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感恩节的故事
多年前一个感恩节的早上，有对年轻夫妇的一家人却极不愿醒来，他们不知道如何以感恩的心过这一天，因为他们实在是穷得可怜。圣诞节的“大餐”想都别想，能有点简单的食物吃就不错了。
早先若是能跟当的慈善团体联络，或许就能分得一双火鸡及烹烤的佐料，可是他们没有这么做，为什么呢？就跟其他不少家庭一样，要有骨气，是怎么样就怎么过这个节。
贫贱夫妻百事哀，无可避免的，没多久这对夫妇就争吵起来。随着双方越来越烈的火气和咆哮，看在这个家庭最长的孩子眼里，只觉得自己是那么的无奈和无助。然而命运就在此刻改观了……
沉重的敲门声在耳边响起，男孩前去应门，一个高大男人赫然出现眼前，穿着一身皱巴巴的衣服，满脸的笑容，这个男人手提着——个大篮子，里头满是各种能想到的应节东西：一双火鸡、塞在里面的配料、厚饼、甜薯及各式罐头等，全是感恩节大餐历不可少的。
这家人一时都愣住了，不知道是怎么一回事，门口的那人随之开口道：“这份东西是一位知道你们有需要的人要我送来的，他希望你们晓得还是有人在关怀和爱你们的。”
起初，这个家庭中作爸爸的还极力推辞，不肯接受这份礼，可是那人却这么说：“得了，我也只不过是个跑腿的。”带着微笑，他把篮子搁在小男孩的臂弯里转身离去，身后飘来了这句话：“感恩节快乐！”
就是那一刻，小男孩的生命从此就不一样了。虽然只是那么小小的一个关怀，却让他晓得人生始终存在着希望，随时有人---即使是个“陌生人”---在关怀着他们。在他内心深处，油然兴起一股感恩之情，他发誓日后也要以同样方式去帮助其他有需要的人。
到了十八岁时，他终于有能力来兑现当年的许诺。虽然收入还很微薄，在感恩节里他还是买了不少食物，不是为了自己过节，而时去送给两户极为需要的家庭。
他穿着一条老旧的牛仔裤和一件T恤，假装是个送货员，开着自己那辆破车亲自送去，当他到达第一户破落的住所时，前来应门的是位拉丁妇女，带着提防的眼神望着他。她有六个孩子，数天前丈夫抛下他们不告而别，目前正面临着断炊之苦。
这位年轻人开口说道：“我是来送货的，女士。”随之他便回转身子，从车里拿出装满了食物的袋子及盒子，里头有一双火鸡、配料、厚饼、甜薯及各式的罐头。见此，那个女人当场傻了眼，而孩子们也爆出了高兴的欢呼声。
忽然这位年轻妈妈攫起年轻人的手臂，没命地亲吻着，同时操着生硬的英语激动地喊着：“你一定是上帝派来的!”年轻人有些腼腆地说：“噢，不，我只是个送货的，是一位朋友要我送来这些东西的。”
随之，他便交给妇女一张字条，上头这么写着：“我是你们的一位朋友，愿你一家都能过个快乐的感恩节，也希望你们知道有人在默默爱着你们。今后你们若是有能力，就请同样把这样的礼物转送给其他有需要的人。”
年轻人把一袋袋的食物仍不停地搬进屋子，使得兴奋、快乐和温馨之情达到最高点。当他离去时，那种人与人之间的亲密之情，让他不觉热泪盈眶。回首瞥见那个家庭的张张笑脸，他对自己能有余力帮助他们，内心一股感恩之心。
他的人生竟是一个圆满的轮回，年少时期的“悲惨时光”原来是上帝的祝福，指引他一生以帮助他人来丰富自己的人生，就从那二次的行动开始，他展开了不懈的追求，直到今日。
以行动回报当年他及家人所得到的帮助，提醒那些受苦的人们天无绝人之路，总是有人在关怀他们，不管所面对的是多大困难，即便是自己所知有限、能力不足，但只要肯拿出实际行动，就能从其中学得到宝贵的功课，寻着自我成长的机会，以至最终获得长远的幸福。
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感恩节的故事
11月的最后一个星期四是感恩节。感恩节是美国人民独创的一个古老节日，也是美国人合家欢聚的节日，因此美国人提起感恩节总是倍感亲切
感恩节的由来要一直追溯到美国历史的发端。1620年，著名的“五月花”号船满载不堪忍受英国国内宗教迫害的清教徒102人到达美洲。1620年和1621年之交的冬天，他们遇到了难以想象的困难，处在饥寒交迫之中，冬天过去时，活下来的移民只有50来人。这时，心地善良的印第安人给移民送来了生活必需品，还特地派人教他们怎样狩猎、捕鱼和种植玉米、南瓜。在印第安人的帮助下，移民们终于获得了丰收，在欢庆丰收的日子，按照宗教传统习俗，移民规定了感谢上帝的日子，并决定为感谢印第安人的真诚帮助，邀请他们一同庆祝节日
在第一个感恩节的这一天，印第安人和移民欢聚一堂，他们在黎明时鸣放礼炮，列队走进一间用作教堂的屋子，虔诚地向上帝表达谢意，然后点起篝火举行盛大宴会。第二天和第三天又举行了摔交、赛跑、唱歌、跳舞等活动。第一个感恩节非常成功。其中许多庆祝方式流传了300多年，一直保留到今天。 初时感恩节没有固定日期，由各州临时决定，直到美国独立后，感恩节才成为全国性的节日
每逢感恩节这一天，美国举国上下热闹非常，人们按照习俗前往教堂做感恩祈祷，城乡市镇到处都有化装游行、戏剧表演或体育比赛等。劳燕分飞了一年的亲人们也会从天南海北归来，一家人团团圆圆，品尝美味的感恩节火鸡
感恩节的食品富有传统特色。火鸡是感恩节的传统主菜，通常是把火鸡肚子里塞上各种调料和拌好的食品，然后整只烤出，由男主人用刀切成薄片分给大家。此外，感恩节的传统食品还有甜山芋、玉蜀黍、南瓜饼、红莓苔子果酱等
