高中课外阅读--英语美文欣赏20(中英双语)
英语美文欣赏19你唯一该抱怨的是不够努力的自己Where you spend your time determines what kind of person you become.你把时间花在什么样的地方，决定了你成为什么样的人。
Remember, it's not where you came from but how hard you try that decides what level you finally end up in.记住，决定你层次的，从来都不是你的出身，而是你的努力。
If you spend your time in working out, you'll end up in good shape.你把时间花在了运动上，你就会拥有匀称的体型。
If you spend your time in learning, you'll end up with skills which help you survive.你把时间花在了学习上，你就会拥有生存的技能。
If you spend your time in idling, you'll end up achieving nothing.你把时间花在了颓废上，你就会变得一事无成。
If you spend your time queuing, you'll end up having neither time nor money.你把时间花在了排队上，你就既失去了时间也失去了金钱。
No one can decide how your life goes.没有人可以左右你的人生。
And no one can live your life for you.同样，也没有人可以帮你过自己的人生。
If you find your life not perfect enough, the only thing you should complain about is that you didn't try hard enough.如果你的生活不够完美，你唯一该抱怨的是不够努力的自己。
Only the weak complain about others.只有弱者才会抱怨别人。
The strong focus on how to become stronger.强者只会想着如何变强。
Complaining is the ugliest trash in this world.抱怨，是世界上最难看的垃圾。
Merits, on the other hand, is the fairest decoration one can wear.才气，则是一个人最好的修饰。
The world doesn't despise slow maturation. It despises lifelong mediocrity .这个世界从来不怕大器晚成，怕的是一生平庸。
生活正在惩罚那些等待的人Don't wait until you need others' love to realize you should love in the first place.不要等到想要得到爱的时候，才学会付出。
Don't wait until you are alone to start to remember your friends.不要等到孤单的时候，才想念起你的朋友。
Don't wait until you want a promotion to start to work hard.不要等到想升职了，才去努力工作。
Don't wait until you fail to realize you should have taken others' adivces.不要等到失败的时候，才记起他人的忠告。
Don't wait until you get sick to realize how fragile life is.不要等到生病的时候，才意识到生命的脆弱。
Don't wait until you break up to regret not cherishing the relationship.不要等到分离之后，才后悔没有珍惜感情。
Don't wait until some give you praise to start to believe in yourself.不要等到有人赞赏你的时候，才相信自己。
Don't wait until someone point it out to realize that you are wrong.不要等到有人指出的时候，才知道自己错了。
Don't wait until you are rich beyond imagination to start to help the poor.不要等到腰缠万贯，才准备要帮助穷人。
Don't wait until the day you die to find out that you should love your life.不要等到临死的时候，才发现要热爱生活。
Life is constantly punishing those who do nothing but waiting.生活正在惩罚那些只会等待的人。
如果你害怕，那说明你不傻Fear is a priceless treasure .恐惧是一种物价的宝藏。
Because, usually, only fear can remind you in critical occasions what is really important.因为，很多时候，只有恐惧才能够强有力地提醒你什么才是最重要的。
Fear is in fact our awe towards greater powers.恐惧，说到底是对更强大力量的敬畏。
We fear what we don't know, because we know there might be something out of our control.我们对未知感到恐惧，因为我们知道有些事可能超出我们的控制。
We fear the future, because we know there is great uncertainty in it.我们对未来感到恐惧，因为我们知道里面蕴藏着很大的不确定性。
We fear challenge, because we know that we may lack certain qualifications.我们对挑战感到恐惧，因为我们知道自己可能不足。
Fear, in fact roots in our self-awareness.恐惧，正是来源于我们对自己的认识。
Someone who does not know himself at all won't fear anything.一个完全没有自知之明的人是不会恐惧的。
If you're fearing something, it's a good sign.如果你正在害怕什么，那是好事。
Because you already see your own incompetence.因为你已经看到了自己的不足。
Now you should have known which direction to pursue.现在，你就知道应该往哪个方向努力了。
Fear is not something to be ashamed of.恐惧并不是应该让你羞耻的事情。
It is your strength.它是你的力量。
生活的艺术The art of living is to know when to hold fast and when to let go. For life is a paradox: it enjoins us to cling to its many gifts even while it ordains their eventual relinquishment. The rabbis of old put it this way: “A man comes to this world with his fist clenched, but when he dies, his hand is open.”生活的艺术在于懂得什么时候追求，什么时候放弃。
因为生活就是一个矛盾体：它要我们紧紧抓住它赐予我们的生命之礼，然后最终又让它们从我们手中跑掉。
老先生们说：“人们紧握着拳头来到这个世界上，离开这个世界时却摊开了双手。
”Surely we ought to hold fast to life, for it is wondrous, and full of a beauty that breaks through every pore of God’s own earth. We know that this is so, but all too often we recognize this truth only in our backward glance when we remember what was and then suddenly realize that it is no more.当然我们应该紧紧把握生活，因为它美妙得不可思议，充满了从上帝的每个毛孔里蹦出来的美。
我们都清楚这一点，但我们常常只有在回首往事时才会想去过去，才会突然意识到过去永远地消逝了，才会承认这个道理。
We remember a beauty that faded, a love that waned. But we remember with far greater pain that we did not see that beauty when it flowered, that we failed to respond with love when it was tendered.我们都记得美的褪去，爱的老去。
但我们更痛苦地记得美正艳时，我们却没有发现，爱正浓时，我们却没有回应。
