有人回答:「有啊,有更美的事。那就是一對老年夫婦一起走在小路上,他們的手飽經風霜,但仍然緊緊相握;他們的臉佈滿皺紋,卻依然容光煥發;肉體上,他們的心已經衰老,但那裡面依然有對彼此強烈的愛和虔誠。是的,有比年輕的愛更美麗的事,那就是年老的愛。」
TheGiftofLove愛的頌歌
IfIspeakinthetonguesofmortalsandofangels,butdonothavelove,Iamanoisygongoraclangingcymbal.AndifIhavepropheticpowers,andunderstandallmysteriesandallknowledge,andifIhaveallfaith,soastoremovemountains,butdonothavelove,Iamnothing.IfIgiveawayallmypossessions,andifIhandovermybodysothatImayboast,butdonothavelove,Igainnothing.
Loveispatient;loveiskind;loveisnotenviousorboastfulorarrogantorrude.Itdoesnotinsistonitsownway;itisnotirritableorresentful;itdoesnotrejoiceinwrongdoing,butrejoicesinthetruth.Itbearsallthings,believesallthings,hopesallthings,enduresallthings.
Loveneverends.Butasforprophecies,theywillcometoanend;asfortongues,theywillcease;asforknowledge,itwillcometoanend.Forweknowonlyinpart,andweprophesyonlyinpart;butwhenthecompletecomes,thepartialwillcometoanend.WhenIwasachild,Ithoughtlikeachild;whenIbecameandadult,Iputanendtochildishways.Fornowweseeinmirror,dimly,butthenwewillseefacetoface.NowIknowonlyinpart;thenIwillknowfully,evenasIhavebeenfullyknown.
Andnowfaith,hope,andloveabide,thesethree;andthegreatestoftheseislove.
就算我能說萬人的方言和天使的話語,但如果沒有愛,我不過就如鳴鑼一般;就算我有預知未來的能力,就算我精通各種知識和奧秘,就算我有堅定的信念,但如果沒有愛,我就什麼都算不上;就算我拿所有的財物周濟窮人,就算我能做出捨己為人的壯舉,但如果沒有愛,我仍將一無所有。
愛是一種忍耐,愛是一種友善;愛不是嫉妒,不是自大,不是魯莽,不是固執己見,不是輕易發怒。愛意味著憎惡不義,讚賞真理;愛意味著包容一切,相信一切,對生活充滿希望,並能忍受生活中的一切。
愛是永無止境的,但又是有盡頭的;就像知識一樣,必將歸於烏有。我們現在所掌握的知識很有限,當我們掌握了完整的知識時,有限的知識必將歸於烏有。當我還是一個孩子的時候,我像孩子一樣說話,像孩子一樣思考問題,像孩子一樣推理;但我一旦成年,就不再像孩子一樣了。現階段,我們很多時候好像是從鏡子裡觀看事物,對很多事物都看不清,但有朝一日我們會直面這些事物。現階段,我知道的東西很有限,但有朝一日我會懂得一切。
如今,常存在人們心中的東西有三樣:信念、希望和愛,而其中愛是最重要的!
Home,SweetHome甜蜜的家庭
Midpleasuresandpalacesthoughwemayroam,
Beiteversohumble,there』snoplacelikehome!
Acharmfromtheskiesseemstohallowusthere,
Whichseekthroughtheworld,isne』ermetwithelsewhere,
Home!Home!Sweet,sweetHome!
There』snoplacelikeHome!There』snoplacelikeHome!
IgazeonthemoonasItreadthedrearwild,
Andfeelthatmymothernowthinksofherchild,
Asshelooksonthatmoonfromourowncottagedoor,
Throughthewoodbine,whosefragranceshallcheermenomore.
Home!Home!Sweet,sweetHome!
There』snoplacelikeHome!
There』snoplacelikeHome!
Anexilefromhome,splendordazzlesinvain;
Oh,givememylowlythatch』dcottageagain!
Thebirdssinginggaily,thatcameatmycall—
Givemethem,—andthepeaceofmind,dearerthanall!
