What goes around comes around

One day, a man saw an old lady stranded on the side of the road, but even in the dim light of day, he could see she needed help. So he pulled up in front of her Mercedes and got out. His Pontiac was still sputtering when he approached her.

Even with the smile on his face, she was worried. No one had stopped to help for the last hour or so. Was he going to hurt her? He didn't look safe; he looked poor and hungry.

He could see that she was frightened, standing out there in the cold. He knew how she felt. It was those chills which only fear can put in you.

He said, 'I'm here to help you, ma'am. Why don't you wait in the car where it's warm? By the way, my name is Bryan Anderson.'

Well, all she had was a flat tire, but for an old lady, that was bad enough. Bryan crawled under the car looking for a place to put the jack, skinning his knuckles a time or two. Soon he was able to change the tire. But he had to get dirty and his hands hurt.

As he was tightening up the lug nuts, she rolled down the window and began to talk to him. She told him that she was from St. Louis and was only just passing through. She couldn't thank him enough for coming to her aid.

Bryan just smiled as he closed her trunk. The lady asked how much she owed him. Any amount would have been all right with her. She already imagined all the awful things that could have happened had he not stopped. Bryan never thought twice about being paid. This was not a job to him. This was helping someone in need, and God knows there were plenty, who had given him a hand in the past. He had lived his whole life that way, and it never occurred to him to act any other way.

He told her that if she really wanted to pay him back, the next time she saw someone who needed help, she could give that person the assistance they needed, and Bryan added, 'And think of me.'

He waited until she started her car and drove off. It had been a cold and depressing day, but he felt good as he headed for home, disappearing into the twilight.

A few miles down the road the lady saw a small cafe. She went in to grab a bite to eat, and take the chill off before she made the last leg of her trip home. It was a dingy looking restaurant. Outside were two old gas pumps. The whole scene was unfamiliar to her. The waitress came over and brought a clean towel to wipe her wet hair. She had a sweet smile, one that even being on her feet for the whole day couldn't erase. The lady noticed the waitress was nearly eight months pregnant, but she never let the strain and aches change her attitude. The old lady wondered how someone who had so little could be so giving to a stranger. Then she remembered, Bryan ..

After the lady finished her meal, she paid with a hundred dollar bill. The waitress quickly went to get change for her hundred dollar bill, but the old lady had slipped right out the door. She was gone by the time the waitress came back. The waitress wondered where the lady could be. Then she noticed something written on the napkin.

There were tears in her eyes when she read what the lady wrote: 'You don't owe me anything. I have been there too. Somebody once helped me out, the way I'm helping you. If you really want to pay me back, here is what you do: Do not let this chain of love end with you.'

Under the napkin were four more $100 bills.

Well, there were tables to clear, sugar bowls to fill, and people to serve, but the waitress made it through another day. That night when she got home from work and climbed into bed, she was thinking about the money and what the lady had written. How could the lady have known how much she and her husband needed it? With the baby due next month, it was going to be hard....

She knew how worried her husband was, and as he lay sleeping next to her, she gave him a soft kiss and whispered soft and low, 'Everything' s going to be all right. I love you, Bryan Anderson.'


There is an old saying 'What goes around comes around.' Today, I sent you this story and I'm asking you to pass it on... Let this light shine.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

谢谢惠芝小姐与我们分享的故事。其实，馆主上两张文章有提到无论我们做什么都是不求回报的。因为真正行善的人是不计较也不屑于这些的。像这篇故事里的 Bryan Anderson，虽然自己家里并不富有，但是他善良的心、乐于助人而不为回报的态度最终还是有上天赐给他的福报。让善的福音传遍世间各个角落罢！

^_^g

Interview with God

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其实在几年前，当馆主第一次看了这个“访谈”后，当时的感触很深。是感动？是震撼？还是不解？每个人的体会也许会不同，但重点在于我们有没有认真地去体会这篇“专访”存在的意义？