感恩节宴会后，人们有时会做些传统游戏，比如南瓜赛跑是比赛者用一把小勺推着南瓜跑，规则是不能用手碰南瓜，先到终点者获胜。比赛用的勺子越小，游戏就越有意思
多少年来，庆祝感恩节的习俗代代相传，无论在岩石嶙峋的西海岸还是在风光旖旎的夏威夷，人们几乎在以同样的方式欢度感恩节，感恩节是不论何种信仰、何种民族的美国人都庆祝的传统节日
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感恩节的故事
A Thanksgiving Story 感恩节的故事
It was the day before Thanksgiving – the first one my three
children and I would be spending without their father, who had
left several months before. Now the two older children were
very sick with the flu, and the eldest had just been
prescribed bed rest for a week.
那是感恩节的前一天---孩子的父亲在几个月前离开了我们,这将是我和三个孩子在没有他们父亲陪伴下度过的第一个感恩节.现在两个大的孩子患了重感冒,而且医生还要求最大的那个孩子必须卧床休息一周。
It was a cool, gray day outside, and a light rain was falling.
I grew wearier as I scurried around, trying to care for each
child: thermometers, juice, diapers. And I was fast running
out of liquids for the children. But when I checked my purse,
all I found was about $2.50 – and this was supposed to last me
until the end of the month. That's when I heard the phone
ring.
这是个寒冷,灰暗的日子,窗外还飘着细雨.我四处忙碌着要照看好每个孩子:测量体温,喂食,换尿布我感到越来越疲惫.而且给孩子们喝的东西也马上要彻底地用完了.但是当我打开钱包,所能找到的只有2.5美元左右--可我还得靠这点钱支撑到月底啊。就在这时电话铃突然响了起来.
It was the secretary from our former church, and she told me
that they had been thinking about us and had something to give
us from the congregation. I told her that I was going out to
pick up some more juice and soup for the children, and I would
drop by the church on my way to the market.
电话是我们以前教堂里的秘书打来的,她说他们一直在惦记着我们，教友们还有一些东西要送给我们.我告诉她我正要出去给孩子们买些喝的东西,在我去市场的途中会顺便到教堂去一下.
I arrived at the church just before lunch. The church
secretary met me at the door and handed me a special gift
envelope. "We think of you and the kids often," she said, "and
you are in our hearts and prayers. We love you." When I opened
the envelope, I found two grocery certificates inside. Each
was worth $20. I was so touched and moved, I broke down and
cried.
我赶到教堂时正好要到午饭时间了。在门口我遇到了教堂的秘书她递给我一个别致的礼品信封."我们经常想起你和孩子们,"她说,"并且在心中为你们祈祷.我们爱你们."我打开信封,看到里面有两张面值是20美元的食品店购物券.我被深深的感动了,不禁失声痛哭.
"Thank you very much," I said, as we hugged each other.
"Please give our love and thanks to the church." Then I drove
to a store near our home and purchased some much-needed items
for the children.