Here then is the first pole of life’s paradoxical demands on us: Never too busyfor the wonder and the awe of life. Be reverent before each dawning day. Embrace each hour. Seize each golden minute.这就是生活对我们自己自相矛盾要求的第一步：永远不要因为忙碌而忽略了它的奇妙和庄严。
高中生英语必背美文(中英文对照)
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。
高中生英语必背美文(中英文对照)
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。
英汉双语美文阅读精选5篇
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高中英语美文摘抄欣赏
高中英语美文摘抄欣赏经典美文具有可借鉴性和指导性,品读经典美文,能有效提升学生的写作能力。
小编精心收集了高中英语美文，供大家欣赏学习!高中英语美文篇1German Black Forest CakeBlack forest gateau(奶油蛋糕) is a chocolate layer cake, heavy with cherries and swathed(包围，裹) in loads of whipped cream. The sour cherries and sweet chocolate are so good together that one can understand why this has become one of the most desired cakes world-wide.Historians believe it originated in the late 16th century in the Black Forest Region, which is a popular tourist place in Germany with dense forests and beautiful high lands. Black forest region is known for its abundant (as earlier it was a custom for newly marrieds to plant a cherry tree) and beautiful cherry trees, which were said to be an inspiration for the black forest cake. The name, Black Forest, evokes darkness and mystery coming from the romantic German concept of forest-loneliness. During this era, chocolate was first integrated into cakes and cookies. Combine these cherries with the German's love of chocolate, and you have this wonderful chocolate confection with cream and cherries.There are many other ideas on how the cake originally got its name. Some historians say that it is possible that the cake got its name from the traditional costume worn by women in the Black Forest Region. The black dress is the dark chocolate cake, the white shirt with Balloon puffy(胀大的，喘气的) sleeves are the whipped cream, the red pompoms are the cherries, and the black undulating lace veil shielding the young women's eyes are represented by the chocolate curls(卷发).The typical black forest cake contains several layers of chocolate cake, with oodles of whipped cream and cherries in each layer, further decorated with additional whipped cream, chocolate shavings and cherries. Also, in traditional black forest cakes, kirsch, which is a clear colorless fruit brandy which is made from double distillation of morellos is added. Today, other kinds of liquors like rum are used instead of kirsch(樱桃白兰地), or a lot of times, black forest cake is made without any alcohol.So, are you already craving for it? Then go on and forget counting calories and simply indulge(沉溺，满足)!高中英语美文篇2Pennies from GrannyWe had moved from Cairo to Mt. Vernon, Illinois, away from my grandmother when I was eight years old. I missed her terribly.I was told I was her favorite grandchild; she was my favorite "Granny." She was my Father's mother.Two years later my mother and father separated and they were soon divorced. I felt as if my world was falling apart. My heart ached for that part of me that was slipping away. Mother must have sensed my longing, for she would take my little brother and me back to visit my Granny on occasions, even after the divorce.I was always aware Granny loved us. It was something you could feel with your heart, even when your world was turned upside down.She didn't live in a fancy house or have expensive things, but I never noticed; I just knew she loved me and I loved her back.We had lived, for a time, next door to her and grandpa in a duplex(二倍的，双重的) while my father was away during World War II.Granny had never had very much in the way of money or material things. But it was the little things she gave me that had always mattered. Things like letting me dip my fingers in the sugar bowl, which was always sitting on her table or the coffee she let me sip from her cup. She allowed me to sit on top of her kitchen table as I partook of those privileges.Granny took the time to explain the function of her weather vane, hanging on the wall, which predicted the upcoming weather. How that little wooden boy and girl knew what door to come out of, when it was going to rain, amazed me. But Granny understood.She also had a vinegar cruet that sat high on a shelf that was beautiful, in my eyes; I asked if I could have it someday. It was given to me in a box after her funeral. She remembered; love is like that.I used to spend a lot of time with Granny when we lived in Cairo, next door