也许我们真的该好好思考了罢。

^_^g

行善

及时行善，可以避免你的心里再泛起坏的念头。凡是拖延行善的人，内心不容易与恶行绝缘。

人生难免一死，应该趁有生之年多做一点善事，宛如在门前种下菩提树，每天施水，不断地长大茂盛，子孙后代可乘凉。

莫轻视小善，以为小善不会得到福报，每天行一小善，累月经年，不断积聚，而致使你整个人充满福德。

在愤怒的人群中要容忍；在凶暴的人群中要温和；在贪的人群中要慷慨。

不做任何坏事，培养善行和慈悲心，清净自己的心念，这是佛陀的教诲。

富有的人，应秉着怜悯的心来布施贫穷的人。贫穷的人应该了解人生的价值，敞开心胸，努力行善改变命运。

做事和布施时，如果抱着利人之心，那么跟你疏远的人也容易和好；倘若抱着害人之心，即使亲如父子也会分离并且互相怨恨。

富豪者顺知：
万能的是金钱，万恶的也是金钱。
用之于正，是自造福基；用之于邪，是自作孽障。
若能减一份享用，加一分济人，虽不见福增，但祸自消矣。
如一味刻薄，以为得计，一遇飞灾，倾家荡产，所入不偿所失，悔之晚矣！

世间三种财宝：
在世抢得去，死后带不去 --- 金银珠宝。
在世抢不去，死后带不去 --- 智慧才能。
在世抢不去，死后带得去 --- 修善积德。

所以
德厚者，来世得生乐土。
德薄者，来世生于贫苦。

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

说真的，馆主也觉得这篇有点儿深奥。嘻！但是总的来说，不就是叫我们要多行善积德嘛。其实，真正的善行不在于、也不求于回报。真心的希望他人好才是真正的善行。如果是因为希望他人会感激你，会报答你，那么就免了。当然，只要你有这份心，无论是什么样的善行，也是值得我们学习的。

要时时存有善念哦！

^_^g

三字经 - 王莽篡位

故事

汉平帝是汉朝最后一个皇帝，当时朝廷的大权掌握在外戚手中。王莽 (wang2 mang3) 也属于外戚，但他不像其他弟子那样骄奢淫逸 (jiao1 she1 yin2 yi4)，总是给人留下简朴、谦虚的印象。后来他当了大官，但仍和从前一样待人温和。即使自己的儿子犯了罪，他也依照法律进行处罚。后来，他大权在握，立刻变得飞扬跋扈 (fei1 yang2 ba2 hu4) 起来。他唆使 (suo1 shi3) 下属编造谎言，逼迫小皇帝让位。王莽当了皇帝后，顶国号为“新”。后来，刘秀推翻了王莽的政权，重新建立了汉王朝。

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

所谓人心难测啊。没想到王莽是如此的一个人。如果事实真是如此一般，那么，他很可能是一个心机很重的人哦。他一直给予人们那美好的形象和态度全在他掌握大权后被打破了。原来也不过是如此而已。真让人难过啊。

我们一定要做个顶天立地的人哦。无论是在于课业或工作，既是我们想要得到更高的职位或权力，我们也不可以耍心机或陷害他人哦。如果一个人不是真心地对待他人，这只会让大家得到伤害，而且，这份伤害也许一辈子也没有办法弥补哦。不要作出任何会让自己在将来后悔的事好吗？

加油了！

^_^g

三字经 – 鸿门宴

高祖兴 汉业建 至孝平 王莽篡


释义
刘邦打败项羽后，建立了汉朝的基业，史称高祖；传到汉平帝时，被奸臣王莽 (wang2 mang3) 篡夺 (cuan4 duo2) 了帝位。

故事
刘邦和项羽都是秦朝末年的大英雄，刘邦攻破秦朝的都城 (du1 cheng2) 咸阳 (xian2 yang2) 后，驻军在灞上 (ba4 shang4)。项羽的军队驻扎在新丰 (xin1 feng1)。刘邦手下的曹无伤告诉项羽说，刘邦有称王的野心。项羽就请刘邦到红门赴宴，席间，项羽的谋士范增指使项庄舞剑，想让他借机杀死刘邦。多亏项伯的保护，刘邦才幸免于难。危急时刻，刘邦的护卫斥责 (chi4 ze2) 项羽不守信用，使项羽放弃了杀死刘邦的念头。刘邦装作上厕所，逃回了汉营。后来，刘邦扭转 (niu3 zhuan3) 了不利局面，并最终战胜了项羽。

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

无论何时，人与人之间真的很讲求信用二字。其实，鸿门宴之所以如此有名就是因为当时很有名有很会作战的两名战士刘邦和项羽赴此宴。还有，其实当刘邦去赴宴时，早就已经有一定的心理准备了。既然是敌，那么多少也要抱有一定的戒备心才行。但无论如何，馆主始终排斥那些不守信用的举动和行为。

希望大家都会努力做个守信用的人哦！

^_^g

The Pencil

The Pencil Maker took the pencil aside, just before putting him into the box.

