英语美文：Illuminated by Blindness

 There was a blind girl who hated herself because she was blind. She hated everyone, except her loving boyfriend. He was always there for her. She told her boyfriend, “If I could only see the world, I will marry you.”

　　One day, someone donated¹ a pair of eyes to her. When the bandages² came off, she was able to see everything, including her boyfriend.

　　He asked her, “Now that you can see the world, will you marry me？” The girl looked at her boyfriend and saw that he was blind. The sight of his closed eyelids³ shocked her. She hadn’t expected that. The thought of looking at them the rest of her life led her to refuse to marry him.

　　Her boyfriend left in tears and days later had a note sent to her saying, “Take good care of your eyes, my dear, for before they were yours, they were mine.”

　　This is often how our human nature works⁴ when our status changes. Only a very few remember what life was like before, and who was always by their side in the most painful situations.

　　Life is a gift.14:36 2009-5-2ryedu.net

　　Today, before you say an unkind⁵ word, think of someone who can’t speak.

　　Before you complain about the taste of your food, think of someone who has nothing to eat.

　　Before you complain about your husband or wife, think of someone who’s crying out to God for a companion.

　　Today, before you complain about life, think of those who may have died before their time.

　　Before whining⁶ about the distance you drive, think of those who walk the same distance on foot.

　　When you are tried and complain about your job, think of the unemployed⁷, the disabled, and those who wish they had your job.

　　And, when depressing⁸ thoughts seem to get you down, put a smile on your face and think: you’re alive and still around for a reason.

有个女孩，因为失明而憎恨自己。除了她钟爱的男友，她恨所有的人。她的男友总会在她身边陪伴着她。她对男友说：“如果我能看见这个世界，我就嫁给你。”

　　一天，有人捐赠了一对眼睛给她，当绷带拆下时，她能看见所有的一切了，包括男友。

　　他问她：“现在你能看见这个世界了，你会嫁给我吗？”女孩看着男友，发现他是失明的。他那紧闭的双眼让她震惊。这是她始料未及的。想到自己要一辈子看着那紧闭的双眼，她拒绝了他的求婚。

1 donated   

v.（尤指向慈善机构）捐赠( donate的过去式和过去分词 )；献（血）；捐（血）；捐献（器官）

参考例句：

• The money was donated by a local businessman who wishes to remain anonymous . 这笔款子是当地一位不愿透露姓名的企业家捐赠的。
• He donated thousands of pounds to charity. 他向慈善事业捐款数千英镑。

2 bandages   

n.绷带( bandage的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Blood was beginning to seep through the bandages. 血开始从绷带上渗出来。
• The man's arm was wound with bandages. 那人的胳膊上裹着绷带。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 eyelids   

n.眼睑( eyelid的名词复数 )；眼睛也不眨一下；不露声色；面不改色

参考例句：

• She was so tired, her eyelids were beginning to droop. 她太疲倦了，眼睑开始往下垂。
• Her eyelids drooped as if she were on the verge of sleep. 她眼睑低垂好像快要睡着的样子。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 works   

n.作品，著作；工厂，活动部件，机件

参考例句：

• We expect writers to produce more and better works.我们期望作家们写出更多更好的作品。
• The novel is regarded as one of the classic works.这篇小说被公认为是最优秀的作品之一。

5 unkind   

adj.不仁慈的，不和善的

参考例句：

• He was never unkind to her.他从未亏待过她。
• Unkindness often reacts on the unkind person.恶人有恶报。

6 whining   

n. 抱怨，牢骚 v. 哭诉，发牢骚

参考例句：

• That's the way with you whining, puny, pitiful players. 你们这种又爱哭、又软弱、又可怜的赌棍就是这样。
• The dog sat outside the door whining (to be let in). 那条狗坐在门外狺狺叫着（要进来）。

7 unemployed   

adj.失业的，没有工作的；未动用的，闲置的

参考例句：

• There are now over four million unemployed workers in this country.这个国家现有四百万失业人员。
• The unemployed hunger for jobs.失业者渴望得到工作。

8 depressing   

a.令人沮丧的；令人忧愁的

参考例句：

• Laundromat is really depressing. 自助洗衣店真闷。
• The retrospect was depressing. 回想起来令人沮丧。