to her and grandpa, in the duplex. But times and things had changed. Grandpa had died; we lived a hundred miles away, and dad, her youngest son, my daddy, no longer lived with us. I didn't get to see dad much, and I don't know if Granny got to see him very often either. But, he was her son, and I knew she loved him. Love is like that; it can see past the pain.Though she didn't have much, neither did we, but she did something for my brother, Tommie and me. I will always remember; she saved her pennies in a glass jar. I am sure Granny could have used those pennies herself but she saved them to give us when we came to visit. Because I was the oldest I was in charge of dividing the pennies equally between my brother and me."One for you, one for me," I would repeat until the jar was empty.I don't remember how much we collected on our visits, nor was the amount important. It was the idea that she remembered us, and cared about us, when we were away from her.Those memories, of when I was a child, still give me warm fuzzy(贺词，好话) feelings on days that I need them. A Granny's love stays with a grandchild, down through the years, even when that child becomes a grandma herself. I often wonder, after all those years, when I am lucky enough to find a penny lying on the ground somewhere, if it could possible be Granny tossing me pennies from heaven.高中英语美文篇3美丽在我心Everyone in the apartment complex I lived in knew who Ugly was. Ugly was the resident tomcat(公猫). Ugly loved three things in this world: fighting, eating garbage, and, shall we say, love.The combination of these things combined with a life spent outside had their effect on Ugly. To start with, he had only one eye and where the other should have been was a gaping hole. He was also missing his ear on the same side, his left foot appeared to have been badly broken at one time, and had healed at an unnatural angle, making him look like he was always turning the corner. His tail has long ago been lost, leaving only the smallest stub(烟蒂，树桩), which he would constantly jerk(肌肉抽搐) and twitch.Ugly would have been a dark grey tabby(平纹，斑猫), striped-type, except for the sores covering his head, neck, even his shoulders with thick, yellowing scabs. Every time someone saw Ugly there was the same reaction. "That's one UGLY cat!!"All the children were warned not to touch him, the adults threw rocks at him, hosed him down, squirted him when he triedto come in their home or shut his paws in the door when he would not leave. Ugly always had the same reaction. If you turned the hose on him, he would stand there, getting soaked until you gave up and quit. If you threw things at him, he would curl his lanky(瘦长的) body around feet in forgiveness.Whenever he spied children, he would come running, meowing frantically and bump his head against their hand begging for their love. If you ever picked him, up he would immediately begin suckling on your shirt, earring whatever he could find.One day Ugly shared his love with the neighbor's huskies. They did not respond kindly, and Ugly was badly mauled. From my apartment I could hear his scream and I tried to rush to his aid. By the time I got to where he was laying, it was apparent Ugly's sad life was almost at an end.Ugly lay in a wet circle, his back legs and lower back twisted grossly out of shape, a gaping tear in the white strip of fur that ran down his front. As I picked him up and tried to carry him home, I could hear him wheezing and gasping, and could feel him struggling. It must be hurting him terribly, I thought.Then I felt a familiar tugging, sucking sensation on my ear. Ugly, in so much pain, suffering and obviously dying, was trying to suckle my ear. I pulled him closer to me, and he bumped the palm of my hand with his head, then he turned his one golden eye towards me, and I could hear the distinct sound of purring. Even in the greatest pain, that ugly battled-scarred cat was asking only for a little affection, perhaps some compassion.At that moment I thought Ugly was the most beautiful, loving creature I had ever seen. Never once did he try to bite or scratch me, or even try to get away from me, or struggle in anyway. Ugly just looked up at me completely trusting in me to relieve his pain.Ugly died in my arms before I could get inside, but I sat and held him for a long time afterward thinking about how one scarred, deformed little stray could so alter my opinion about what it means to have true pureness of spirit, to love so totally and truly. Ugly taught me more about giving and compassion than a thousand book lecture or talk show specials ever could, and for that I will always be thankful. He had been scarred on the outside, but I was scarred on the inside, and it was time for me to move on and learn to love truly and deeply. To give my total to those I cared for.Many people want to be richer, more successful, well liked, beautiful, but for me, I will always try to be Ugly.。
