一頓特殊的午餐
Once there was a very poor and devoted woman who always prayed to the Glory of God, asking very little, if anything for herself.
從前有一個(gè)很貧窮,很虔誠(chéng)的婦人,她常常向圣明的上帝禱告,但卻基本上不為自己祈禱什么—即使偶爾有一次,也索取很少。
But one thought, one desire continued to recur and finally she asked, petitioning the Lord,that if it were possible she would love to prepare a special meal and have God share at her table.
然而,總有一個(gè)念頭,一種愿望不斷地出現(xiàn),于是她向上帝禱告:如果可以,她愿意特別準(zhǔn)備一頓午餐,邀上帝與自己共享。
And God, in His Love for this goodly woman, said He would indeed come the next day and share a meal.
上帝深?lèi)?ài)著這個(gè)善良的子民,于是他接受了她的邀請(qǐng),承諾第二天定會(huì)與她共進(jìn)午餐。
Filled with ecstasy, the woman went out the following morning with her meager purse and purchased such delicacies that she felt would please the Lord.
婦人欣喜若狂,盡管沒(méi)什么錢(qián),但她還是一早出門(mén),買(mǎi)了許多美食,她認(rèn)為上帝會(huì)喜歡。
Returning home, she prepared a banquet and waited patiently for her most honored guest.
一回到家,婦人便準(zhǔn)備了一桌假藥,耐心地等待著最尊貴的客人光臨。
Soon there was a knock on the door, and when she opened it, there stood an old beggar asking for something to eat.
不一會(huì)兒,門(mén)外響起了敲門(mén)聲。婦人忙去開(kāi)門(mén),站在門(mén)外的是一個(gè)要飯的老乞丐。
Being a woman of God, she could not turn the beggar away, so she invited him in to partake of her table.
作為上帝的子民,婦人不能讓自己趕走老乞丐,于是便邀請(qǐng)他進(jìn)屋共進(jìn)午餐。
The beggar felt as if he was in a dream—such a feast set before him.He finished all the food, thanked his hostess and left.
老乞丐做夢(mèng)也沒(méi)想到會(huì)有人如此款待自己。他一口氣吃光了所有的美食,向婦人道過(guò)謝,便離開(kāi)了。
The woman was only slightly disheartened, and then she gathered up her purse, her coat,and hurried back to town to get more food for her special guest.
婦人有一點(diǎn)失望,但僅僅是一點(diǎn)點(diǎn)。很快她就拿上錢(qián)包,穿上外套,匆匆忙忙回到鎮(zhèn)上,她要去給她的貴客再買(mǎi)些吃的。
Her funds were less now and so the food was not quite so elaborate.
這次,婦人的錢(qián)所剩無(wú)幾,買(mǎi)的食物也沒(méi)有上次的那么美味了,
Nonetheless, she lovingly prepared another meal and sat to await the arrival of theAlmighty.
但她還是精心地準(zhǔn)備了另一桌飯菜,期待著上帝的大駕光臨。