"There are 5 things you need to know", he told the pencil, "before I send you out into the world. Always remember them and you will become the best pencil you can be.

ONE: You will be able to do many great things, but only if you allow yourself to be held in Someone's hand.

TWO: You will experience a painful sharpening from time to time, but you'll need it to become a better pencil.

THREE: You will be able to correct any mistakes you might make.

FOUR: The most important part of you will always be what's inside.

AND FIVE: On every surface you are used on, you must leave your mark. No matter what the condition, you must continue to write.

The pencil understood and promised to remember, and went into the box with purpose in its heart. The parable of the pencil imparts great wisdom in the way we human beings live our lives as well.

Allow this parable on the pencil to encourage you to know that you are a special person and only you can fulfill the purpose to which you were born to accomplish.

Never allow yourself to get discouraged and think that your life is insignificant and cannot make a change.

We are just like the pencil, who can make a difference in our lives and in the lives of the people around us. Don't ever underestimate what you have the power to do!

- AUTHOR UNKNOWN -

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

你我就像是只铅笔，总是认为自己微不足道，但是事实不然。所以一定要记住以上提到的五点哦。如果要华文的，馆主尽量啦：
1）你能成就大事，但是你需要让自己被我在祗的手里
2）你时不时会经历艰苦的磨练，但这是为了让你成为更有用的人
3）你有能力纠正你所犯过的错误
4）你最重要的部分是在于内在
5）凡走过必留痕迹。所以无论如何，你都要一直走下去。

切记：“凡走过必留痕迹，但只要走错一步，留下的却是无法磨灭的污迹。”

心境

一个人的言谈和举止充满真诚的善意，坦率又热情，那么快乐便时刻伴随着他。

人的一切行为由心主导，内心存恶念、贪念、恨念者，其言谈举止也显露出恶、贪、恨的意念，那么苦恼便时刻伴随着他。

每天接触世俗事务的时候，不被财色所诱惑，没有忧愁烦恼，内心安乐坦然自若，这是真正幸福的人生。

聪明的人时常检查、清除内心的污垢，就如同人日常洗脸、漱口、洗澡一样清洁身体。

善于防止心意的愤怒，安定心意，清除任何邪恶的意念，真诚修善积德，使你迈向美好的人生。
怀着互相依赖的心理，只会责备和埋怨；怀着自己依靠的心理，就会发奋图强。

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

其实，我们的任何念头都有可能影响我们或他人的一生的哦。真的，任何起心动念都有它的连环效应，所以我们一定要谨慎。你今天又是怀着怎样的心念的呢？希望大家天天都是存好念、善念哦！

^_^g

The Starfish Story

Once upon a time, there was a wise man who used to go to the ocean to do his writing. He had a habit of walking on the beach before he began his work.

One day, as he was walking along the shore, he looked down the beach and saw a human figure moving like a dancer. He smiled to himself at the thought of someone who would dance to the day, and so, he walked faster to catch up.

As he got closer, he noticed that the figure was that of a young man, and that what he was doing was not dancing at all. The young man was reaching down to the shore, picking up small objects, and throwing them into the ocean.

He came closer still and called out "Good morning! May I ask what it is that you are doing?"

The young man paused, looked up, and replied "Throwing starfish into the ocean."

"I must ask, then, why are you throwing starfish into the ocean?" asked the somewhat startled wise man.

To this, the young man replied, "The sun is up and the tide is going out. If I don't throw them in, they'll die."

Upon hearing this, the wise man commented, "But, young man, do you not realize that there are miles and miles of beach and there are starfish all along every mile? You can't possibly make a difference!"