高中 英语美文欣赏
英语美文欣赏46珍惜现在不再错过John, a famous musician, took his priceless antique zither and played it in the crowded subway station. The music emanating from the zither was delicately streaming throughout the whole station. However, during the one-hour play, only six or seven people were truly appreciating the charming music. A three-year-old kid was so fascinated by the music that he forgot everything around. John only got 52 U.S. dollar for his work that day.音乐家约翰带着一把价值不菲的古董名琴，悄悄来到人潮不断的地铁站演奏。
弦音曼妙，在空旷处流淌。
将近一小时的演奏中，真正驻足聆听者只有六七人。
最捧场的是一位三岁小童，听得入神。
约翰当天得到52美元赏金。
However, in normal days, when John is about to hold a concert, one ticket can be sold at more than 100 dollars and it is extremely hard to buy a ticket even at such a high price. Therefore, later, many passers-by in the station that day felt deeply regretful for not recognizing the famous musician and missing such a valuable but cheap music feast.平日，约翰的演奏会举行时，一张票超过100美元，且一票难求。
高中课外英语美文欣赏45篇
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。
高中英语晨读美文（精选20篇）
高中英语晨读美文高中英语晨读美文（精选20篇）在日常的学习、工作、生活中，大家都经常接触到作文吧，作文是经过人的思想考虑和语言组织，通过文字来表达一个主题意义的记叙方法。
相信许多人会觉得作文很难写吧，以下是小编帮大家整理的高中英语晨读美文，欢迎大家借鉴与参考，希望对大家有所帮助。
高中英语晨读美文篇1The hardworking blacksmith Jones used to work all day in his shop and so hard working was he that at times he would make the sparks fly from his hammer.The son of Mr. Smith, a rich neighbor, used to come to see the blacksmith everyday and for hours and hours he would enjoy himself watching how the tradesman worked."Young man, why don't you try your hand to learn to make shoe tacks, even if it is only to pass the time?" said the blacksmith. "Who knows, one day, it may be of use to you."The lazy boy began to see what he could do. But after a little practice he found that he was becoming very skilled and soon he was making some of the finest tacks.Old Mr. Smith died and the son on account of the war lost all his goods. He had to leave home and was forced to take up residence in another country. It so happened that in this village there were numerous shoemakers who were spending a lot of money to buy tacks for their shoes and even at times when they paid high prices they were not always able to get what they wanted, because in that part of the country there was a high demand for soldiers' shoes.Our young Mr. Smith, who was finding it difficult to earn his daily bread, remembered that once upon a time he hadlearned the art of making tacks and had the sudden idea of making a bargain with the shoemakers. He told them that he would make the tacks if they would help to get him settled in his workshop. The shoemakers were only too glad of the offer. And after a while, Mr. Smith found that he was soon making the finest tacks in the village."How funny it seems," he used to say, "even making tacks can bring a fortune. My trade is more useful to me than were all my former riches."高中英语晨读美文篇2The park bench was deserted as I sat down to read Beneath the long, straggly branches of an old willow tree. Disillusioned by life with good reason to frown, For the world was intent on dragging me down.And if that weren't enough to ruin my day, A young boy out of breath approached me, all tired from play. He stood right before me with his head tilted down And said with great excitement, "Look what I found!"In his hand was a flower, and what a pitiful sight, With its petals all worn - not enough rain, or too little light. Wanting him to take his dead flower and go off to play, I faked a small smile and then shifted away.But instead of retreating he sat next to my side and placed the flower to his nose and declared with surprise, "It sure smells pretty and it's beautiful, too. That's why I picked it; here, it's for you."The weed before me was dying or dead. Not vibrant of