"太谢谢你们了!"说着,我们拥抱了一下."请向教堂转达我们的爱和感激."接着我便驱车到离家不远的一个商店里去买孩子们急需的一些东西.
At the check-out counter I had a little over $14.00 worth of
groceries, and I handed the cashier one of the gift
certificates. She took it, then turned her back for what
seemed like a very long time. I thought something might be
wrong. Finally I said, "This gift certificate is a real
blessing. Our former church gave it to our family, knowing I'm
a single patent trying to make ends meet."
我买了14块多一点的东西,在收银台我把一张礼品券递给了收银员.她接了之后,便转过身了去好长一段时间.我想可能是什幺地方
出了差错.终于我忍不住说到:"这张礼券包含了真诚的祝福.是我们以前所在的教会送给我的,因为知道我是个量入为出的单身母亲."
The cashier then turned around, with tears in her loving eyes,
and replied, "Honey, that's wonderful! Do you have a turkey?"
于是那个收银员转回了身,充满爱心的眼中盈着泪花:"亲爱的,好极了!你买了火鸡吗?"
"No. It's okay because my children are sick anyway."
"没有.不过没关系反正孩子们病着呢."
She then asked, "Do you have anything else for Thanksgiving
dinner?"
她又接着问到,"你买了其它感恩节的食品吗?"
Again I replied, "No." 我依然回答说:"没有."
After handing me the change from the certificate, she looked
at my face and said, "Honey, I can't tell you exactly why
right now, but I want you to go back into the store and buy a
turkey, cranberry sauce, pumpkin pie or anything else you need
for a Thanksgiving dinner."
把礼品券中剩余的钱找给我之后,她看着我说到,"亲爱的,我现在不能确切告诉你为什幺,但是我希望你再进去买一只火鸡,酸果蔓沙司,番瓜派或是其它你需要的感恩节食品."
I was shocked, and humbled to tears. "Are you sure?" I asked.
我的心不禁一颤,流下了自卑的泪水. "一定要这样吗?"我问到.
"Yes! Get whatever you want. And get some Gatorade for the
kids."
"是!买所有你想要的东西.再给孩子们买些给他力(一种饮料)."
I felt awkward as I went back to do more shopping, but I
selected a fresh turkey, a few yams and potatoes, and some
juices for the children. Then I wheeled the shopping cart up
to the same cashier as before. As I placed my groceries on the
counter, she looked at me once more with giant tears in her
kind eyes and began to speak.
当我再次返回去拿东西的时候觉得很尴尬,但我还是选了一只新鲜的火鸡,一些山药和土豆,还有孩子们的饮料.接着把购物车推到了先前的那个收银员跟前.在我往柜台上拿东西的时候,她还是用那双含着泪水的眼睛温和地看了我一下说到.
"Now I can tell you. This morning I prayed that I could help
someone today, and you walked through my line." She reached
under the counter for her purse and took out a $20 bill. She
paid for my groceries and then handed me the change. Once more
I was moved to tears.
"现在我可以告诉你了.今天早上我祈祷我能够在今天帮助一些人,而你正好在此之列."她从柜台下面拿出了钱包取了20块钱出来.她替我付了账接着又把剩下的零钱递给我.我又一次感动地落泪了.
The sweet cashier then said, "I am a Christian. Here is my
phone number if you ever need anything." She then took my head
in her hands, kissed my cheek and said, "God bless you,
honey."
那个可爱的收银员接着说,"我是个基督徒.如果您有什幺需要的
话可以给我打电话."她用双手捧起我的头在我的面颊上吻了一下说:"上帝保佑你,亲爱的."
As I walked to my car, I was overwhelmed by this stranger's
love and by the realization that God loves my family too, and
shows us his love through this stranger's and my church's kind
deeds.
当我向车走去的时候,我内心充满了对陌生人爱心的深深感激，意识到上帝是爱我的家人的,他通过这个陌生人和我的教友们来展示他的爱.
The children were supposed to have spent Thanksgiving with
their father that year, but because of the flu they were home
with me, for a very special Thanksgiving Day. They were
feeling better, and we all ate the goodness of the Lord's
bounty – and our community's love. Our hearts were truly
filled with thanks.
那年的感恩节,孩子们本该是去父亲那儿过的,但是由于患了流感,他们留在家里和我一起度过了一个非同寻常的感恩节.孩子们精神一下好了许多,吃着可口的食物我们也都体味到了上帝的慷慨仁慈-和社会的关爱.我们的心中真正地充满了感激