At this, the young man bent down, picked up yet another starfish, and threw it into the ocean. As it met the water, he said, "It made a difference for that one."

- Adapted from The Star Thrower by Loren Eiseley (1907 - 1977)

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我们是不是因为总觉得我们无论多么的努力都是白费的而就轻易放弃呢？其实，就算前方看似尽头了，也并不代表我们只剩下绝望。很多时候，我们不经意的一个小动作很有可能对他人有很大的影响，所以，无论机会多渺茫，都要尽一份力。

^_^g

三字经 - 立木为信

故事

战国初期，秦国只是一个西方的小国，但依靠商鞅 (shang1 yang1) 的变法，最终统一了中国。但商鞅在变法初期，遇到了很多阻碍。商鞅为了让人们相信自己，就派人在京城的南城门前立了一根三丈长的木杆，并说谁 (shei2) 能把它搬到北门，就赏十金，结果没人相信。后来，商鞅又把赏钱提高到五十金，终于有个人忍不住，把木杆扛到了北门，他果然得到了五十金。于是人们都知道商鞅说的话是算数的。新法颁布后，很顺利地推行了，商鞅变法使秦国走向了富强。

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

商鞅很棒对不对？哇，馆主好佩服他的智哦。嘻，其实呢要顺利地完成一项任务、一个挑战，《信》真的很重要。馆主老是根大家说要相信自己，其实也是因为如果连自己都不相信自己了，那么其他人又凭什么要去相信你呢？知道为什么很多领袖能带领人们走向一个新的幢景、另一个高峰吗？因为人们信任他。无论是他才智过人与否（虽然这人往往都是如此优秀），只要能建立起信用，就能比较顺利地完成使命。

所以啊，五常和八德里不也都有提到〈信〉吗？由此可见〈信〉的重要性哟。我们也要学习做个言信、守信的人哦。

^_^g

三字经 – 揭竿而起

赢秦氏 始兼并 传二世 楚汉争


释义
秦始皇在位时，秦国开始兼并六国，并建立了统一的秦王朝。秦朝只传了两代就灭亡了，后来楚霸王 (chu3 ba4 wang2) 项羽和汉王刘邦争夺天下。

故事
秦始皇统一中国后，残暴的对待人民，焚书坑儒 (fen2 shu1 keng1 ru2)，迫害忠良，还修筑 (xiu1 zhu4) 了阿房宫 (e1 fang2 gong1) 和万里长城，人民怨声载道 (yuan4 sheng1 zai4 dao4)。后来，他的儿子胡亥 (hu2 hai4) 登基 (deng1 ji1)，他荒淫无道的统治终于导致了中国历史上第一次大规模的农民起义。一次，陈胜、吴广和九百多人被征调去修长城，途中因为大雨耽误 (dan1 wu4) 了日期，按照秦朝的法律，误期将被处死。于是，他们号召人们起来反抗秦朝的统治。起义像烈火烧遍全国，并最终形成了由项羽 (xiang4 yu3) 和刘备领导的两支部队。

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

哟，大家是不是觉得微笑学习馆最近怎么老是分享英文的文章而已啊？安啦安啦，馆主当然不会让那种事情发生咯。只是那几篇英文的文章实在太值得与大家分享了，所以就被穿插在其中咯，要不然你们又老是说馆主只分享华文文章。哎哟，不可能同时满足所有人罢？请多多见谅了唷。

嗯，好了，话说回来，其实以馆主浅见，秦始皇为中华文化和历史也算是有功啦。只不过他的做法有点儿极端。如果不是他，我们现在也不会有那么一个世界奇观之一的万里长城了，对吧？当然，那么一个建筑其实是有很多无辜的百姓用生命换来的成就。试想想，我们今时今日有着那么多的科技可以帮助我们完成伟大的建筑，可是在以前，他们可是用着血和汗来完成的。更何况，那时候是被逼、被强迫和虐待的。好难过、好可怜对吧？所以我们要好好地珍惜现在所拥有的一切，也庆幸现在生长的地方没有这些事情的发生。同时，要想想我们这世界上还是有人是受着这样的苦哦。

^_^g

Miracles in Life

Miracles do happen. Hope yours comes true too.