colors, orange, yellow or red. But I knew I must take it, or he might never leave. So I reached for the flower, and replied, "Just what I need."But instead of him placing the flower in my hand, He held itmid-air without reason or plan. It was then that I noticed for the very first time, that weed-toting boy could not see: he was blind.I heard my voice quiver, tears shone like the sun. As I thanked him for picking the very best one. "You're welcome," he smiled, and then ran off to play, Unaware of the impact he'd had on my day.I sat there and wondered how he managed to see a self-pitying woman beneath an old willow tree. How did he know of my self-indulged plight? Perhaps from his heart, he'd been blessed with true sight.Through the eyes of a blind child, at last I could see, the problem was not with the world; the problem was me. And for all of those times I myself had been blind, I vowed to see beauty,Then I held that wilted flower up to my nose and breathed in the fragrance of a beautiful rose And smiled as that young boy, another weed in his hand About to change the life of an unsuspecting old man.高中英语晨读美文篇3There once was a little boy who had a bad temper. His Father gave him a bag of nails and told him that every time he lost his temper, he must hammer a nail into the back of the fence. The first day the boy had driven 37 nails into the fence. Over the next few weeks, as he learned to control his anger,the number of nails hammered daily gradually dwindled down. He discovered it was easier to hold his temper than to drive those nails into the fence.Finally the day came when the boy didn't lose his temper at all. He told his father about it and the father suggested that the boy now pull out one nail for each day that he was able to hold his temper. The days passed and the young boy was finally able to tell his father that all the nails were gone. The father took hisson by the hand and led him to the fence. He said, "You have done well, my son, but look at the holes in the fence. The fence will never be the same. When you say things in anger, they leave a scar just like this one. You can put a knife in a man and draw it out. It won't matter how many times you say I'm sorry, the wound is still there."高中英语晨读美文篇4He was 11 years old and went fishing every chance he got from the dock at his family’s cabin on an island in the middle of a New Hampshire lake.On the day before the bass season opened, he and his father were fishing early in the evening, catching sunfish and perch with worms. Then he tied on a small silver lure and practiced casting. The lure struck the water and caused coloredripples in the sunset, then silver ripples as the moon rose over the lake.When his peapole doubled over, he knew something huge was on the other end. His father watched with admiration as the boy skillfully worked the fish alongside the dock.Finally, he very gingerly lifted the exhausted fish from the water. It was the largest one he had ever seen, but it was a bass.The boy and his father looked at the handsome fish, gills playing back and forth in the moonlight. The father lit a match and looked at his watch. It was 10 P.M.-- two hours before the season opened. He looked at the fish, then at the boy.“You’ll have to put it back, son,” he said. “Dad!” crie d the boy.“There will be other fish,” said his father. “Not as big as this one,” cried the boy.He looked around the lake. No other fishermen or boats were anywhere around in the moonlight. He looked again at his father.Even though no one had seen them, nor could anyone ever know what time he caught the fish, the boy could tell by the clarity of his father’s voice that the decision was not negotiable. He slowly worked the hook out of the lip of the huge bass and lowered it into the black water.The creature swished its powerful body and disappeared. The boy suspected that he would never again see such a great fish.That was 34 years ago. Today, the boy is a successful architect in New York City. His father’s cabin is still there on the island in the middle of the lake. He takes his own son and daughters fishing from the same dock.And he was right. He has never again caught such a magnificent fish as the one he landed that night long ago. But he does see that same fish-again and again-every time he comes up against a question of ethics.For, as his father taught him, ethics are simple matters of right and wrong. It is only the practice of ethics that is difficult. Do we do right when no one is looking? Do we refuse to 14)cut corners to get the design in on time? Or refuse to trade stocks based on information that we know we aren’t supposed to have?We would if we were taught to put the fish back when we were young. For we would have learned the truth.The decision to do right lives fresh and fragrant in our memory.