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

这是一个阳光明媚的美好春日。我刚刚开车送女儿去机场赶早班飞机。

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

在回家之前，我和儿子们去一家快餐店吃了早饭。

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

进餐后，我们回到车里，并将车驶出停车场。

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.

餐馆在山顶，在山底有个禁止通行的标志，我们排在等待通行一条长队的最后面，而位于山底的车子每次只有一辆能开上主路。

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

就在我向山下张望的时候，注意到一位长者就站在禁止通行标志的旁边。

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

他衣衫褴褛，手举着写有“请帮帮我”的牌子。

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

我的心不由得被他牵动，想象着如果我是他面对这这样的处境会怎样。

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.

驶入主路的车辆并没有因为这位老人而停留，我寻摸着钱包，然后打开看看里面还有多少现金。

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.

就在我把钱包从口袋里拿出来的时候，我看到一位姑娘朝着老人走去。

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.

她手上提着一袋食物，就是从我刚刚吃早餐的店里买的。姑娘走到老人跟前给了他一个拥抱，老人微笑着向姑娘道谢，这一切我都看在眼里。

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.

突然我听到一声从后面车子传来的鸣笛声。刚才姑娘举手之劳的善意深深打动了我，我光顾着看了，忘了把车子往前开。

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.

当我的车子开到山下那位帮助老人的姑娘已经走了。当我开车回家的时候，太阳光变得更加一样了，天堂仿佛也离地面更近了。

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.

原来选择也是这么有力量的一件事情，它会直击内心，改变生活。让我们离上帝更近，让天堂微笑。每天我们要做上千个选择。愿你的每个选择都带着慈悲。愿你一生的选择都带着爱、愉悦和上帝的名义。