A little girl went to her bedroom and pulled a glass jelly jar from its hiding place in the closet.

She poured the change out on the floor and counted it carefully.

Three times, even. The total had to be exactly perfect. No chance here for mistakes.

Carefully placing the coins back in the jar and twisting on the cap, she slipped out the back door and made her way 6 blocks to Rexall's Drug Store with the big red Indian Chief sign above the door.

She waited patiently for the pharmacist to give her some attention, but he was too busy at this moment. Tess twisted her feet to make a scuffing noise. Nothing. She cleared her throat with the most disgusting sound she could muster. No good. Finally she took a quarter from her jar and banged it on the glass counter. That did it!

'And what do you want?' the pharmacist asked in an annoyed tone of voice. I'm talking to my brother from Chicago whom I haven't seen in ages,' he said without waiting for a reply to his question.

'Well, I want to talk to you about my brother,' Tess answered back in the same annoyed tone. 'He's really, really sick ... and I want to buy a miracle.'

'I beg your pardon?' said the pharmacist.

'His name is Andrew and he has something bad growing inside his head and my Daddy says only a miracle can save him now. So how much does a miracle cost?'

'We don't sell miracles here, little girl. I'm sorry but I can't help you,' the pharmacist said, softening a little.

'Listen, I have the money to pay for it. If it isn't enough, I will get the rest. Just tell me how much it costs.'

The pharmacist's brother was a well dressed man. He stooped down and asked the little girl, 'What kind of a miracle does your brother need?'

' I don't know,' Tess replied with her eyes welling up. 'I just know he's really sick and Mommy says he needs an operation. But my Daddy can't pay for it, so I want to use my money.'

'How much do you have?' asked the man from Chicago .

'One dollar and eleven cents,' Tess answered barely audibly.

'And it's all the money I have, but I can get some more if I need to.'

'Well, what a coincidence,' smiled the man. 'A dollar and eleven cents - the exact price of a miracle for little brothers.'

He took her money in one hand and with the other hand he grasped her mitten and said 'Take me to where you live. I want to see your brother and meet your parents. Let's see if I have the miracle you need.'

That well dressed man was Dr. Carlton Armstrong, a surgeon, specializing in neuro-surgery. The operation was completed free of charge and it wasn't long until Andrew was home again and doing well.

Mom and Dad were happily talking about the chain of events that had led them to this place.

'That surgery,' her Mom whispered. 'was a real miracle. I wonder how much it would have cost?'

Tess smiled. She knew exactly how much a miracle cost ... one dollar and eleven cents ... plus the faith of a little child.

In our lives, we never know how many miracles we will need.

A miracle is not the suspension of natural law, but the operation of a higher law. I know you'll keep the ball moving!

Here it goes. Throw it back to someone who means something to you!

A ball is a circle, no beginning, no end. It keeps us together like our Circle of Friends. But the treasure inside for you to see is the treasure of friendship you've granted to me.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

谢谢月莉小姐与我们分享的这篇故事。当馆主读这篇故事时，脑海里浮现着前几年读到的另一篇故事。那是关于一个小男孩为了救妹妹而对医生说他要捐血给妹妹，在输血的过程中，男孩一直对妹妹说要勇敢。输血完毕后，男孩转头问医生：“那我现在是不是就要死了？”

可爱、幼小无知的小男孩以为捐血给了妹妹是将自己身体里的所有血都捐给妹妹，所以之后就会死去。但是，他却很勇敢地愿意捐血。不因为什么，就因为“她是我妹妹”。简简单单的一份兄妹情。

小朋友的天真烂漫是无法取代的。它时时让人窝心，让人感动。可是，当我们慢慢长大了以后，却忘了这最初的心。忘了真正的快乐是金钱和时间无法取代、无法买到的。什么是奇迹？奇迹是靠我们自己去创造的。只要是真心诚意的、是努力过的，奇迹就在身边。像两篇故事里的奇迹，它是因为小朋友们的真诚感动了天地、是他们的爱和无条件的付出救回了自己的手足。

加油哦！在这个儿童节，馆主祝福天下的儿童都平安、快乐、健康、保持着单纯的心。

^_^g