高中英语晨读美文篇5A farmer had some puppies he needed to sell. He painted a sign advertising the pups and set about nailing it to a post on the edge of his yard. As he was driving the last nail into the post, he felt a tug on his overalls. He looked down into the eyes of a little boy."Mister," he said, "I want to buy one of your puppies.""Well," said the farmer, as he rubbed the sweat off the back of his neck, "these puppies come from fine parents and cost a good deal of money."The boy dropped his head for a moment. Then reaching deep into his pocket, he pulled out a handful of change and held it up to the farmer. "I've got thirty-nine cents. Is that enough to take a look?""Sure," said the farmer.And with that he let out a whistle, "Here, Dolly!" he called.Out from the doghouse and down the ramp ran Dolly followed by four little balls of fur. The little boy pressed his face against the chain link fence. His eyes danced with delight.As the dogs made their way to the fence, the little boy noticed something else stirring inside the doghouse. Slowly another little ball appeared; this One noticeably smaller. Down the ramp it slid. Then in a somewhat awkward manner the little pup began hobbling toward the others, doing its best to catch up."I want that one," the little boy said, pointing to the runt.The farmer knelt down at the boy's side and said, "Son, you don't want that puppy. He will never be able to run and play with you like these other dogs would."With that the little boy stepped back from the fence, reached down, and began rolling up one leg of his trousers. In doing so he revealed a steel brace running down both sides of his leg attaching itself to a specially made shoe. Looking back up at the farmer, he said, "You see sir, I don't run too well myself, and he will need someone who understands."The world is full of people who need someone who understands.高中英语晨读美文篇6A couple,John and Mary,had two lovely children.John had just been asked to go on a business trip and would be gone for several days.Mary would go along too.They hired a reliable woman to care for children and made the trip,returning home a little earlier than they had planned.As they drove into their home town feeling glad to be back,they noticed smoke,and they went off their usual route to see what it was.They found a home in flames.Mary said,”Oh,well, it isn’t our fire,let’s go home.”But John drove closer and exclaimed, “That home belongs to Fred Jones who works at the plant.He wouldn’t be off work yet,maybe there is something we cou ld do. ” “It has nothing to do with us, ”protested Mary.But John drove up and stopped and they were both horror stricken to see the whole house in flames.A woman on the lawn was in hysterics screaming, “The children!Get the children! ”John grabbed her by the shoulder saying, “Get a hold of yourself and tell us where the children are! ”“In the basement, ”sobbed the woman,”down the hall and to the left. ”In spite of Mary’s protests John bolted for the basement which was full of smoke and scorching hot.He found the door and two children.As he left he could hear some more whimpering.He delivered the two badly frightened and nearly suffocated children into waiting arms and started back asking how many more children were down there.They told him two more and Mar y grabbed his arm and screamed, “John!Don’t go back!It’ssuicide!That house will cave in any second. ”But he ran into the smoke filed hallway and into the room.At last he found both children.As he stumbled up the endlesssteps,the thought went through his mind that there was something strangely familiar about the little bodies clinging to him,and at last when they came out into the sunlight and fresh air,he found that he had just rescued his own children.The baby-sitter had left them at this home while she did some shopping…高中英语晨读美文篇7A young and successful executive was traveling down a neighborhood street, going a bit too fast in his new Jaguar. He was watching for kids darting out from between parked cars and slowed down when he thought he saw something.