It was a beautiful, sunny, Spring day. I had just finished driving my daughter to the airport to catch an early morning flight.

這是一個陽光明媚的美好春日。我剛剛開車送女兒去機場趕早班飛機。

My sons and I then went to a fast food place for breakfast before heading back home.

在回家之前，我和兒子們去一家快餐店吃了早飯。

After eating we all got into the car and pulled out of the parking lot.

進餐后，我們回到車里，并將車駛出停車場。

The restaurant was at the very top of a hill. At the bottom of the hill was a stop sign so we found ourselves at the end of a long line of traffic waiting while the cars at the bottom turned onto the main road one at a time.

餐館在山頂，在山底有個禁止通行的標志，我們排在等待通行一條長隊的最后面，而位于山底的車子每次只有一輛能開上主路。

As I looked down to the bottom of the hill my eyes saw an elderly man standing by the stop sign.

就在我向山下張望的時候，注意到一位長者就站在禁止通行標志的旁邊。

His clothes were old and worn. He held a cardboard sign with the words: Need Help Please! written on it.

他衣衫襤褸，手舉著寫有“請幫幫我”的牌子。

My heart went out to him and I imagined myself in his situation.

我的心不由得被他牽動，想象著如果我是他面對這這樣的處境會怎樣。

As car after car turned onto the road without stopping for him, I reached for my wallet to look for whatever cash was left in it.

駛入主路的車輛并沒有因為這位老人而停留，我尋摸著錢包，然后打開看看里面還有多少現金。

As I was pulling it out of my pocket, though, I saw a young woman walk up to him along the side of the road.

就在我把錢包從口袋里拿出來的時候，我看到一位姑娘朝著老人走去。

She was carrying a bag full of take out food from the restaurant I was just at. I watched as the old man thanked the young girl and smiled as she reached in to give him a hug.

她手上提著一袋食物，就是從我剛剛吃早餐的店里買的。姑娘走到老人跟前給了他一個擁抱，老人微笑著向姑娘道謝，這一切我都看在眼里。

Suddenly a loud HONK! from the car behind me made me realize that I hadn’t been moving forward, because this simple choice for kindness had so captured my attention and my heart.

突然我聽到一聲從后面車子傳來的鳴笛聲。剛才姑娘舉手之勞的善意深深打動了我，我光顧著看了，忘了把車子往前開。

By the time I reached the bottom of the hill both the man and lady who had helped him were gone. Yet, as I drove home the sun seemed to shine even brighter and Heaven felt a bit closer to Earth.

當我的車子開到山下那位幫助老人的姑娘已經走了。當我開車回家的時候，太陽光變得更加一樣了，天堂仿佛也離地面更近了。

A choice is such a powerful thing. It can touch a heart and change a life. It can bring us closer to God and make Heaven smile. Each day we are given a thousand choices. May you make all of yours for kindness. May you make your whole life a choice for love, joy, and God.

原來選擇也是這么有力量的一件事情，它會直擊內心，改變生活。讓我們離上帝更近，讓天堂微笑。每天我們要做上千個選擇。愿你的每個選擇都帶著慈悲。愿你一生的選擇都帶著愛、愉悅和上帝的名義。