The Most Important Body Part 身体最重要的部位
My mother used to ask me what is the most important part of the body. Through the years I would guess at what I thought was the correct answer.
从前我母亲经常问我,身体最重要的部位是什么。许多年来,我一直以为自己所想的是正确答案。
When I was younger, I thought sound was very important to us as humans, so I said, "My ears, Mommy."
当我很小的时候,我认为对人类而言,声音很重要,因此回答:“妈咪,是耳朵。”
She said, "No. Many people are deaf. But you keep thinking about it and I will ask you again soon."
她说:“不对,有许多人是聋人。但是你继续想,不久我会再问你。”
Several years passed before she asked me again. Since making my first attempt, I had contemplated the correct answer. So this time I told her, "Mommy, sight is very important to everybody, so it must be our eyes."
当她再度问我时,已经是好几年后了。自从第一次回答之后,我就一直仔细的思考正确答案。所以这次我对她说:“妈咪,视觉对每个人都很重要,所以应该是我们的眼睛。”
She looked at me and told me, "You are learning fast, but the answer is not correct because there are many people who are blind."
她看着我,对我说:“你学的很快,但还是不对,因为有许多人是盲人。”
Over the years, Mother asked me a couple more times and always her answer was, "No, but you are getting smarter every year, my child."
往后的年日里她又问了我几次,但她总是回答:“不对,可是孩子啊,你每年都有进步喔。”
Then last year, my Grandpa died. Everybody was hurt. Everybody was crying. My Mom looked at me when it was our turn to say our final good-bye to Grandpa. She asked me, "Do you know the most important body part yet, my dear?"
去年我祖父去世,每个人都很伤心,大家都哭了。轮到我们向爷爷做最后的告别时,妈妈看着我,问我:“宝贝,你知道身体最重要的部位了吗?”
I was shocked when she asked me this now. I always thought this was a game between her and me. She saw the confusion on my face and told me, "This question is very important. It shows that you have really lived your life." I saw her eyes well up with tears. She said, "My dear, the most important body part is your shoulder."
她在这时候问我这个问题,令我吓了一大跳。我一直以为这只是我和她之间的游戏。她看我一脸迷惑的样子,对我说:“这问题很重要,它是你真正理解生活的标志。”我看她眼睛里充盈着泪水,她说:“宝贝,最重要的部位是你的肩膀。”
I asked, "Is it because it holds up your head?"
我问:“是因为它能支撑脑袋吗?”
She replied, "No, it is because it can hold the head of a friend or loved one when they cry. Everybody needs a shoulder to cry on sometime in life, my dear. I only hope that you have enough love and friends that you will have a shoulder to cry on when you need it."?
她回答说:“不,是因为让我们的朋友、我们所爱的人哭泣的时候,它可以给予依靠。宝贝,每个人在一生中都会有需要一个可以靠着哭泣的肩膀的时候。我只是希望当你需要时,会有足够的爱人和朋友,给你一个可倚靠哭泣的肩膀。”
Then and there I knew the most important body part is not a selfish one. It is sympathetic to the pain of others.
从那时起,我知道身体最重要的部位不是利己的部位,而是对别人的痛苦能感同身受的部位。
ZT