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 some kid and pushed him up against a parked car, shouting, "What was that all about and who are you? Just what the heck are you doing?" Building up a head of steam, he went on"That's a new car and that brick you threw is gonna cost a lot of money. Why did you do it?""Please,mister, please,I'm sorry. I didn't know what else to do!"pleaded the youngster."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 tried to swallow the rapidly swelling lump in his throat. He 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 backs 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.Life 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. It's your choice: Listen to the whispers of your soul or wait for the brick!Do you sometimes ignore loved ones because your life is too fast and busy leaving them to wonder whether you really love them?高中英语晨读美文篇8Each summer in the late 1960s, my two sisters and I would ride the Greyhound bus from Arizona to Arkansas to stay with our father.A World War II veteran, Dad had many medical problems, any one of which could cause many people to lose more than their sense of humor, but not him.I have vivid memories of Dad waking us up in the morning. Before he'd put on his legs for the day (he had lost his legs after his discharge), his wheelchair was his mobility. Holding his cane, which was his extended arm, he would roll through the house yelling, "Up, up, up! Get up and face the day! It's a beautiful day! Rise and Shine!" If we didn't get up right away, he would repeat his song in rhythm with his cane hitting the end of our beds. This was no performance put on for our benefit; every day was truly a beautiful day to him.Back in the sixties, there was no handicapped parking or wheelchair-accessible ramps like there are now, so even a trip to the grocery store was a difficult task. Dad wanted no assistance from anyone. He would climb stairs slowly but surely, whistling all the way. As a teenager, I found this embarrassing, but if Dad noticed, he didn't let me help.Those summers always ended too soon. He would drive us back to Arizona every year, stopping at the checkpoint for fruit and vegetables at the New Mexico-Arizona border. When asked if he had any fruits or vegetables, he would reply, "Just three sweet peas."Our father has been gone for a long time now, but not the lesson that he taught us: You are only as handicapped as you let yourself be.高中英语晨读美文篇9The first day of school our professor introduced himself to our chemistry class and challenged us to get to know someone we didn't already know. I stood up to look around when a gentle hand touched my shoulder. I turned around to find a wrinkled, little old lady beaming up at me with a smile that lit up her entire being.She said, "Hi, handsome. My name is Rose. I'm eighty-seven years old. Can I give you a hug?"I laughed and enthusiastically responded, "Of course you may!" and she gave me a giant squeeze(挤，紧握) ."Why are you in college at such a young, innocent age?" I asked.She jokingly replied, "I'm here to meet a rich husband, get married, have a couple of children, and then retire and travel.""No seriously," I asked. I was curious what may havemotivated her to be taking on this challenge at her age."I always dreamed of having a college education and now I'm getting one !" she told me.After class we walked to the student union building and shared a chocolate milkshake(奶昔) . We became instant friends. Every day for the next three months we would leave class together and talk nonstop. I was always mesmerized listening to this "time machine" as she shared her wisdom and experience with me.Over the course of the school year, Rose became a campus icon and easily made friends wherever she went. She loved to dress up and she reveled in the attention bestowed(使用，授予) upon her from the other students. She was living it up.At the end of the semester we invited Rose to speak at our football banquet and I'll never forget what she taught us. She was introduced and stepped up to the podium. As she began to deliver her prepared speech, she dropped her three-by-five cards on the floor. Frustrated and a bit