for wanting to purchase the wagon, and after writing a check, I left carrying it. The wagon was delivered the next day, and for Gayle it was dream come true. The following day I received a letter that read:Dear Bonnie,Every once in a while there is an opportunity to pass on a kindness – no questions asked. I lost my parents to cancer six months apart from each other. I cared for both of them but could not have done it without the love and generosity of friends – friends who care.The best to you,NormaIt was from the owner of the ice cream stand. Enclosed was my uncashed check17Be Still With GodAll day long I had been very busy; picking up trash, cleaning bathrooms and scrubbing floors. My grown children were coming home for the weekend. I went grocery shopping and prepared for a barbecue supper, complete with ribs and chicken. I wanted everything to be perfect.Suddenly, it dawned on me that I was dog-tired. I simply couldn't work as long as I could when I was younger. "I've got to rest for a minute," I told my husband, Roy, as I collapsed into my favorite rocking chair. Music was playing, my dog and cat were chasing each other and the telephone rang.A scripture from Psalm 46 popped into my mind. "Be still, and know that I am God." I realized that I hadn't spent much time in prayer that day. Was I too busy to even utter a simple word of thanks to God?Suddenly, the thought of my beautiful patio came to mind. I can be quiet out there, I thought. I longed for a few minutes alone with God.Roy and I had invested a great deal of time and work in the patio that spring. The flowers and hanging baskets were breathtaking. It was definitely a heavenly place of rest and tranquility. If I can't be still with God in that environment, I can't be still with Him anywhere, I thought. While Roy was talking on the telephone, I slipped out the backdoor and sat down on my favorite patio chair. I closed my eyes and began to pray, counting my many blessings.A bird flew by me, chirping and singing. It interrupted my thoughts. It landed on the bird feeder and began eating dinner as I watched. After a few minutes it flew away, singing another song.I closed my eyes again. A gust of wind blew, which caused my wind chimes to dance. They made a joyful sound, but again I lost my concentration on God. I squirmed and wiggled in my chair. I looked up toward the blue sky and saw the clouds moving slowly toward the horizon. The wind died down. My wind chimes finally became quiet.Again, I bowed in prayer. "Honk, honk," I heard. I almost jumped out of my skin. A neighbor was driving down the street. He waved at me and smiled. I waved back, happy that he cared. I quickly tried once again to settle down, repeating the familiar verse in my mind. Be still and know that I am God."I'm trying God. I really am," I whispered. "But you've got to help me here."The backdoor opened. My husband walked outside. "I love you," he said. "I was wondering where you were." I chuckled, as he came over and kissed me, then turned around and went back inside."Where's the quiet time?" I asked God. My heart fluttered. There was no pain, only a beat that interrupted me yet again. This is impossible, I thought. There's no time to be still and to know that God is with me. There's too much going on in the world and entirely too much activity all around me.Then it suddenly dawned on me. God was speaking to me the entire time I was attempting to be still. I remembered the music playing as I'd begun my quiet time. He sent a sparrow to lighten my life with song. He sent a gentle breeze. He sent a neighbor to let me know that I had a friend. He sent my sweetheart to offer sincere sentiments of love. He caused my heart to flutter to remind me of life. While I was trying to count my blessings, God was busy multiplying them.I laughed to realize that the "interruptions" of my quiet time with God were special blessings He'd sent to show me He was with me the entire time.18Plant a Row for the Hungry。