Home!Home!Sweet,sweetHome!
There』snoplacelikeHome!There』snoplacelikeHome!
雖然我們也會沉迷於歡樂與奢靡中,
無論家是多麼簡陋,沒有地方比得上它!
好似從空而降的魔力,使我們在家覺得聖潔
就是找遍全世界,也找不到像這樣的地方,
家啊!家啊!甜蜜的家啊!
沒有地方比得上家!沒有地方比得上家!
每當我漫步荒野凝視明月,
便想起母親正惦念著她的孩子,
當她從茅舍門口遙望明月時,
穿過冬忍樹叢,濃郁樹香再也不能安慰我的心靈。
家啊!家啊!甜蜜的家啊!
沒有地方比得上家!
沒有地方比得上家!
對一個離鄉背井的遊子,再華麗的光輝,也是徒然閃爍;
一棟矮簷茅舍!
一呼即來的鳥兒正在歡唱
賜給它們-還有心靈的平靜,這些勝過一切!
家啊!家啊!甜蜜的家啊!
沒有地方比得上家!沒有地方比得上家!
TheRedClothesinHeaven天堂裡的紅衣服
Inmydualprofessionasaneducatorandhealthcareprovider,IhaveworkedwithnumerouschildreninfectedwiththevirusthatcausesAIDS.TherelationshipsthatIhavehadwiththesespecialkidshavebeengiftsinmylife.Theyhavetaughtmesomanythings,butIhaveespeciallylearnedthatgreatcouragecanbefoundinthesmallestofpackages.LetmetellyouaboutTyler.
TylerwasborninfectedwithHIV:hismotherwasalsoinfected.Fromtheverybeginningofhislife,hewasdependentonmedicationstoenablehimtosurvive.Whenhewasfive,hehadatubesurgicallyinsertedinaveininhischest.Thistubewasconnectedtoapump,whichhecarriedinasmallbackpackonhisback.Medicationswerehookeduptothispumpandwerecontinuouslysuppliedthroughthistubetohisbloodstream.Attimes,healsoneededsupplementedoxygentosupporthisbreathing.
Tylerwasn』twillingtogiveuponesinglemomentofhischildhoodtothisdeadlydisease.Itwasnotunusualtofindhimplayingandracingaroundhisbackyard,wearinghismedicine-ladenbackpackanddragginghistankofoxygenbehindhiminhislittlewagon.AllofuswhoknewTylermarveledathispurejoyinbeingaliveandtheenergyitgavehim.Tyler』smomoftenteasedhimbytellinghimthathemovedsofastsheneededtodresshiminred.Thatway,whenshepeeredthroughthewindowtocheckonhimplayingintheyard,shecouldquicklyspothim.
ThisdreadeddiseaseeventuallyworedowneventhelikesofalittledynamolikeTyler.Hegrewquiteilland,unfortunately,sodidhisHIV-infectedmother.Whenitbecameapparentthathewasn』tgoingtosurvive,Tyler』smomtalkedtohimaboutdeath.ShecomfortedhimbytellingTylerthatshewasdyingtoo,andthatshewouldbewithhimsooninheaven.
Afewdaysbeforehisdeath,Tylerbeckonedmeovertohishospitalbedandwhispered,「Imightdiesoon.I』mnotscared.WhenIdie,pleasedressmeinred.Mompromisedshe』scomingtoheaven,too.I』llbeplayingwhenshegetsthere,andIwanttomakesureshecanfindme.」
作為一名教育和保健護理工作者,我曾經和數不清的感染上艾滋病病毒的孩子打過交道。我和這些特殊的孩子之間的關係是生活賦予的恩賜。他們教會我許多東西,我尤其懂得了即使在最弱小的人物身上也能發現其所蘊含的巨大勇氣。讓我告訴你泰勒的故事。
泰勒出生前就從母體感染上艾滋病病毒。自他來到人間就一直靠藥物維持生命。他5歲時做手術,胸部插了一根管子,管子連著他背的背包裡的泵,泵不斷地把藥通過管子輸入他的血液。有時他還需要補充氧氣幫助呼吸。