embarrassed she leaned into the microphone and simply said, "I'm sorry I'm so jittery(神经过敏的) .I gave up beer for Lent and this whiskey is killing me! I'll never get my speech back in order to let me just tell you what I know." As we laughed, she cleared her throat and began:"We do not stop playing because we are old; we grow old because we stop playing. There are only four secrets to staying young, being happy and achieving success."You have to laugh and find humor each and every day."You've got to have a dream. When you lose your dreams, you die. We have so many people walking around who are dead and they don't even know it!"There is a giant difference between growing older andgrowing up. If you are nineteen years old and lie in bed for one full year and don't do one productive thing, you will turn twenty years old. If I am eighty-seven years old and stay in bed for a year and never do anything I will turn eighty-eight. Anybody can grow older. That doesn't take any talent or ability. The idea is to grow up by always finding the opportunity in change."Have no regrets. The elderly usually don't have regrets for what we did, but rather for things we did not do. The only people who fear death are those with regrets."She concluded her speech by courageously singing "The Rose." She challenged each of us to study the lyrics and live them out in our daily lives.At year's end, Rose finished the college degree she had begun all those years ago. One week after graduation Rose died peacefully in her sleep. Over two thousand college students attended her funeral in tribute to the wonderful woman who taught by example that it's never too late to be all you can possibly be.高中英语晨读美文篇10Nowadays, divorce rate has been rising sharply in China, because mostpeople think that it's better to get divorced than stick to a bad marriage.Butfor those couples who have children, they had better think over before gettingdivorced. Parents' divorce may have some negative effects on their children.Firstly, the love of father is different from the love of mother. Children needboth of the love. Without each of the love, they may not grow up healthily.Secondly, in order to raise the family, the single parents have to work harder,so that they may have less time to accompany with their children.The childrenmay feel neglected, which may cause mental problems. Besides, if the singleparents get married again, the children may get hurt by calling another personfather or mother. If they can't get along well with each other, the situationwill become even worse. Thus, for the sake of their children, parents are notsupposed to get divorced in a rush. They should think twice.高中英语晨读美文篇11Why waste your time and energy on being envious? Instead of being envious, be inspired.为什么你要浪费时间和精力去忌妒别人呢?不要忌妒别人,相反,你应该得到启发。
高中课外英语美文欣赏45篇
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-hike2to 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 resist3pressure 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。
高中优秀英语美文阅读
高中优秀英语美文阅读篇一What is Love? 爱是什么?What is Love? The eternal question we all carry around deep within our heart. Love is the eternal search. Love is eternal when we find it. But do we really ever find it ? When we define it do we negate it? When we set limits on what we believe to be love do we begin to destroy it by hoping to understand or own it for ourselves? We offer it through all of our relationship we vary our giving, often by what we hope to receive in return. But is this really love?爱是什么?这是所有人心底一个永恒的问题。
爱，是永恒的寻觅。
爱一旦被找到，它也将变为永恒。
但是我们真的找到过爱吗?当我们定义爱的同时，是否也在否定爱呢?在给我们所认为的爱加种种限制的同时，我们试图按自己的方式理解它，或想将其据为己有时，我们是否也在破坏它呢?我们将爱施与周围的所有人，而如何给予是由期望的回报来决定的。
但这是真正的爱I recently overheard someone say in a conversation that there is no such thing as “ unconditional love .” I would have to agree, although for different reasons. Love within itself is unconditional. Anything else is only an attempt to love, a learning to get us nearer to the one true knowing of love. It may be honorable, well-intentioned, passionate and desiring, courageous and pure. It may be felt as temporary, but if lost easily it may not have been love at all. Love cannot be thwarted and often fall short of what we hope love will be. This is where we learn we are human.最近，我无意间听别人说，世上没有所谓的“无条件的爱”。
高中英语必读美文50篇(打印版)
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。