学进去

In October, I told the eight-year-olds in the class I teach about my plan. “I’d like you to do extra jobs around the house to earn some money,” I said. “Then we’ll buy food for someone who might not have a nice dinner otherwise.”

Early in the week for that donation, the children arrived with their hard-earned money. They had cleaned yards, set tables, and washed dishes. They couldn’t wait to go shopping. I watched as they rushed in the supermarket aisles (过道). At last we headed toward the checkout, pushing a cart filled with food. Then Kristine cried. “Flowers!” The group rushed toward the plants.

“You can’t eat flowers.” I responded. “Why not use the money to buy more food?” “But Mrs Sherlock.” she begged. “we want flowers.”

Defeated, I looked at the flowers. Stuck in the middle of the display was a pot of purple flowers. “She’ll like this one,” the children agreed, and put the purple plant into the cart.

An agency had given us the address of a needy grandmother. Soon we pulled up in front of a small house. The children hurried to get the food. When Amy put the flowers on the counter, the woman seemed surprised. “Do you like it?” Michael asked. The old lady brightened. She told the children about the animals that lived close by.

We returned to the car. As we fastened our seat belts, we could see the kitchen window. The woman inside waved goodbye, then turned and walked across the room, straight to the flowers. She put her face in them. When she raised her head, there was a smile on her lips.

The children were quiet. In that brief moment, they had seen the power they possessed to make another’s life better. Sometimes a person just needs a pot of flowers on a dark November day.