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上周我带孩子们到餐馆吃饭，6岁的儿子问可不可以做饭前祈祷。当我们低下头时，他祈祷道：“上帝太好了，上帝是伟大的！谢谢你赐给我们食物，如果妈妈能买冰激凌作甜点的话,我会更感激你。给我们自由和正义吧！阿门！”周围的客人都笑起来，我听到一个女人说道：“这就是这个国家的问题所在。现在的孩子都不知道如何祈祷。向上帝要冰激凌！天哪， 我从不这样！”听到这儿，儿子突然大哭起来，问我：“我说错了吗？上帝生我的气了？" 我抱住他，让他相信自己做了件了不起的事,上帝当然不会生他的气。这时，一位老绅士走到桌子旁。他朝我儿子眨了眨眼，说：“我碰巧知道上帝认为这是个很棒的祈祷。"“真的吗？”我儿子问。“我发誓是真的。"然后，这位绅士装模作样地低声补充道（并指向那个因她的话而引起整个事件的女人），“她从未向上帝请求冰激凌,太坏了。有时一块儿小小的冰激凌对心灵是有益的。" 当然，在进餐结束时，我给孩子们买了冰激凌。儿子凝视了一会儿自己的冰激凌，然后做了一件令我终生难忘的事:他拿起自己的圣代冰激凌，一声不吭地走过去，放到那个女人面前，一脸灿烂的笑容。“给，这是你的。冰激凌有时对心灵是有益的，我的心灵已经很好了。” Ice Cream Prayer Last week I took my children to a restaurant. My six-year-old son asked if he could say grace. As we bowed our heads, he said, "God is good. God is great. Thank you for the food，and I would even thank you more if mom gets us ice cream for dessert. And liberty and justice for all! Amen! Along with laughter from the other customers nearby, I heard a woman remark, “That’s what’s wrong with this country. Kids today don't even know how to pray. Asking God for ice cream! Why, I never!" Hearing this，my son burst into tears and asked me, "Did I do it wrong? Is God mad at me?” As I held him and assured him that he had done a terrific job and God was certainly not mad at him, an elderly gentleman approached the table. He winked at my son and said, 111 happen to know that God thought that was a great prayer. " "Really?" my son asked. “Cross my heart. ” Then in a theatrical whisper the gen tleman added (indicating the woman whose remark had started this whole thing)，"Too bad she never asks God for ice cream. A little ice cream is good for the soul sometimes. ’’ Naturally, I bought my kids ice cream at the end of the meal. My son stared at his ice cream for a moment and then did something I will remember the rest of my life. He picked up his sundae and without a word walked over and placed it in front of the woman. With a big smile he told her, “Here, this is for you. Ice cream is good for the soul sometimes, and my soul is already good. |
